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Novel Catalog
Chapter 97
Since the chief had already arranged things, Veronica didn’t argue. She calmly accepted the situation, though she found it strange. After all, this wasn’t a city with plenty of options—this was a small village.
She retrieved her towel and body wash from her luggage and, armed with a flashlight, made her way to the pond by the entrance. Sitting on a large stone near the water, Veronica dipped her feet into the cool water, letting her legs swing back and forth, creating small splashes.
The night was peaceful, with the sounds of frogs croaking and grasshoppers chirping all around. It was a serene moment, and as she gazed into the darkness, small green lights blinked around her. Fireflies. They were something she hadn’t seen in years, not since she was a child. She had forgotten how magical it was to watch them flicker in the night.
Suddenly, she stood up and decided to take a quick swim. The water was deep and cold, but it was refreshing in the dead of night when the air was crisp and still. She swam for a while, then sat back on the stone to wash her hair, allowing the night wind to dry her skin. The cool air sent shivers through her, but it felt invigorating.
Just as she was about to finish, a faint crack of a twig broke the silence. Veronica turned her head, her eyes catching the dim light of a cigarette. She instantly recognized the figure—Matthew.
“When did you arrive?” she asked, her voice tinged with annoyance. Was he watching her while she bathed?
Though she was dressed in activewear, with shorts and a T-shirt, it felt awkward that Matthew had been there. It was clear he knew she was out there, yet he lingered in the shadows anyway.
Matthew stood silently by a tree, smoking his cigarette. The ember burned brightly, glowing like a tiny firefly in the dark. He didn’t respond immediately, only puffing on his cigarette, making no attempt to explain his presence.
Veronica didn’t want to deal with him right now, especially since he was still upset over their earlier argument. Without a word, she stood and began walking back toward the house.
She entered her room, changed into fresh clothes, and lay on the bed. The quiet was a relief, though sleep didn’t come easily. Melissa, who was an insomniac, noticed Veronica’s restlessness and closed in to ask, “So, you’re my brother’s girlfriend? I heard from Dad that you intentionally made yourself look ugly. What was that all about? Was it because you looked like Tiffany’s doppelganger?”
Veronica raised an eyebrow at the question. The Crawfords knew about her background—this wasn’t surprising since the Larsons had revealed her identity in the media, stating that she was supposed to return to the Larson family.
Melissa, acting like a gossip-hungry middle-aged woman, continued, “Why did the Larson Family abandon you back then? Was there something wrong with you?”
Veronica shot back immediately, “I don’t know if something’s wrong with my body, but I do know there’s definitely something wrong with your brain!”
Melissa grinned. “Wow, Roni. You’re so fierce. No wonder my brother likes you so much. I like your personality too, but I’m more into Matthew. Hey, I also heard you saved Old Mrs. Kings before. She wants to recognize you as her god-granddaughter, is that right?”
Melissa’s voice was dripping with curiosity, as if Veronica’s life was the latest scandal in town.
Veronica turned her head slightly, not really in the mood for this conversation. “Why are you asking something you already know the answer to?”
“So, it’s true?” Melissa’s eyes widened, and she leaned forward eagerly. “That’s great news! Tell me more about Matthew.”
“Why should I tell you?” Veronica replied bluntly. “You’re not paying me.”
“Oh, money? I have plenty of that!” Melissa laughed, pulling out her phone. “I’ll add you on WhatsApp and transfer the money. Oh, wait, no signal here. Just a minute.”
She grabbed a bag from the corner of the room, rummaged through it, and handed Veronica a thick stack of cash. “Here, this is for you. Now, can you tell me everything about Matthew?”
Veronica stared at the fresh, crisp bills. The cash was wrapped in white paper, and the sight of it made her eyes widen. “Why did you bring so much cash to Almeida County?”
“I heard there’d be no signal here and we’d need cash. So, I brought a hundred thousand.” Melissa sighed heavily. “If I had known there wouldn’t even be a supermarket here, I would never have bothered. It nearly killed me carrying all this money.”
As Melissa rambled, Veronica’s eyes sparkled. This could be interesting…
Melissa looked like a potential source of useful information. Her naivety might just work in Veronica’s favor. “Alright, everything’s negotiable,” Veronica said smoothly. “Including me telling you all about Matthew. Heck, I could even arrange a date with him for you, if you want. The only catch is…”
She trailed off, tapping her fingers together in a way that made her intentions clear.
Melissa’s eyes lit up. “Really? You could set up a date for me and Matthew?”
“Of course,” Veronica said, with a wink.
Melissa practically jumped up. “Oh my God, Veronica, you’re amazing!”
Veronica raised her hand, stopping Melissa from getting too carried away. “Hold on, though. Didn’t you know Matthew’s already engaged to Tiffany?”
Melissa scoffed. “So what? Even married couples get divorced. If they’re just engaged, that’s not an obstacle for me.”
Veronica’s eyebrow shot up, amused. “Deal. But you’ll have to pay for this favor.”
Melissa grinned, pulling out another stack of cash. “Here’s twenty thousand. Help me set up a meeting with him.”
Veronica stared at the money, then at Melissa, who was looking at her expectantly. “You’re giving me thirty thousand in one go?”
“Well, is it not enough?” Melissa asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “I can add another twenty thousand if you want.”
Veronica chuckled and shook her head. “Hah, no need. Thirty thousand’s more than enough.”
She wasn’t one to turn down a good deal, and thirty thousand for a few words about Matthew seemed like a fair price. “You’ve got yourself a deal, Melissa.”
Excited, Melissa jumped up and hugged Veronica tightly. “I love you! You’re the best!”
“Stop, stop,” Veronica laughed, pushing her off. “You’re giving me a headache.”
As Melissa lay back on the bed, excited about the upcoming arrangement, Veronica couldn’t help but smile. Maybe this village wasn’t so bad after all—at least, not for making a little extra money.
