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“All those years of Niall’s patience are about to pay off handsomely. Her time of happiness is almost here.”
Once they had moved out of earshot, Edric finally broke his silence, “Which one of you managed to get on his bad side?”
Edric offered only a brief nod in acknowledgment.
None of them, including Niall herself, had been aware of the divorce plans until Nate had let the information slip during casual conversation.
Dario nodded curtly, clearly eager to end the exchange, “We’ll have to schedule that meal for another evening. We have commitments waiting.”
Jade’s face glowed with satisfaction, “Cullen has been wanting this divorce for ages. Now that Niall nearly died protecting him, he’s finally standing up to his grandmother and demanding his freedom from Veronica. His devotion to Niall runs deeper than anyone realized.”
His reference to the changing tide pointed directly to Cullen and Veronica’s impending divorce proceedings.
Isaac’s smile faltered for just a moment before he recovered, “Of course, of course. We’ll make proper arrangements soon.”
Maverick’s earlier behavior had been impossible to miss. He had refused to even glance in Veronica’s direction, his dislike radiating from him like heat from a furnace.
Isaac seized the moment, leaning in slightly, “Since destiny has arranged this meeting, perhaps we should share a meal together?”
Dario’s response came swift and final, “I appreciate the offer, but this is my private time. Perhaps we can arrange something more formal later.”
Neither Veronica nor Dario had any awareness of the schemes brewing in the minds of the Crystal and Mack families.
The discovery revealed that the divorce paperwork was taking longer to process than anyone had anticipated.
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She turned her attention to Isaac and Sophia with meaningful intensity, “You two might need to have a direct conversation with her”
Dario muttered beside her, his voice low with irritation, “This city is getting smaller by the day”
His frown deepened into a scowl as he snapped, “Can we please drop this subject entirely? I’d rather focus on ordering our food.”
“Without question.” Both Dora and Isaac nodded approvingly, their smiles matching
Jade’s enthusiasm.
Jade’s voice carried a flat, worried tone, “I don’t question Cullen’s determination for a second. My concern centers on Veronica creating chaos and forcing Cullen to retreat from his position.”
Dario and Veronica proceeded directly to their private dining room without further delay.
The members of both families lit up when they spotted Dario, their faces brightening with calculated enthusiasm.
Isaac stepped forward with his most charming smile plastered across his face, “Mr. Reid, fate keeps bringing us together.”
The phone conversation from earlier had left Isaac hungry for more access to Dario. This unexpected encounter felt like a golden opportunity he couldn’t let slip through his fingers.
Earlier that afternoon, Maverick had placed a call to Dario with hopes of arranging a dinner meeting to explore potential business collaboration opportunities.
Given Dario’s notably cool reception, the possibility felt very real and very threatening.
As they watched the pair disappear from view, Huxley’s brow creased with concern, “Niall mentioned that Dario has been keeping his distance from her because of Veronica’s influence. What if he decides to cut ties with us completely over the DataPulse project?”
After exiting the elevator, Veronica and Dario were making their way toward their reserved private dining room when three imposing figures appeared in their path.
Kolton jumped in with artificial enthusiasm, “Absolutely, it’s been far too long since
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we’ve all sat down together properly.”
Dora’s voice carried a note of calculated optimism, “The bidding process for DataPulse won’t begin for weeks. Nothing has been decided yet, which means every outcome
remains on the table.”
Any reminder of his former fascination with Veronica’s beauty and commanding presence now served only to fuel Maverick’s irritation and embarrassment.
Edric’s response came measured and cool, “Dario has always possessed sharp intelligence. Malcolm took him under his wing early, his academic specialization aligned perfectly with emerging market trends, and his natural abilities are exceptional. His current success was inevitable.”
“But Cullen’s heart has always belonged to Niall, and now that she almost sacrificed her life for his sake, he’s directly confronting Veronica about divorce. This means he’s finished allowing Niall to suffer in silence.
Dario forced his features into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “The coincidences just keep coming.”
Inside their private dining space, Kolton lifted his tea cup and made an observation, “I have to give Dario credit where it’s due. If those two major projects come through as planned, his financial worth will multiply exponentially.”
The three men noticed them simultaneously and called out their greetings to Dario, “Dario, another unexpected meeting.”
Veronica nodded without sparing the assembled families even a glance, following Dario toward the elevator with deliberate indifference.
“When Cullen sets his mind on something, the odds of success become overwhelming.”
Dario had firmly declined the invitation.
However, as Jade’s gaze drifted toward the direction where Veronica and Dario had vanished, her smile dimmed considerably, “That woman certainly won’t accept the divorce quietly. What happens if she manages to sabotage the entire process?”
While Dario had maintained surface politeness, his underlying attitude made it crystal clear that he had zero interest in prolonging their interaction.
Isaac and Sophia had been wrestling with the same thought.
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He then directed his attention toward Maverick with pointed curiosity, “Kolton mentioned that you once had romantic interest in the woman accompanying Dario, but that interest faded quickly.
His attention shifted to the third man, “Edric, I’m surprised to see you out and about. Don’t you usually spend your evenings buried in work?”
Edric Patterson maintained his characteristically stoic expression, his handsome features revealing nothing, “I decided to take some personal time off.”
Dario managed a polite but distant smile in return, “So it seems.”
Maverick’s frown deepened, but he remained silent on the matter.
Edric raised his shoulders in a casual shrug and allowed the topic to die.
Dario gave a curt nod and turned to Veronica, “We should head upstairs.”
Kolton looked genuinely confused, “I can’t think of anything I’ve done to upset him.”
Yet here they stood, face to face in the same restaurant. Maverick ignored Veronica completely and pressed forward with his suggestion, “Since fate has brought us together, why not make the most of it with a shared meal?”
Dario’s smile remained fixed but cold as he responded, “I’ll have to pass on that offer. I have pressing matters to attend to. Tonight isn’t suitable.”
At the upscale restaurant, Veronica’s face remained stone cold as she watched the Crystal and Mack families approaching their table.
Cullen had kept Niall in the dark to spare her unnecessary anxiety, planning to surprise her with the finalized documents when everything was complete.
Dora’s expression hardened like ice, “According to what Niall has shared, Cullen rarely wavers once he’s made a decision. His delay in seeking divorce before was purely strategic timing, he wanted to avoid devastating his grandmother.
Veronica studied the three men approaching them.
Upon seeing the trio, Dario’s expression darkened dramatically, “Am I carrying some kind of curse today?” he grumbled under his breath. The constant stream of unwanted encounters was testing his patience.
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Andrew let out a low chuckle, his eyes gleaming with confidence, “Exactly right. Niall and Cullen’s relationship hit roadblocks because of Mrs. Dennis Senior’s stubborn interference. But look how quickly the tide has turned in our favor. We shouldn’t abandon hope when victory might be within reach.”
Maverick, Kolton, and a third man whose face seemed familiar yet remained frustratingly unplaceable in her memory.
Jade’s spirits lifted noticeably at the reminder.
“Moving on from attraction is perfectly normal, but your current hostility toward her seems excessive. Did she do something specific to earn your contempt?”
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