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Novel Catalog
Chapter 21
When Matthew saw Veronica standing there, her face clouded with frustration and despair, he was momentarily taken aback.
After all, in Bloomstead, countless women vied for his attention, breaking their backs just to bear his child. But Veronica… despite carrying his child, looked utterly miserable.
A memory flashed across Matthew’s mind—the words Veronica had once said to him. “Although you’re rich and good-looking, Matthew, not every woman is dying to marry you. You don’t have to be so smug all the time.”
His thoughts were interrupted as he stood before her, cold and domineering, his gaze unwavering.
“If you quit your job at the club,” he said, “I’ll get a team of medical experts to treat your father. I’ll even cover the surgery costs. Free of charge.”
Veronica’s eyes dropped, her face a mask of indifference. She felt the weight of his words but remained unmoved. Her voice was soft, almost resigned. “So, if I quit my job but choose to abort the child, will you still treat my dad?”
There was no response from Matthew.
When she looked up at him again, their eyes locked for a few seconds. Her gaze, full of pain, met his cold stare. Finally, he spoke. “Don’t be delusional.”
Veronica let out a dry, self-deprecating laugh. “Heh. Don’t try to sugarcoat it. You want me to give birth to your child, and in return, you’ll treat my father. Isn’t it just a transaction?”
She saw right through him. The doctors from the expert group weren’t easily bought, and she knew better than to expect any real compassion from him.
Matthew’s voice broke through her thoughts, low and steady. “You can make other demands, too.”
Veronica’s brow furrowed as she hesitated for a moment. Then, an idea came to her. “If you can help me investigate my parents’ car accident, I’ll do it. I’ll keep the baby if that’s what you want, but only if you help me get justice for them.”
She couldn’t ignore the child growing inside her, but it was clear to her that she had no power to stand up to Matthew. If he truly wanted her to have the baby, he’d find a way to make it happen. She might as well strike a deal with him, something she could live with.
Matthew considered her words for a moment. Then, his answer came swiftly, almost too easily. “Fine by me.”
A wave of emotions washed over Veronica—relief, guilt, frustration—all blending into one overwhelming feeling. Her back hunched slightly as she lowered her head, staring at the ground in silence.
I’m powerless, she thought. It’s because I’m weak that I can’t protect my parents, and I can’t even control what happens to my own body. But maybe, just maybe, this is my only chance to make things right.
“However, there’s one condition,” Matthew added, his voice as commanding as ever. “You must move to the Kings Residence.”
“I’ll do it in a few days,” Veronica replied softly, her voice tinged with exhaustion. “I need some time to myself, to think.”
Matthew nodded, though he wasn’t particularly pleased with the delay. “Fine,” he said. “Take your time. But I expect you to move in soon.”
With that, he turned and walked to his car, leaving her standing on the side of the road, feeling the chill of his departure deep in her bones.
He only sees me as a ‘reproductive tool,’ Veronica thought, a shiver running down her spine. Otherwise, how could he be so cold?
Back at the Kings Residence, Matthew entered the house to find his mother, Elizabeth, waiting for him.
“How is Veronica?” she asked, but her true concern was more about the child she carried.
Matthew’s response was cold and indifferent. “I can allow Veronica Murphy to give birth to a child for the Kings family, but my woman must be someone who matches me. No exceptions.”
Recently, Matthew had been giving a lot of thought to his future—his family’s future—and he’d spent considerable time with Tiffany Larson. Tiffany was talented, well-connected, and beautiful, with impeccable character. He considered her the ideal candidate to marry into the Kings family.
Elizabeth’s face soured when she heard Tiffany’s name. “What is so great about that Tiffany girl?”
Matthew didn’t miss a beat. “She saved my life. That alone makes it logical for me to marry her.”
He’d even suspected Tiffany’s involvement in his parents’ car accident at one point, but after further investigation, he’d learned she was in no way connected to the incident.
Elizabeth paused, her expression unreadable. “But you remember what I said, don’t you? Whoever carries your child is the one you will marry. Does that no longer count?”
Elizabeth genuinely liked Veronica, and despite all that had happened, she believed Veronica was a rare and good-hearted person.
Matthew’s voice hardened. “Our family is one of nobility, Mother. Veronica isn’t worthy to be the future mistress of this family. We deal with wealthy families every day—do you honestly think someone like her is someone we can proudly show to the world?”
Matthew’s focus wasn’t love. It never had been. His sole concern was his family’s legacy, their wealth, and their power. Marrying Veronica, simply because she was pregnant with his child, would only hinder the Kings family’s future.
Elizabeth fell silent, unsure of what to say. The truth was undeniable—Tiffany would be the best choice for the Kings family.
But she wasn’t entirely without reservations. “But the child… It belongs to Veronica. If word gets out, what will we do?”
Matthew had already thought this through. “I’ll give Veronica a generous amount of compensation. And when she gives birth, I’ll announce that the child is mine and Tiffany’s. We’ll get engaged, and I’ll make sure Tiffany stays out of the public eye until the baby is born.”
He was determined to make everything work in his favor.
Elizabeth sighed, feeling the weight of the situation. “Whatever,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “I’m too old to be teaching you how to make your decisions. But don’t be cruel to Veronica. Despite everything, she’s a good girl—a rarity in this world.”
It was Elizabeth who had orchestrated the circumstances that led to Veronica sleeping with Matthew, but now that everything had unfolded, Elizabeth wanted Matthew to be responsible. However, Matthew’s path had already been set in his mind.
Elizabeth walked away, leaving Matthew to brood in silence.
Outside, Veronica was still lost in her thoughts when her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat. It was Xavier.
“Roni,” came his teasing voice. “Didn’t you say you’d buy me dinner? What’s the deal? Are you going back on your word?”
Even through the phone, Xavier’s carefree and confident tone was infectious. For a brief moment, Veronica envied him. He came from a wealthy family, and despite the ridicule he faced, he still lived life on his own terms, doing whatever he wanted.
“Of course not!” she said, trying to sound cheerful. “Let’s meet at John’s on Pines Street in an hour.”
“Alrighty! I’ll be there. Need me to pick you up?”
“Nah,” she replied. “I’ll be fine.”
“Okay, see you soon.”
After hanging up, Veronica geared up and made her way to the Twilight Club. Once there, she met with the manager and handed in her resignation. The manager agreed without hesitation and immediately instructed the finance department to settle her dues.
She knew Twilight Club was under Matthew’s control, so the quick acceptance didn’t surprise her.
She bid farewell to her friends in the security department, noting that Cody wasn’t around to say goodbye. She would have to catch him another time.
As she left the club and rode toward John’s on Pines Street, she noticed Xavier’s sleek Maserati parked out front. Xavier was inside, casually playing with his phone, waiting for her.
For a moment, Veronica felt that Xavier—though a playboy—was far more human than Matthew. She walked up to the car, knocking lightly on the window.
Through the slightly cracked window, she smirked. “You’re flirting with girls again? You know karma’s a b*tch, right?”
