Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter 76
Veronica pulled out a sleek, black card from her purse, its surface embossed with the logo of a prestigious bank in gold. It looked luxurious, almost too refined.
The moment the card appeared, a stunned silence fell over the room. Everyone’s eyes widened in disbelief, especially Tiffany’s. Her face twisted with jealousy, and she couldn’t hold back her sharp intake of breath. “This… Is this… the Centurion Card?” she gasped.
Floch, too, froze in place. His eyes flicked to Rachel, his mind racing as he tried to process what he was seeing. He was utterly taken aback, not expecting this development at all.
Elizabeth, however, seemed unbothered by the shocked reactions. She flashed a pleased smile at Matthew. “Ha! Now that’s about right,” she said, her tone light and approving. “You’re Veronica’s brother, so that’s the least you can do.”
“But… Old Mrs. Kings, this is the Centurion Card! It has unlimited credit. Matthew just gave this to Veronica so casually. What if she spends it all on something unnecessary? This card can literally buy anything—even a plane!” Rachel was quick to seize the moment, her voice laced with thinly veiled concern.
Her words were carefully chosen, aiming to suggest that Veronica, having come from the countryside, might not be equipped to handle such wealth. Rachel’s strategy was clear: she wanted to make it sound like the rural girl was prone to frivolous spending, even though she had no right to comment on Veronica’s upbringing.
“Yeah, Mom’s right!” Tiffany joined in, her tone dripping with feigned concern. “Grandma, Veronica just came back to Bloomstead, and she hasn’t been exposed to the urban lifestyle. If she’s given too much money all at once, it could spoil her.”
Veronica listened to their pointed remarks, gradually realizing that the card in her hand was not just any ordinary credit card—it was the infamous Centurion Card, a symbol of extreme wealth, capable of making almost any luxury accessible at a moment’s notice. She had thought it was a VVIP card, a token of Matthew’s status, but now she saw the reality of its power.
Elizabeth, still smiling, turned to her with a glint in her eyes. “It’s no big deal. I only have one god-granddaughter, and she deserves all the best things on earth.”
Veronica’s heart swelled with affection for Elizabeth. The old woman’s words were kind and reassuring, and the warmth in her tone made Veronica feel more at home than ever.
Elizabeth’s gaze softened as she looked at Veronica. “Next time you have any problems, come to me or your brother. You have us behind you, and I won’t let anyone bully you. As for this money, use it however you like. Don’t be shy to use your brother’s money—he’s very rich.”
For a brief moment, Veronica caught a flash of something in Elizabeth’s eyes—something more than just kindness, maybe even a hint of mischief—but it was gone before she could fully understand it. All she knew was that Elizabeth’s words were a subtle jab at the Larsons, and she couldn’t help but feel satisfied by their discomfort.
At that point, the Larsons’ faces had turned a few shades darker. Floch, clearly feeling the heat, awkwardly tucked away the card he had been holding and dared not bring up the idea of Veronica returning home with them again. There was nothing more to say in the face of Elizabeth’s clear favor.
Dinner proceeded, but the tension between the two families was palpable. Floch, though, finally recognized that Elizabeth’s affection for Veronica was genuine, and he decided to make one last, futile attempt to steer things in their favor. “Veronica, why don’t you come home with us for a while? We’ve missed you,” he said, trying to sound convincing.
Elizabeth’s response was immediate and firm. “She’s staying here. No need to discuss it further.” Her tone left no room for negotiation, and the Larsons knew better than to argue.
After dinner, the Larsons departed, with Tiffany in tow. Matthew, however, volunteered to drive Veronica home, and she thanked Elizabeth quietly before they left.
“Grandma, thank you for everything today,” Veronica whispered, holding onto Elizabeth’s hand with genuine affection.
Elizabeth smiled warmly, squeezing her hand. “It’s no trouble at all, dear. I’m your grandma, after all. It’s my job to dote on you. Just come visit me whenever you can. That’s enough for me.”
Veronica felt a wave of emotion wash over her as she hugged Elizabeth before finally breaking away. “Alright, Grandma, get some rest. We’ll be on our way now.”
As they left the Kings residence, Floch and Rachel said their goodbyes, their faces stiff with unspoken resentment. The tension continued to hang in the air as the two families walked together toward the front.
Floch, ever eager to make conversation, attempted to address Matthew. “Matthew, you’re already engaged to Tiffany, yet the two of you are still living apart. If word gets out, there’ll be all sorts of speculation.”
“Yeah, you should be staying together,” Rachel added, trying to offer her own input. She had always been concerned with appearances, and the fact that Tiffany and Matthew weren’t living together was a topic of constant gossip.
Although the Larsons had hoped to leverage their connection with Matthew and his wealth, they no longer viewed Veronica as a threat. She was no longer a viable match for him, especially with her newfound status as Elizabeth’s god-granddaughter. The Larsons were quick to disregard her as a potential rival.
Tiffany, though, was noticeably quiet. She walked beside them, her expression conflicted, her lips pressed together in a faint, knowing smile. Despite her outward silence, inside, she was secretly thrilled.
Matthew’s voice broke the tension. “I’m just following the Kings family rule.”
The statement left everyone in the group speechless. After a long pause, Rachel gathered herself and asked, “Then when do you two plan to get married?”
Matthew’s response was cold and dismissive. “We can discuss this at a later stage.”
His words were like a bucket of ice water, leaving Tiffany shivering internally. Her smile faltered as she absorbed the implications of his response. Matthew’s detachment was clear, and it stung.
Floch wanted to press further, but Rachel stopped him with a subtle motion. It was clearly not the right moment for such a discussion.
As they reached the entrance and went their separate ways, Floch and Rachel climbed into their car, while Tiffany lingered outside, her gaze fixed on Matthew. She stepped closer to him, arms opening as she reached out to him.
“Matthew,” she murmured, her voice soft and pleading. “I really want to stay with you. Please.”
Matthew, already uncomfortable, could smell the overpowering scent of her designer perfume. It was a stark reminder of her calculated presence, and it made him grimace inwardly.
He glanced over at Veronica, who had just turned to look at him. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and an unfamiliar tension surged through Matthew’s chest. Veronica’s expression was unreadable, but he could tell she wasn’t interested in witnessing the couple’s display of affection. She turned away quickly, heading to the car with an aloofness that made Matthew feel inexplicably unsettled.
“Have you forgotten my words?” Matthew’s tone was clipped and firm, his posture rigid as he kept his hands in his pockets.
The words cut through Tiffany like a blade. She flinched visibly, the hurt flashing in her eyes. Her lips trembled as tears began to well up.
Matthew, seeing her face crumble, let out a resigned sigh. His fingers twitched, and for a fleeting moment, he reached out, patting her awkwardly on the back. “Go home now and get some rest.”
Tiffany’s heart fluttered with a mixture of relief and satisfaction. His actions, however small, made her feel like he cared deeply for her. With a bright smile, she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek softly.
Matthew instinctively shifted his head, but the kiss still landed. He turned his gaze to the side, his eyes catching Veronica’s reflection in the rearview mirror. Veronica’s darkened expression made it clear she had seen everything.
Tiffany, blissfully unaware of the tension, stepped back and happily entered the car, ready to leave.
Matthew stood still, watching as the Larsons drove away, and only then did he pull a limited-edition handkerchief from his suit pocket. With a grimace, he wiped the spot where Tiffany’s kiss had lingered, then tossed the handkerchief into the bin with a visible look of disgust.
