Veronica retrieved her book after Sabrina disappeared upstairs. She settled into the cushioned window seat on the second floor, letting the afternoon light wash over the pages as she began to read.
Thirty minutes passed before Cook appeared, carrying a steaming bowl of dark herbal brew. "There you are, sweetheart."
Veronica closed her book and accepted the medicine. "You shouldn't have climbed the stairs, Grandma. I could have come down."
"Nonsense. You need to conserve your energy instead of wandering around the house."
Cook lowered herself onto the adjacent sofa with a heavy sigh. Her face creased with irritation as she continued, "I tried getting Cullen to bring this up, but he's locked himself in that study again, fingers flying over his laptop. It's Saturday evening, for heaven's sake. What could possibly be so urgent?"
Veronica knew the answer. Cullen had spent the earlier part of the day coaching Niall through some complex project details. No doubt he'd retreated to his office to continue their collaboration where he could work more efficiently on his computer.
She said nothing, simply lifting the bowl to her lips.
The herbal mixture had grown lukewarm in the cool evening air. Veronica drained it in several quick swallows, her face barely registering the bitter taste. Cook's expression pinched with concern. "That's terribly bitter, dear. You don't have to gulp it down like that."
Veronica placed the empty bowl on the side table. "It's tolerable."
She cleansed her palate with a sip of water while Cook offered her a wrapped candy. Veronica declined with a shake of her head.
The dinner hour was approaching. Having eaten earlier, Veronica decided to return to her book instead of joining the family meal.
Cook headed downstairs to oversee the evening preparations.
Roughly thirty minutes later, both Cook and Sabrina reappeared, their faces clouded with frustration.
"Can you believe Cullen is rushing off to the office at this time of night? That man is going to work himself into an early grave," Cook declared, her voice sharp with disapproval.
Absorbed in her reading, Veronica hadn't registered the sound of the car engine starting outside.
Cullen's evening departure could only mean one thing. Whatever project he'd been assisting Niall with had encountered complications that demanded immediate attention.
Sabrina threw herself dramatically across Veronica's legs, her lower lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout. "He wouldn't let me come with him."
Of course Cullen had refused. Bringing Sabrina to Stellar would expose his marriage to his colleagues. They would immediately realize he had a stepdaughter of this age.
Such a revelation would mortify Niall in front of her professional circle.
Cullen would never subject Niall to that kind of workplace gossip or scrutiny.
Veronica gently nudged Sabrina away from her lap. "I'm still recovering, Sa. Find another spot to sulk."
"Fine," Sabrina muttered, relocating to the nearby chair.
Still feeling the lingering effects of her illness, Veronica completed her evening routine and retired to bed around ten o'clock.
When morning arrived, Cullen's side of the bed remained undisturbed. He hadn't returned home at all.
Thanks to Antonio's skilled treatment, Veronica's recovery progressed rapidly over the following days.
Cook insisted on having Antonio examine Veronica once more. After his assessment, he prescribed two additional doses of herbal medicine to complete her healing process.
When Veronica announced her intention to return to work, Cook recognized the futility of arguing. Instead, she extracted a promise that Veronica would return each evening for her medication, claiming she lacked the expertise to prepare it properly herself.
Faced with Cook's unwavering determination, Veronica had little choice but to comply with the arrangement.
The next morning, Sabrina approached Veronica with a request to drive her to school. Veronica declined immediately. "Not today, Sa. I didn't bring my car here."
Sabrina's eyes lit up with sudden inspiration. "You could take Dad's car! Let me call him right now. I know he'll agree to it."
Before Veronica could voice any objection, Sabrina had already pulled out her phone and dialed Cullen's number. The call connected with surprising speed.
As soon as someone answered, Sabrina's face brightened and she opened her mouth to speak. However, catching sight of Veronica's watchful gaze, she hesitated mid-syllable, the words dying on her lips.
"Never mind," Sabrina said abruptly into the phone, then ended the call without explanation.
Sabrina believed she had concealed her reaction successfully, but Veronica had observed everything. She had clearly seen the moment when Sabrina recognized Niall's voice on the other end of the line, nearly calling out the woman's name before catching herself.
The realization settled over Veronica like a cold weight. Cullen wasn't just working late or staying at the office. He was spending his nights with Niall, close enough that she would answer his personal phone calls in the early morning hours.
The evidence painted a picture that Veronica couldn't ignore, no matter how much she might want to. Cullen's absences, his constant availability for Niall's professional needs, and now this intimate detail of shared mornings all pointed to a truth that cut deeper than any physical illness she had endured.
Sabrina seemed to sense the shift in atmosphere, her earlier enthusiasm for the school ride completely forgotten. She fidgeted uncomfortably under Veronica's steady gaze, perhaps realizing that her mother had understood far more than she intended to reveal.
The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken knowledge and the weight of a marriage that was dissolving before their eyes, one small revelation at a time.