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Novel Catalog
Chapter 90
Matthew noticed that Veronica hadn’t slept properly in the last two days, so he couldn’t bring himself to wake her up. Gently, he draped a blanket over her, and quietly made his way to the study.
Though the blanket landed softly, it still stirred Veronica from her rest. She blinked a few times and, feeling more refreshed, decided to stretch for a moment. After a few more minutes of resting, she went to the bathroom to change into more comfortable clothes. She then borrowed a book from the study and settled back on the couch to read.
It didn’t feel like much time had passed, but when Matthew came out of his study a while later, he saw Veronica still absorbed in her book. Without a word, he snatched it from her hands. “It’s 2:00 AM. Time for bed,” he said, sounding like a stern older brother.
“Give it back!” Veronica protested, glaring at him in frustration as her hands emptied of the book she had been reading. “I was just getting to the good part!”
Matthew raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you going to Almeida tomorrow?” he reminded her, holding the book behind his back.
“It won’t affect me. I’ll still wake up on time,” she replied, unbothered.
“Go to sleep.” His voice was firm as he turned and walked back toward his room, taking the book with him.
“Matt–” Veronica began to call his name, but before she could finish, Matthew slammed his door shut, leaving her fuming. “You brute! You selfish, arrogant bastard!” she yelled, her voice echoing through the quiet apartment.
With no book to occupy her, Veronica felt bored and restless. Then, remembering the title of the book, she quickly searched for it on a reading app on her phone. She found the chapter she was reading and picked up where she left off.
And so, Veronica continued reading, losing track of time until it was 5:00 AM. When sleep finally overtook her, her eyelids grew heavy and she collapsed on the couch, exhausted.
Meanwhile, Matthew stood by the couch for a moment, watching her sleep. He wondered, Does she always sleep this late? His curiosity was brief, and without thinking much further, he carefully picked her up and carried her to her bedroom.
When he placed her gently on the bed, he paused to watch her sleep. The sight of her peaceful expression made her look delicate, like a quiet, content cat. It was a stark contrast to her usual fiery demeanor.
“Mm…” Veronica murmured as Matthew reached out to push a strand of hair away from her face. She swatted his hand away in her sleep with a soft groan.
Matthew couldn’t help himself. He wrapped his arms around her like an octopus, pulling her close. She found a comfortable position and drifted back to sleep in his arms. He lay next to her, staring quietly at her face—at her closed eyes, and the curve of her lips.
Unable to resist, he leaned down and kissed her softly. Her lips were cool and soft, and there was a hint of fragrance that made him lose control of his emotions.
For a moment, he let himself indulge in the feeling. But as a wave of heat hit him, he quickly pulled back, his heart racing. This feels like playing with fire.
Her face, so similar to Tiffany’s, didn’t stir any interest in him. But Veronica… there was something different about her. Her scent, the way she made him feel at ease, made his emotions swirl in a way he couldn’t explain.
He sighed, allowing her to stay in his arms for a little longer as her breathing deepened and she slipped into a deeper sleep. When she was soundly asleep, he gently released her and hurried out of her room.
I need to keep my distance from her, he thought uneasily. It’s hard to trust myself around her.
The next morning, Veronica woke up at 7:00 AM, but by the time she opened her eyes, Matthew had already gotten out of bed. She found him sitting at the dining table, eating breakfast. The delicious smells of food filled the air, but instead of sitting down to eat, she simply got herself a glass of water.
Matthew glanced at her and offered, “Come and eat.”
Veronica, still feeling a bit tired, shook her head. “No, I don’t think I want to eat.”
She couldn’t believe how expensive the oatmeal was. One bowl had already cost 300, and if she ate another, it would be another 300 down the drain.
Her stomach, however, had other ideas. It rumbled loudly, reminding her that she was hungry. She awkwardly placed a hand over her belly and quickly retreated to the living room, sitting down on the couch in defeat.
Matthew, noticing her discomfort, couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her. “I won’t charge you for the meal,” he said.
Veronica perked up at once, her eyes lighting up. “You won’t charge me?” she asked, suddenly hopeful.
“No,” Matthew replied, his tone flat.
Veronica beamed at him, feeling mischievous. “You’re the best, bro,” she said sweetly, before sitting down at the table. She eagerly glanced down at the oatmeal. “What kind of oatmeal is it today?”
“Nutty banana oatmeal.”
“That’s exactly what I wanted!” she exclaimed, scooping a spoonful into her mouth. “It’s so delicious.”
As she chewed, she sighed contentedly. “Which brand is this? The taste is amazing. Is it expensive? Can I even afford it?”
“It’s expensive,” Matthew said curtly, continuing to eat. The simplicity of his words conveyed the high cost of the meal.
Veronica frowned but didn’t press further. “Well, I guess I’ll just enjoy it while I can,” she muttered under her breath. Then, her thoughts turned to Almeida. “By the way, I won’t be back for the next two weeks, so you can enjoy your quiet life.”
“Okay,” Matthew responded, without much enthusiasm.
“Hmph. I knew it. If Grandma didn’t like me, you wouldn’t have let me stay here,” Veronica muttered under her breath.
“I’m glad you understand,” Matthew replied dryly.
Veronica rolled her eyes in exasperation. You bastard. She was tempted to say something else, but decided to bite her tongue.
After finishing breakfast, she cleaned her dishes and headed to her room to pack. When she emerged, luggage in hand, she waved at Matthew with a mockingly sweet smile. “Matthew, I’m leaving now. Don’t miss me too much.”
Matthew, sitting casually on the couch, shot her a cold look.
Veronica just grinned and replied sarcastically, “Hehe, I said I’m leaving, so don’t miss me too much.”
“Get out,” Matthew said in a low, commanding voice, his tone cutting through the room.
Veronica, unfazed, rolled her eyes and walked toward the elevator. As she entered, she mumbled to herself, “At least we’ve been housemates for a while. Can’t believe he does this to me…”
When the elevator doors opened to the underground floor, she spotted Mr. Riler, who was carrying a suitcase. “Mr. Riler, are you heading out too? Why do you have a suitcase?” she asked curiously.
“Oh… it’s the boss’s suitcase,” he replied quickly, realizing she was referring to Matthew’s luggage.
“Well, I hope you have a safe trip,” Veronica said with a wave, turning to leave.
Behind her, Thomas wished her well. “Safe travels, Miss Murphy.”
She waved without looking back. “Thank you.”
Look at that, she thought. Thomas is the only one who treats me well. What a sweet guy.
