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Novel Catalog
Chapter 98
Veronica couldn’t help but feel a little queasy from Melissa’s exaggerated affection. It was clear that Melissa had latched onto her ability to throw money around, and Veronica couldn’t deny the allure of that. She found herself grinning despite the irritation.
“Haha, Veronica, you’re really too kind,” Melissa said with a giggle, making a heart shape with her fingers at Veronica. The gesture was so exaggerated, it sent a chill down Veronica’s spine—one that didn’t quite feel warm and fuzzy. Instead, it gave her goosebumps.
Ignoring the feeling, Veronica put on her shoes, grabbed a flashlight, and headed to the house next door. She wasn’t wasting time; she had a plan, and she was going to make it work. The house was familiar to her, and the night air was still as she walked briskly to Matthew’s bedroom. She knocked lightly on the door and called out, “Matthew?”
The villagers here had a habit of leaving their doors open for convenience, so Veronica took the liberty to enter without waiting for a response. No answer came, but she stepped inside anyway, the sound of the creaking door echoing in the quiet hallway.
After a few seconds, the door to Matthew’s bedroom opened. He stood there in the dim light, his face cold and distant. “What?” His voice was curt, carrying an edge of annoyance, clearly still holding a grudge from earlier.
Veronica raised an eyebrow. He was definitely petty if this was how he acted after a simple argument. She could almost hear him thinking: That woman… so infuriating.
“Um, about that…” Veronica hesitated for a moment, choosing her words carefully. “I have something urgent to talk to you about. Could you come with me?” she added, lowering her voice so only he could hear.
After a long silence, Matthew’s expression softened just a bit, and with a small grunt, he nodded, following her outside.
They walked into the moonlit courtyard. The cool night air and soft light from the moon barely lit the surroundings, but it was enough to cast their shadows on the ground. Veronica suddenly winced, clutching her stomach with a soft groan.
“Ahhh, my tummy… it hurts,” she whined, pressing herself against Matthew’s arm for support.
Matthew’s eyes widened with concern. His earlier coldness melted into something softer. “What’s wrong? Did you get food poisoning?”
“N-No…” Veronica winced dramatically, squeezing out a few more pained words.
“Well, what is it, then?” Matthew’s voice was laced with genuine care now.
Veronica’s face contorted in faux agony. “I… I just need to poop. Wait right here.”
Before he could even process her words, Veronica darted off into the darkness, leaving Matthew staring after her in utter confusion. He stood there, slightly stunned, before muttering to himself, She’s too… blunt. Doesn’t she realize how out of place that is?
As he waited in the silence of the night, his mind wandered to thoughts of the Kings Family. If she ever did join them… he thought, his brow furrowing. His mind pictured Veronica in a bridal gown, smiling sweetly at him on their wedding night. The thought made him shake his head as if trying to clear the image.
“What am I thinking?” he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
It didn’t take long before Veronica returned, though when she did, she didn’t speak. She simply stood in front of him, a subtle scent of perfume in the air—a stark contrast to the night’s natural smells of flora.
Matthew turned to her. “So, how are you feeling now?” he asked, genuinely concerned but still maintaining his cool exterior.
Before Veronica could respond, someone else appeared from the shadows.
“It’s me, Melissa,” the voice came, and Matthew turned to see the woman who had stepped forward, a bit too eager in her approach.
Melissa had clearly prepared for this moment. She had sprayed herself with perfume, hoping that the scent would charm Matthew. She could hardly suppress the butterflies fluttering in her stomach as she stood before him.
Matthew didn’t respond immediately, eyeing her suspiciously. “What are you doing here? Where’s Veronica?”
Melissa hesitated just a moment before responding, “Veronica… she asked me to tell you to wait a little longer. Her stomach still hurts.”
Veronica had drilled the words into Melissa’s head, ensuring that she said exactly this when she came back to Matthew. She had planned it this way, knowing Melissa could buy her time—and earn a bit of cash in the process.
Matthew took a long drag from his cigarette, his eyes now fixed on the stars above, the cool night breeze carrying the smoke. “Okay then, you can leave now.”
Melissa was reluctant to leave, but she didn’t want to push him too far. She lingered, hoping to spark a conversation. “Matthew, you love Tiffany, right?”
Matthew didn’t answer right away, and Melissa pressed on. “Veronica looks exactly like Tiffany… but you chose to be engaged to her instead. Why?”
The question seemed to drift in the air, unanswered, as Matthew remained silent, staring up at the stars. He seemed lost in thought, and Melissa didn’t press any further.
After a few long moments, he finally spoke. “It’s just an engagement,” he said, almost dismissively.
Melissa’s eyes lit up, her heart racing. “Just an engagement? Does that mean… things could change?”
His words were brief and emotionless, but Melissa clung to them as if they were a promise. Things can change, she thought, her excitement building. She could hardly believe it—Matthew, the man she had admired from afar, had just given her a sliver of hope.
Her voice trembled as she asked, “Does that mean you might not marry Tiffany in the future?”
Matthew looked over at her, his expression unreadable. Then, with a brief glance toward the chief’s house, he answered quietly, “I suppose anything can change.”
The words hung in the air, and for a moment, it felt as though they were wrapped in something unspoken—something that neither of them could quite understand yet.
For Melissa, the conversation was a revelation. She stood there, feeling a rush of emotions. Maybe things could change. Maybe she had a chance.
But for Matthew, he simply turned away, leaving Melissa standing in the moonlight, with only the lingering scent of tobacco and perfume in the air.
