Veronica felt dizzy, not just from the tension of the situation, but from the way Matthew had dragged and spun her around so suddenly. As he locked the door behind them, his eyes bore into hers with an unsettling intensity. “I warned you before to stay away from Xavier. Do you think my words mean nothing to you now?”
Veronica rubbed her chest, trying to calm herself as the world seemed to tilt. She met his gaze with defiance, her lips curling into a bitter smirk. “Why should I listen to you, Matthew Kings?” she spat, her voice laced with frustration. “Are you my parent? My husband? No. You have no right to tell me how to live.”
She pointed a slender finger at his chest, her anger burning bright. “You think you’re better than me just because you’re rich and powerful, but that doesn’t give you control over my life! You got what you wanted when you slept with me, but then you left me alone, only to get engaged to Tiffany Larson. Are you planning to let her raise my child like it’s hers? Is that what you think of me?”
Her words hit Matthew like a physical blow. The more she spoke, the more enraged and broken she became. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, her voice cracking with emotion. She shoved him away with all her strength. “Do you even see me as a human being?” she demanded, her words full of hurt. “This is my child! It’s mine, not Tiffany’s.”
Her anger gave way to tears, and she trembled, finally breaking down. She had always been so strong, so composed, but today, everything had shattered. Matthew took a step back, almost surprised by her reaction. He watched as she cried, unable to respond to the truth in her words.
Veronica wiped her eyes, her voice now colder but filled with certainty. “Listen to me, Matthew Kings. Even if I die, I will not give birth to this child for you,” she declared, each word sharp and resolute.
Matthew’s gaze darkened. He didn’t want to admit it, but her words had struck a chord. He had no response—no words to make this situation any better.
Veronica’s eyes flashed with defiance once more. “Do you think I’ll give you the chance to regret it? After you made me a promise?” she continued, her voice steady despite the emotional chaos swirling within her. “You have no right to speak to me like that. Not when you’ve already ruined my life.”
Matthew’s patience was wearing thin, but he refused to show weakness. His eyes narrowed, and his voice grew colder. “You’ve always been so defiant, haven’t you? You think you can shout at me just because you’ve hooked up with Xavier?” He grabbed her chin roughly, lifting her face so she had to look at him. “Let me remind you of something, Veronica. You and Xavier—neither of you are in any position to act like this toward me.”
They stood there for a moment, eyes locked, before Matthew spoke again, his voice carrying a dark undertone. “You wanted me to investigate your parents’ accident, right? Well, I’ve done it. The file’s in my office. I’ll hand it to you anytime you decide to move into the Kings Residence. And your father’s brain surgery? I’ll take care of that too.”
Veronica’s heart sank, and she shut her eyes to hide the despair that crept into her expression. “Is this what you call fairness?” she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if she couldn’t believe the path her life had taken.
Matthew released her, his fingers lingering on her forehead as if he were petting her like a pet. A faint smile curved on his lips, though there was no warmth in it. “There’s no such thing as fairness in the adult world, Veronica. You can only talk about fairness when you have power. You should know that by now.”
His words stung, and she swallowed back a bitter laugh. “Yeah, in the adult world, fairness doesn’t exist. Only power matters, and you have all the power,” she muttered, her voice empty of hope.
Matthew seemed satisfied with her response, though it only made her feel more hollow. “Good. Now that you understand, listen up. You’re pregnant with my child. That means, whether you like it or not, you have to accept this. Even if you love Xavier, you’ll have to endure it.”
Veronica’s face twisted with disgust and sadness. “You’re so arrogant, Matthew Kings. Not only are you forcing me to carry your child, but you also took away my right to love someone else. What kind of monster does that?”
She wasn’t the kind of person to let her emotions show easily, but everything had been building up inside her, and she couldn’t hold back anymore. The tears flowed freely now, her frustration and helplessness overwhelming her. Yet, after she cried, something inside her shifted. She pulled herself together, straightening her posture as best she could.
“You’re really not afraid that you’ll push me too far?” she said, her voice tinged with bitterness. “If I die, you’ll never know peace. I’ll haunt you for the rest of your life.”
Matthew’s face twisted in frustration. “Provoke me more, and I might just make a move on you right here.” He took a step toward her, his intentions dark.
Veronica didn’t flinch. “Really? Aren’t you afraid your fiancée will be heartbroken if you do that? You’re truly a heartbreaker, Matthew Kings. I suddenly feel bad for Tiffany.”
Matthew scoffed, his eyes flashing with something darker. “You should feel sorry for yourself,” he sneered.
Despite her appearance, despite her so-called ugliness, Veronica had a way of getting under his skin. Every time she resisted, every time she fought back, something inside him stirred—something that made him want to conquer her even more. He couldn’t explain it, and it frustrated him. But no matter how much he tried to suppress it, he couldn’t stop being drawn to her.
Without another word, he pulled her toward the couch, but there was no rush, no frantic tearing of clothes. Veronica didn’t resist. She merely spoke with calm disdain. “The whole party is downstairs, filled with the rich and famous. If you want to embarrass yourself, go ahead. As for me, I’ve already been humiliated. A few more bites won’t make a difference.”
Matthew’s gaze sharpened, but he didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he glanced toward the door. “With Thomas guarding outside, not even a fly could get in here.”
Veronica’s lips parted, ready to retort, but her phone began to ring. The sound echoed in the tense silence.
Matthew, however, wasn’t interested in letting her take the call. He snatched her phone away and tossed it aside. “So Xavier’s already missing you after just a few minutes? Your so-called ‘ugly face’ doesn’t seem to stop you from being a flirt,” he sneered.
His words stung, but Veronica had no energy left to fight him on this. When her phone rang again, it was Xavier’s name on the screen. Before she could react, Matthew answered the call, putting it on loudspeaker.
Xavier’s voice came through, filled with concern. “Roni, where are you? Why didn’t you answer my calls?”
Veronica froze, her breath catching in her throat. She was trapped—caught between Matthew’s wrath and Xavier’s care. She wanted to speak, to explain, but Matthew wouldn’t give her a chance. He had already taken control.
As Xavier’s voice echoed in the background, Veronica’s world seemed to shrink even further. She was alone in this fight, and she could feel it—she was running out of ways to keep her dignity intact.
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