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Novel Catalog
Chapter 39
After leaving the police station, Floch and Rachel returned to Dragon’s Creek Villa, their minds buzzing with the unfolding situation. Meanwhile, Tiffany, now recovering at home from her hospital discharge, was informed about Veronica’s detention. As she sat on the couch, munching on fruit, she listened to the details with an unsettling calmness.
Instead of being angry, Tiffany chuckled. “Well, if she’s already at the police station, let’s keep her there a bit longer,” she said, the smile on her face both cruel and satisfied. But then her expression shifted to one of curiosity. “Do you think that if we push Veronica too much, she’ll expose her true identity?”
Floch scoffed dismissively. “What’s the worst she could do? She has no money, no power. And she’s already lost Matthew’s child. No one will care about her, not after all that.”
Rachel chimed in, “And even if she did, who’s going to believe her? By the time she’s out of jail in six months, you’ll be married to Matthew and pregnant with his child. That’s a future that won’t leave room for someone like her.”
Tiffany felt an odd sense of triumph at Rachel’s words, the small injury she’d sustained feeling almost worth it if it meant Veronica would be locked away. The thought that she could be rid of Veronica for months, maybe longer, put a wicked smile on Tiffany’s face.
Meanwhile, Xavier had been trying to reach Veronica all day. After multiple unanswered calls and texts, he grew increasingly worried. The last time they spoke, he knew something was off, and now it seemed like she had vanished without a trace. He rushed to Regalia Condominium, but she wasn’t there either. Panic crept in as he scrambled to gather information, finally learning that Veronica was at the police station, detained for hitting Tiffany.
Determined to help, Xavier used his connections to arrange a meeting with Veronica. When he saw her, handcuffed and looking worn, he couldn’t help but frown.
“Roni, are you okay?” he asked, his voice full of concern.
Despite the harsh circumstances, Veronica’s lips curled into a smile when she saw him. “I’m fine. It’s quiet here.”
She sat across from him with an air of calm detachment, though her brow furrowed slightly as she glanced at him. “How did you know I was here?”
Xavier slammed his hand down on the table in frustration. “Floch Larson is a jerk! How could he treat you like this? You’re his daughter!” His outburst filled the small room, and a nearby officer shot him an irritated look.
“Keep it down!” the officer growled, but Xavier ignored him.
The anger that had consumed Xavier’s words faltered as he noticed Veronica’s lack of reaction to his outburst. She was surprisingly calm—too calm. He paused, sensing that something didn’t add up.
Veronica raised an eyebrow. “When did you find out about this?” she asked, her tone almost bored.
“Your family portrait,” Xavier said after a beat, realizing he’d let something slip. “I saw it a few days ago. Mrs. Murphy couldn’t keep it hidden anymore, so she told me everything.”
Veronica sighed, resigned. “I figured your mom must have said something.”
Xavier ran his fingers through his hair, a smirk creeping onto his lips. “I tried to investigate your family, but they covered everything up so well, even the Kings couldn’t find out. But I found out eventually, and here we are.”
Veronica leaned back in her chair, a mixture of amusement and exhaustion in her eyes. “Knowing doesn’t really matter. I just hope you can keep it a secret for now.”
Xavier’s expression turned serious as he shifted closer to her. “You’re not going to let this go, are you? The night Matthew had his car accident, it wasn’t Tiffany who saved him, was it? It was you.”
Veronica’s gaze didn’t waver as she met his. “I’m fine. Thanks for coming to see me, Xavier. But I don’t want you involved in my problems.”
Xavier leaned in, his face full of concern. “Are you seriously not going to let me help you? The Larsons want you behind bars. You’re making this way harder for yourself.”
Veronica’s voice remained steady, even as she stood up to leave. “If you consider me a friend, you’ll stay out of this. I can handle it.”
Xavier’s frown deepened as he followed her to the door. “You really have a plan, don’t you?”
Veronica shot him a quick smile. “Thanks for visiting me. I’ll buy you a beer after I get out of here.” She walked out of the room before he could protest further.
As Xavier left the police station, he couldn’t shake his curiosity. Veronica’s calm demeanor was too much of a front. There was something deeper going on, and he was determined to figure it out. But for now, he would wait and watch.
Later that afternoon, the unexpected happened. A tweet from one of the most influential accounts in Bloomstead went viral. The headline read, “Tiffany Larson, the Most Talented Socialite in Bloomstead, Alleged to Have a Biological Younger Sister!” The post was followed by a shocking photo of Veronica standing beside a young, unidentified woman who looked strikingly similar to Tiffany.
Another account quickly followed with a headline of its own: “The Larsons’ Long Lost Daughter Donated Her Bone Marrow to Randy Larson.”
The two posts ignited a firestorm on social media, and within hours, the news had become the talk of the town.
When Tiffany saw the news, her rage boiled over. She grabbed anything in reach and began throwing it around the room, her face contorted with fury. “Veronica, that b*tch! How dare she do this?!” She couldn’t believe what she was reading. How had Veronica managed to turn the tables like this?
Tiffany’s face turned red with anger as she glared at Rachel. “I told you we needed to get rid of her, didn’t I? If we don’t, we’ll never have peace!”
Rachel, looking shocked and distressed, muttered, “I didn’t think she’d be this clever—she managed to contact those influencers on Twitter?”
Tiffany turned to Floch in panic. “Dad, you have to stop this news. Make it go away! We can’t let it trend like this!”
Floch, who had been smoking a cigar and pondering the situation, shook his head. “What’s the point of trying to shut it down now? Everyone’s already seen it. Reporters are probably gathering outside our house as we speak.”
He leaned back, his expression unreadable, but his tone was sharp. “No wonder Veronica was so calm yesterday. We’ve underestimated her.”
Tiffany’s voice trembled as she asked, “What do we do now?”
Floch’s eyes narrowed, his sharp gaze now filled with dangerous intent. “What else can we do? We get her out of the police station. We’ve got to clean up this mess.”
Tiffany gasped. “What?! But—”
“Enough!” Floch snapped. “What’s done is done. The only way to handle this now is to get her out and deal with her once and for all.”
Half an hour later, Veronica was released from the detention center. As she stepped outside, she saw Xavier waiting for her, a scowl on his face.
Xavier stormed up to her, his voice dripping with frustration. “Where’s your brain, Veronica? You knew the Larsons would come after you. Why are you making things worse for yourself?”
He poked her forehead hard with his finger. “I thought you had it all under control! Instead, you’re just stirring up trouble!”
“Ouch! That hurts!” Veronica rubbed her forehead, clearly annoyed. “Why are you so worked up? Do you really think I’m someone they can easily get rid of?”
She casually placed a hand on his shoulder as if they were old friends. “Come on, let’s go. I’m going home to shower and change. Tonight, I’ll treat you to some snacks and beer.”
Xavier stared at her, exasperated. “You’re in deep trouble, and you’re thinking about drinking?”
He couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry at her ridiculous attitude.
