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Inside the elevator, Nate kept staring at Veronica with undisguised curiosity,
Eventually, she turned to meet his gaze with a cold stare, D
Without acknowledging any of them, she got into her vehicle and drove back to the Murray residence,
Veronica reluctantly handed over her bouquet when Cullen extended his hand toward her. Avoiding eye contact with both Nate and Marco, she made her way directly to Cook’s bedside.
“Seen enough?” she challenged.
“How are you feeling?” Veronica asked, her voice softening as she addressed the elderly woman.
Nate smirked. “Almost,” he replied smoothly. Veronica turned away, refusing to engage further.
Nate repeated his observation, and Marco’s reaction mirrored Cullen’s–both men simply watched Veronica walk away without commenting.
Not wanting to overhear their conversation, Veronica turned and headed upstairs.
Veronica closed the door against the winter chill and shed her coat. “Mm–hmm,” she
murmured.
The following morning at the hospital, Niall was nowhere to be seen. However, Cullen had apparently relocated his office to Cook’s hospital room. When Veronica and Sabrina entered, he was deeply focused on reviewing documents.
The sight momentarily stopped Veronica in her tracks. Despite her determination to maintain emotional distance, she couldn’t help but notice how Cullen’s thoughtfulness for his daughter contrasted sharply with the pain he’d caused her. These conflicting observations stirred uncomfortable emotions she’d been trying to suppress since their paths had crossed again.
When the elevator doors slid open, Veronica stepped out first, with Cullen, Nate, and Marco following a few paces behind. Noticing how she deliberately maintained distance from them, Nate leaned toward Cullen.
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Sabrina abandoned her tablet, running over to wrap her arms around Veronica’s leg. “Mom, Dad said I can stay with you for the next few days! After we visit Nana at the hospital tomorrow morning, can we go skiing?”
As they approached the hospital entrance, Cullen suddenly announced, “Sa is still at the Murray residence.”
“Dad!” Sabrina called out excitedly.
She reached for Veronica’s hand, grasping it with surprising strength. “You must be exhausted after working all day. Have you eaten anything? Why don’t you join Cullen
and the others for dinner?”
Before Veronica could answer, Adrian and Thomas enthusiastically joined in. “Yes, Veronica! Let’s all go together!”
They chatted for a while longer until Cook’s eyelids began to droop with exhaustion. Sensing it was time to leave, Veronica stood up and gathered her belongings.
Veronica’s stride faltered momentarily, but she quickly recovered and continued toward the parking lot. She noticed Niall standing near the entrance, but while Cullen and his friends veered toward him, Veronica headed straight for her car.
Cook shifted slightly in her hospital bed. “There’s still some pain, but nothing unbearable,” she replied, fatigue evident in her eyes following her recent surgery.
Before Cullen could respond, the little girl’s attention was captured by the nearby table overflowing with an assortment of fruits, pastries, and trendy beverages clearly selected to appeal to children and young adults.
Cullen’s eyes remained fixed on Veronica’s retreating figure, but he offered no
response.
Cook asked Cullen to escort Veronica out, and since he and his friends were heading out for dinner anyway, they all left together.
Marco, who hadn’t caught their exchange, asked, “What are you two whispering about?”
Sabrina’s face lit up with joy. “I’m going to call Dad and tell him!” She grabbed her phone and quickly dialed Cullen’s number.
“Don’t worry about me, Grandma, Veronica assured her. “I grabbed something at the
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office before coming here.”
When she arrived, Sabrina looked up from where she was playing with Adrian and Thomas. “Mom, you’re back already?”
Cook noticed the deliberate distance Veronica maintained from Cullen and decided not to press the issue further.
“She’s acting completely different around you,” he whispered. “Has she really moved
on? I find that hard to believe.”
“Alright,” Veronica agreed, unable to refuse their excited faces.
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