Aurora's mind whirled with possibilities. A marriage between Cullen and Niall would catapult both the Crystal and Mack families to unprecedented heights of power and influence. The Murray family would be left scrambling for relevance in their shadow. She couldn't help but smirk as she cast a disdainful glance at Veronica before hurrying off to help Benjamin settle into the boys' dormitory.
After ensuring Adrian was properly settled with her luggage, Veronica quietly departed from the school grounds and made her way back to her apartment. She had barely stepped through her front door when a gentle knock interrupted the silence. Opening it revealed Casey and her daughter Audrey standing there with warm smiles. The mother-daughter pair had just returned from visiting their hometown and, noticing Veronica's return, had rushed over with local delicacies.
"Thank you," Veronica said, accepting their thoughtful gifts.
"You're welcome!" Audrey chirped, her voice bright with childish enthusiasm. She reached into her pocket and produced a small, intricately designed ornament. "I saved this especially for Sabrina. Tomorrow's the first day of school, and I can't wait to give it to her!"
Since New Year's Lewis, when Sabrina had taken the initiative to call Audrey, the two girls had formed a sweet bond. Audrey launched into an animated discussion about her expectations for the upcoming school day, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
As she listened, Veronica couldn't help but notice the contrast between Audrey's enthusiasm and Sabrina's recent silence. Her daughter hadn't called her at all lately. Tomorrow marked the beginning of the new term, yet Sabrina had made no request for Veronica to accompany her to school.
Of course, Veronica reasoned, Sabrina had no shortage of people willing to take her. Undoubtedly, Cullen would be there, and now likely Niall would join him as well. The thought settled in her chest like a cold stone.
She maintained her pleasant expression as she chatted with Audrey and Casey a while longer before carrying their gifts into her living room. The conversation had been pleasant, but it had also reminded her of her increasingly distant relationship with her daughter.
The next morning found Veronica back at the office, continuing her recruitment efforts for technical personnel. Her company was still in its building phase, and finding qualified staff remained her priority.
During her lunch break, her phone pinged with a notification from Casey. She had sent several photos of Sabrina participating in school activities that day. Veronica's heart warmed at the sight of her daughter's smile, but it froze when she spotted one particular image containing both Cullen and Niall standing near Sabrina.
So her intuition had been correct – Sabrina hadn't asked for her presence because Niall was already there.
Veronica studied the image of Cullen and Niall together, her finger hovering over the screen when suddenly the photo disappeared. Casey must have realized her mistake and deleted it quickly. Veronica understood why; she hadn't shared much about the complicated nature of her relationship with Cullen. Most people assumed the typical post-divorce scenario – limited access to the child for one parent. Casey likely thought Veronica rarely saw Sabrina and sent the photos out of kindness, assuming she missed her daughter terribly.
Sometimes, explaining the truth was more exhausting than letting assumptions stand. Appreciating Casey's good intentions, Veronica simply replied, "Thank you."
Wednesday arrived with Veronica and Dario handling business matters near Dennis Estate. As they finished their work and returned to their vehicle, another car emerged from a side road – one that led exclusively to the manor.
Veronica immediately recognized Cullen's car, the sleek vehicle unmistakable even at a distance. She was about to avert her gaze when the car unexpectedly pulled over to the curb. The doors opened, and Cullen stepped out, followed closely by Niall.
Veronica's breath caught in her throat.
They had come directly from Dennis Estate. The realization struck her with surprising force – Cullen had taken Niall to meet Cook, his grandmother. The implications of such an introduction weren't lost on her. Cook's approval was not something Cullen sought for casual relationships.
The weight of what she was witnessing settled over Veronica like a heavy cloak. Cullen was serious about Niall – serious enough to bring her to the family matriarch. Whatever remnants of their past relationship might have lingered in Veronica's mind were fading rapidly in the face of this new reality.