Aurora's face was etched with concern as she leaned closer to Niall. "Have you heard? Ever since Cook's injury, Cullen has been meeting with the Murray family constantly. I heard he even had dinner with Veronica's grandmother yesterday. Do you think they might be... reconnecting?"
"There's nothing to reconnect," Niall replied with quiet confidence, though she disliked Aurora's insinuation. She observed the genuine worry in her friend's eyes and decided to explain further.
"Cook has always been close with the Murray family. Cullen needs to maintain good relations between Veronica, her grandmother, and Cook. If they continue to visit Cook during her recovery, she'll be less likely to use her surgery as leverage against us."
Aurora's eyes widened as understanding dawned on her. The situation had been weighing heavily on both their families since Cook's accident. After Cook had expelled them from Dennis Group, everyone feared she might demand Cullen and Niall separate as a condition for agreeing to surgery. They'd all been anxious that Cullen might eventually cave to such pressure.
The fact that Cullen and Niall remained together had made them assume he'd somehow convinced Cook directly. The revelation that he was working through the Murray family instead showed a level of strategic thinking Aurora hadn't anticipated.
"So that project he offered them," Aurora said, connecting the dots, "that was his way of thanking the Murray family?"
"Exactly," Niall confirmed. "It serves as both gratitude and a clear boundary marker."
Aurora couldn't help but be impressed. "Cullen really thinks of everything, doesn't he? No wonder his companies are so successful."
The momentary relief on Aurora's face quickly transformed back into concern. A new thought had clearly troubled her. "But wait—Veronica's family already secured that project from DataPulse, and their business has started showing signs of recovery. If they also take on a Dennis Group project, won't that completely revitalize their company? Won't that just—"
"They didn't take it," Niall interrupted, her expression cooling.
"They didn't?" Aurora paused, then her eyes narrowed as realization struck. "Of course! They want Cullen to remain indebted to them. That gives Veronica a reason to stay in his life. How calculating!"
With Cullen and Veronica's divorce proceedings nearing completion, Aurora was clearly anxious about any potential complications.
"We can't let them manipulate the situation —" she began.
Niall maintained her composure, cutting Aurora off gently. "There's no need to worry. Cullen knows what he's doing."
Aurora considered this for a moment. Throughout all their recent challenges, Cullen had consistently demonstrated remarkable foresight. If he had offered the project to the Murray family, he must have anticipated they might try to leverage the situation.
Cullen was too strategic to fall into such an obvious trap. He certainly had contingency plans.
This realization finally allowed Aurora to relax completely. After a brief pause, another question seemed to occur to her.
"Have you visited Cook at all these past few days?" she asked.
"No," Niall replied simply.
Aurora looked slightly disappointed by this answer, prompting Niall to elaborate.
"Her recovery needs to proceed without complications," she explained.
Niall knew this wasn't the right moment for her to appear at Cook's bedside. Though Cullen had successfully managed to keep Veronica and her grandmother in check and had convinced Cook to undergo the necessary surgery, the recovery period would take time.
During that critical phase, they would still need Veronica and her grandmother's continued presence and support. Their influence would help ensure Cook remained cooperative throughout her recovery.
Niall wasn't worried. She understood the value of patience in complex situations one. Some battles were won not through confrontation, but through careful positioning and timing.
For now, she would wait. The pieces were already in motion.