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Novel Catalog
Chapter 5
In the Kings Residence’s spacious living room, Veronica, who had been brought here against her will, tried to make an excuse to leave. “It’s getting late, madam. I need to head to the hospital to deliver meals to my parents.”
Elizabeth, however, responded with a calm smile. “I’ve already arranged for your parents to be transferred to our private hospital. They’ll be well cared for by professionals, so you don’t need to worry.”
Veronica’s eyes widened, her face darkening. She shot to her feet, clearly upset. “Madam, are you trying to use my parents to coerce me into staying?”
Elizabeth chuckled softly, unfazed by Veronica’s reaction. “What nonsense are you imagining, my dear? You and my grandson—well, it’s fate that brought you together. You must know, Matthew has never had a woman in his life, despite his age. So, I had to resort to… unconventional methods. I drugged him. At first, I wanted him with the Spencer girl, but he ended up with you instead. Luckily, you don’t seem so bad.”
Veronica froze, the weight of Elizabeth’s words hitting her like a punch. So, this was all orchestrated… She couldn’t believe it. “I—” she started, her voice faltering.
Before she could continue, a silver-haired butler entered the room. “Young Master Matthew has arrived, Old Madam.”
“Tell that brat to get in here,” Elizabeth snapped.
The butler nodded and left. A moment later, Matthew entered, his presence commanding the room. He wore a silvery-gray suit that emphasized his striking features, his gaze settling on Veronica for a moment before turning to Elizabeth. “Grandma.”
“I thought you wouldn’t show up at all,” Elizabeth teased, though her tone held a trace of affection. She motioned to Veronica. “You’re just in time, Matthew. I want you to meet someone—”
Matthew interrupted, his voice steady. “That can wait, Grandma. Let me introduce my girlfriend first.”
Veronica blinked in surprise. Girlfriend? Her mind raced with confusion and disbelief. How can he—
Before she could form a coherent thought, Matthew gestured toward the door. “Come in.”
Everyone turned their attention to the doorway as a woman in a striking aqua-blue pleated dress entered, her head slightly bowed. Why does she look so familiar? Veronica’s stomach churned as her eyes met the newcomer’s.
The woman lifted her gaze, her surprise mirrored in Veronica’s. Her? Both women stared at each other in shock, the realization dawning in an instant.
Matthew smiled faintly. “This is my girlfriend, Tiffany.”
Veronica’s heart skipped a beat. Tiffany Larson? Her shock was evident as she tried to process the sight of the woman who had been the catalyst of so much confusion. Tiffany, the celebrated beauty and talent from the Larson family, standing before her.
Veronica had just been caught in the web of a cruel twist of fate.
Elizabeth, ever sharp, didn’t miss a beat. “Isn’t that Tiffany Larson, the one from the Larson family, the one known for both beauty and talent in Bloomstead? How did you manage to get her to pose as your girlfriend, Matthew?”
Tiffany, ever the picture of grace, greeted Elizabeth with a polite smile. “Nice to meet you, Old Mrs. Kings.”
Matthew raised his left hand, the black diamond ring on his finger glinting under the light. “I was in a car accident a week ago, and Tiffany was the one who saved me. When she pulled me out of the wreck, I gave her this ring. You know its significance, Grandma.”
The ring. Veronica’s eyes locked onto it instantly. That’s the ring I found in my pocket when I saved Matthew…
Realization hit her like a wave. So, it wasn’t an accident. He put it in my pocket, and now Tiffany—she must have stolen it from me when she showed up the next day. She knew exactly what it meant to him.
Veronica stood, her voice rising. “That ring was—”
Before she could finish, Tiffany’s voice cut her off. “Why are you here, Veronica? I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Veronica’s blood boiled at the audacity, but Tiffany wasn’t done. She held onto Matthew’s arm and smiled sweetly. “This is the man I told you about, the one I risked my life to save.”
Veronica’s fists clenched, her anger barely contained. How dare she lie so smoothly? But she held back, knowing she had no solid proof. The only evidence she had was the ring, the name she had used at the hospital, and the surveillance footage. But Tiffany, knowing all this, must have destroyed the footage, leaving Veronica with no way to prove what had truly happened.
Matthew, his gaze narrowing, studied Veronica intently. “Is that so?”
Tiffany, now pretending to be the epitome of innocence, turned to Veronica with a faint smile. “What a coincidence, Veronica. I didn’t expect to meet you here. Do you know Matthew too?”
Veronica didn’t respond directly. Instead, she turned to Elizabeth, trying to keep her composure. “Madam, since Young Master Matthew already has a girlfriend, I see no reason to stay. I’ll be leaving now.”
She was testing the waters, planning her next move carefully. She couldn’t afford to make a rash decision with Matthew’s power and influence hanging over her. And the Larsons—Veronica knew they would use her adoptive parents as leverage at any given moment.
As Veronica started to turn toward the door, Elizabeth stood up abruptly and grabbed her hand. “Sit down, young lady,” she commanded, her voice sharp.
Reluctantly, Veronica sat back down, though she was seething with frustration.
Elizabeth turned to Matthew with a fierce look. “Come with me, you rascal!”
Matthew didn’t hesitate. “Yes, Grandma.”
As he followed Elizabeth into the inner room, he threw Veronica a glance that spoke volumes. The door closed with a soft squeak, leaving Tiffany and Veronica alone.
Unable to contain her anger any longer, Tiffany marched up to Veronica. “You—” she began, her voice seething with malice.
But before she could finish, Veronica’s hand shot out, delivering two sharp slaps to Tiffany’s ears. “What else do you know how to do, besides calling me a bitch?” Veronica sneered, her voice laced with contempt. “Oh right, you’re good at pretending to be the good girl, stealing credit from others. Isn’t that right, sis?”
