Dario's eyes lingered on Veronica before shifting toward West, whose disdain for Niall was unmistakable. Something about the older man's expression piqued his curiosity.
"Mr. Grant, you seem to have strong feelings about the Crystal family. Is there bad blood between you?"
West's weathered hands adjusted his glasses as he shook his head slowly. "Bad blood might be too strong a word, but there's certainly history. You see, Hazel Katherine—the young woman who had that public confrontation with Ms. Crystal at last night's charity event—she's practically family to me. Her father and I go way back."
His voice carried the weight of years of friendship as he continued. "I've watched that girl grow up from pigtails to the accomplished woman she is today. Sure, she's got fire in her—sometimes more than she should—but she's got a good heart."
West paused, his jaw tightening slightly. "About two years back, her engagement to Tara Hugo hit rough waters. That boy got himself tangled up with another woman, came dangerously close to calling off the whole thing with Hazel."
The implication hung in the air like smoke. Veronica felt her stomach clench as she pieced together what West wasn't saying directly.
"Funny thing though," West's tone turned bitter. "Soon as that other woman caught the attention of someone with deeper pockets—namely, Cullen Dennis—she dropped Tara like a hot potato. Suddenly, the coast was clear for Hazel again."
The picture became crystal clear. Niall had been the other woman, the one who'd nearly destroyed Hazel's engagement before abandoning her conquest for a bigger prize.
But West's frustration ran deeper than past grievances. His shoulders sagged as he exhaled heavily.
"What really gets under my skin is how last night played out. My old friend and Hazel were supposed to be here today, looking forward to seeing all these innovations. Instead, they're holed up at home while the internet tears Hazel apart."
His voice grew heated. "The moment that scene at the gala hit social media, with Dennis's name attached, it exploded. Suddenly everyone's an expert on who was right and wrong. Poor Hazel's getting crucified in the comments."
Veronica could picture it perfectly—the ruthless court of public opinion, always ready to pile on whoever seemed weaker.
"And that's not even the worst part," West continued, his disgust evident. "Those calculating old vultures saw Niall cozied up to Dennis and immediately started kissing up to the Crystal family. Overnight, they're sending flowers, making calls, trying to get in good with them."
The cruel irony wasn't lost on any of them. Hazel, the victim in the situation, was being punished while Niall basked in newfound social elevation.
"So my friend made the smart call—stay home, avoid the circus. Let this blow over before showing their faces in public again."
Dario and Veronica exchanged glances, both understanding the ugly politics at play. Neither knew quite how to respond to such blatant injustice.
Veronica's gaze drifted back to where Niall held court, now surrounded by an even larger crowd of admirers and opportunists. The woman wore her newfound status like expensive jewelry, glittering and impossible to ignore.
After wrapping up their conversation with West, Veronica gravitated toward Jordan and his colleagues who were deep in animated discussions about the exhibition's technological breakthroughs.
The innovations on display were staggering—artificial intelligence systems that seemed almost sentient, biotechnology that pushed the boundaries of what seemed possible, engineering marvels that would reshape entire industries.
Veronica found herself completely absorbed, her earlier frustrations temporarily forgotten as she and Jordan dove into technical analyses and theoretical applications. The sheer scope of human ingenuity on display was intoxicating.
Time seemed to blur as they moved from booth to booth, their excitement building with each new discovery. It wasn't until Dario appeared at her elbow that Veronica surfaced from her technological deep dive.
"Look over there," he said quietly, nodding toward a specific section of the exhibition hall.
Veronica followed his gaze and felt her stomach drop. Cullen stood there in his perfectly tailored suit, commanding attention effortlessly. His presence wasn't entirely surprising—his technology company wielded significant influence domestically, and his technical expertise was well-regarded. An event was exactly where someone of his caliber belonged.
But of course, he wasn't alone.
Niall stood beside him like she'd been born to the role, her designer dress and practiced smile making her look every inch the successful executive's companion. The crowd around them had arranged itself in a way that placed the pair at the absolute center of attention, as if they were holding court.
To any observer, they looked like the perfect power couple—successful, attractive, and completely in sync.
Veronica studied the scene for a moment, then deliberately looked away. Her survey of the room revealed another familiar face—Nate, engaged in what appeared to be an intense business discussion. He hadn't spotted her yet, completely focused on his conversation.
"Does he know you're here?" Dario asked, his voice carefully neutral but his intentions clear.
Veronica shook her head without hesitation. "I doubt it."
The truth was, despite their occasional encounters over the past few weeks, she and Cullen had never discussed their respective schedules or plans. Their interactions remained strictly limited to matters concerning Sabrina—brief, businesslike exchanges that revealed nothing about their separate lives.
How could Cullen possibly know about her attendance at an event they'd never discussed?
Dario's expression darkened with obvious displeasure. "You're not even going to acknowledge him? Say hello?"
The challenge in his voice was unmistakable. Veronica understood exactly what he was suggesting—that she march over there and publicly claim her position as Mrs. Dennis, forcing Cullen and Niall to acknowledge her legal status regardless of the awkwardness it might create.
But Veronica shook her head firmly. "Absolutely not."
Her reasoning was twofold and practical. First, there was simply no point in creating a scene. What would it accomplish beyond satisfying a momentary urge for vindication?
More importantly, she knew Cullen well enough to predict his likely response. If she cornered him publicly, he might very well retaliate by bringing up those old accusations about how she'd allegedly manipulated him into marriage years ago.
The fact that she was innocent of those charges meant nothing if she couldn't prove it. Without evidence to support her side of the story, any public confrontation would likely end with her humiliation rather than his.
And with the exhibition hall filled with business leaders, industry titans, and potential partners, mishandling such a delicate situation could have serious repercussions for her uncle's company. Her personal frustrations weren't worth risking the professional relationships that others depended on.