Veronica gasped in surprise as she was abruptly shoved into the lounge, the door slamming shut behind her. Her heart raced, but before she could react, a figure loomed in front of her. The person who had pulled her in was none other than Matthew, his eyes dark with a mix of anger and something else she couldn’t quite decipher.
“Matthew?” she stammered, her voice trembling slightly. The unexpected encounter left her feeling vulnerable and unsure of what was about to happen.
Matthew didn’t immediately respond. Instead, he looked her up and down, his gaze cold and calculating. “You really think you can just waltz in here and make a scene, Veronica?” His voice was low, edged with frustration.
Veronica took a step back, her back pressing against the wall as she instinctively tried to create some distance between them. “What do you want, Matthew?” she asked, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her.
Matthew remained silent for a moment, studying her with a mixture of disbelief and contempt. “I never thought you’d be the type of woman who would come here to cause trouble,” he said finally, his words laced with disdain. “You’re nothing but a delivery girl, and yet you think you can waltz into my engagement party, play your little games, and get away with it?”
Veronica’s stomach churned with nausea—not from her pregnancy this time, but from the harsh words he was throwing at her. She had expected some tension, but not this level of venom.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. “I’m not here to cause trouble, Matthew. I didn’t even want to come, but I had no choice.” Her voice was steady now, but her mind was racing. She couldn’t let him provoke her.
Matthew’s lips curled into a sneer, and for a brief moment, Veronica saw the man she used to know—the one who could turn everything into a game, who could manipulate people to get what he wanted. But now, that smirk felt colder, more calculating.
“You think you’re clever, don’t you?” Matthew continued, stepping closer. “Do you really think you can just hide behind that little charade with Xavier and get away with it? You think I don’t see through you?”
Veronica’s chest tightened. She knew exactly what he was insinuating. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her react. Not now, not when everything was falling apart.
“You don’t understand anything, Matthew,” she said softly, her voice almost a whisper. “You don’t know what it’s like to fight for every breath, to fight for your family, for your future. You live in a world where everything is handed to you on a silver platter. But that’s not me.” She could feel her pulse quicken as the words escaped her lips. “I’m not here to make trouble for you. I’m here because I have to be.”
For a brief second, Matthew’s eyes flickered—an emotion, maybe regret, flashed across his face. But it was gone before she could fully register it.
“You’ll regret this, Veronica,” he muttered, his voice softer now but still filled with anger. “You should have stayed away.”
But Veronica had had enough. She lifted her chin, her posture straightening. “No, Matthew. I’m done letting you dictate my life.”
She pushed past him, not bothering to look back as she exited the lounge. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her resolve had hardened. She was done being the pawn in their game. Whether Matthew or Tiffany liked it or not, she had her own path to follow now.
And no one—not even Xavier, despite his protection—could stop her from walking it.
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