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Novel Catalog
Chapter 70
Right now, Veronica had to stay in Bloomstead, so she could only use Elizabeth’s identity to keep her parents at ease. She wasn’t about to divulge too much more.
With a quiet sigh, she handed Matthew his phone back. “Thank you,” she said, her voice softer than usual. The lightness in her tone had vanished, replaced with a somber edge as she stared out the window, her gaze distant.
Matthew, noticing the change in her demeanor, felt a sudden pang of concern. He watched her from the corner of his eye as she leaned against the passenger seat, her face turned away, looking out at the passing scenery with a look of helplessness.
“You may be Tiffany’s fiancé, but I’m not afraid you’ll tell them what I said,” she said quietly, breaking the silence. Her voice held a note of finality, as if she had made peace with her own thoughts.
And indeed, she wasn’t afraid. She would have said the same words, even in front of Floch Larson and his wife, without hesitation.
Matthew remained silent, his eyes half-lidded, as though in deep thought. Finally, he spoke, his voice deliberately neutral. “I didn’t hear a thing.”
He mimicked her posture, leaning back in his seat with his eyes shut, feigning ignorance as the car continued its steady course.
Veronica turned her head slightly, surprised by his nonchalant reaction. “You’re her fiancé, so I would find it understandable if you decided to reveal my words.”
Matthew’s eyes flickered open, locking onto hers. There was a slight edge to his gaze, intense and unyielding. “Is this why you agreed to be Grandma’s god-granddaughter?” His voice was laced with an underlying question, a subtle probing that Veronica didn’t miss.
She didn’t hesitate. “Yes.” She was the kind of person who took responsibility for her actions, and if admitting the truth meant acknowledging the situation, then so be it. “Feel free to tell your grandmother what I said too. I don’t mind.”
She was fully aware that Matthew had investigated the kidnapping incident. After all, there was no way he would have known about her involvement in the cruise ship debacle unless he had looked into it. Since he already knew, there was no point in pretending otherwise.
Matthew’s expression softened for a moment, though his voice remained composed. “Your issue with the Larsons doesn’t contradict the fact that Grandma wants to adopt you as her god-granddaughter.”
Veronica paused. She considered his words carefully. Perhaps this was Matthew’s way of showing respect and filial piety toward Elizabeth. Maybe, deep down, he was worried that the truth would hurt her, so he preferred to keep the peace for her sake.
She looked directly at him, her tone unwavering. “What about you, then? You’re Tiffany’s fiancé, after all.”
Matthew’s eyes darkened, but there was no malice in his expression—just a quiet determination. Slowly, he spoke, the words deliberate. “As long as you don’t go overboard, I can choose to turn a blind eye.”
It was simple, direct, and clear. Essentially, he was telling her that as long as she didn’t cause a public scandal or damage the Kings family’s reputation, he could ignore anything else. But Veronica understood the unspoken part—this wasn’t just about protecting the family name. It was about his relationship with Tiffany.
Veronica felt a brief pang of realization. Matthew was deeply in love with Tiffany—so much so that he was willing to overlook even the most egregious behavior from the Larson family. His love for her was powerful enough to blind him to everything else.
At that moment, Veronica couldn’t help but feel the weight of the obstacles she faced. If Matthew was in her way, then her path to revenge was going to be even more difficult than she’d imagined.
As if to break the tension, she suddenly turned her attention to something else. “Could you lend me some money? I want to buy something for your grandmother.”
Matthew didn’t say a word. Instead, he took out a card from his wallet and handed it to her. “There’s no password on it. You can use this.”
“Okay,” Veronica replied, nodding without hesitation. She didn’t question it, just feeling grateful for the help.
She then asked Thomas to stop the car at a nearby mall. As she stepped out, Matthew’s eyes remained on her, though he didn’t say anything.
Thomas, sitting in the driver’s seat, glanced back at Matthew through the rearview mirror. “Young Master Matthew, Miss Murphy and the Larsons—”
Before Thomas could finish, Matthew’s voice came in a quiet, warning tone. “You’d better keep this to yourself.”
Thomas immediately fell silent, sensing the shift in his boss’s mood. He didn’t quite understand what Matthew was thinking, but the tension in the air was palpable.
Not long after, Veronica returned with a few shopping bags in hand. Thomas quickly got out of the car to help her place the items in the trunk before they both got back inside.
As soon as Veronica entered the car and closed the door behind her, she handed Matthew the card back. “I spent five hundred thirty-five and thirty-two cents. I’ll pay you back once I get my replacement ID,” she said, offering him the receipt as well.
Matthew glanced at the receipt and then at her, his gaze cool. “That’s not necessary. You can keep it.”
Veronica was taken aback. “What do you mean by that?”
Matthew shot her a cold look. “I wouldn’t want my sister to be mocked for dressing too shabbily. It would reflect badly on the Kingses.”
Veronica blinked, surprised. She hadn’t expected this response at all. “Oh, is that so?” She couldn’t help but feel a little bewildered. Being his ‘sister’ had certain advantages she hadn’t anticipated.
For a moment, she considered something. Then, as if the thought had suddenly occurred to her, she asked, “If I clash with Tiffany someday, who would you side with?”
The question, for some unknown reason, seemed ridiculous as soon as it left her lips. But it was too late.
Matthew’s gaze shifted slightly toward her, his face remaining inscrutable. “Who would you like me to side with?”
Veronica stammered for a second, taken off guard. “L… Ha…”
She quickly recovered, chuckling awkwardly and changing the subject. “I’ll make good use of this card for now. Once I’ve got my replacement ID, I’ll sort out my own card and pay you back.”
She realized how foolish the question had been, especially considering Matthew’s deep feelings for Tiffany. The man would go to any lengths for her, even ignoring the wrongdoings of the Larson family. Asking such a question had been pointless.
Veronica turned her gaze back toward the window, silencing herself for the rest of the ride.
Meanwhile, Matthew’s eyes remained locked on her, dark and unreadable. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
An hour later, they arrived at the Kings Residence. Veronica got out of the car, and Thomas helped her carry the items inside. As they made their way to the back of the house, Elizabeth’s voice rang out.
“Ah! Isn’t this Veronica here?”
Veronica turned around, her eyes widening when she saw Elizabeth and Tiffany standing together. Tiffany was dressed in a silver, cinched maxi dress, her every movement radiating grace and poise.
Veronica had no disguise this time, and Elizabeth’s shock was obvious as she took in her appearance.
“Who are you?” Elizabeth stammered, clearly taken aback.
“Grandma, it’s me—Veronica. I’m also Tiffany’s younger sister,” Matthew explained smoothly.
Elizabeth’s brows furrowed as she examined Veronica. Her gaze flickered between Veronica and Tiffany, before walking forward with a confused expression. “What’s going on exactly?”
Veronica sighed softly. “I’m sorry, Grandma. I lied to you in the past. I didn’t want to reveal my real appearance for several reasons, so I always wore a disguise when I met with you.”
Elizabeth frowned, scrutinizing her closely. “But that doesn’t make sense. You didn’t have any makeup products when you stayed over at the Kings Residence. How did you manage to put on makeup then?”
Veronica hesitated for a moment, before answering, “I used a special kind of makeup that doesn’t rub off once applied.”
Elizabeth seemed unconvinced, but before she could press further, she simply shook her head, as though lost in thought. The truth of Veronica’s identity seemed to be a puzzle, one she couldn’t quite piece together.
