My Coldhearted Husband’s Regret

Whitney's face flushed with rage, her hands trembling as she gripped her water glass. She looked ready to storm across the room and confront Niall directly.

"That woman is absolutely shameless!" Whitney's voice cracked with indignation. "She's nothing but the bastard child of a homewrecker, and now she's become one herself! What gives her the right to act so superior? Miss Popular? What a joke! She's garbage, plain and simple!"

Veronica quietly refilled Whitney's glass, her movements calm and controlled. "Miss Popular?"

"It's exactly what that pompous friend of Maverick's, Kolton, was bragging about earlier." Whitney's words tumbled out in a rush of anger. "Every single one of those empty-headed rich boys has fallen under her spell somehow. They all worship the ground she walks on and call her Miss Popular, like she's some kind of untouchable queen!"

Whitney's voice grew more strained as she continued. "Look, I could understand if it was just those brainless idiots fawning over her. But Cullen? And Maverick too?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Whitney's expression changed. She caught herself, realizing how her words might cut Veronica. Her face crumpled with regret. "Oh God, Ver, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to—"

Veronica's expression remained unchanged. "Don't worry about it."

The truth was, she had lived with this reality her entire life. Isaac had always chosen Niall over her. Huxley had done the same. Even Sophia, her own paternal grandmother, had made it clear where her loyalties lay. Two years ago, Cullen had taken one look at Niall and fallen completely under her spell. Even little Sabrina had been so captivated that she wanted Niall as her new mother.

She had never allowed herself to break down over any of it. She had never shed tears or voiced her pain to anyone. If she had been the type to crumble, any one of those betrayals would have been enough to destroy her completely. But she had endured it all, year after year, without falling apart.

Compared to those deep wounds, what did Maverick and his shallow friends matter? When she had overheard their conversation earlier, she had felt absolutely nothing. Not even a flicker of hurt.

Whitney studied her friend's composed face, then reached out and pulled her into a fierce embrace. "Ver..."

Veronica managed a small smile. "It's getting late. We should head home."

"You're right." Whitney squeezed her tighter before letting go. "And don't worry about your grandmother's birthday gift. We'll go shopping again soon. I promise we'll find something absolutely perfect for her."

Veronica nodded. "I'd like that."

The two women linked arms and made their way out of the building together. As they walked through the lobby toward the parking garage, they encountered Cullen and Niall, who were also leaving.

Cullen's eyes met Veronica's briefly, but she looked right through him as if he were invisible. She slipped into the driver's seat without acknowledging either of them.

Whitney shot them both a withering glare before climbing into the passenger seat with an audible huff.

The car pulled away smoothly, leaving Cullen and Niall standing in the lobby. Niall turned to Cullen with a questioning look.

"Let's go," Cullen said simply, his voice flat.

Niall's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "Of course."

As she spoke, she gazed in the direction Veronica's car had disappeared, and her smile grew even more triumphant.

After dropping Whitney off at her apartment, Veronica was about to drive home when her phone buzzed. Sabrina's name appeared on the screen.

"Mom, when are you coming home tonight?"

Veronica started the engine, keeping her voice neutral. "I won't be back tonight. Get some sleep, sweetheart. I'll come see you when I can."

There was a pause, then a disappointed sigh. "Oh... okay."

Veronica could hear the loneliness in Sabrina's voice and understood immediately. The little girl had been spending all her time with Niall lately, completely enchanted by her future stepmother. But tonight, with Niall and Cullen at the auction, Sabrina found herself alone and bored. Only now, in her solitude, did she remember to call Veronica.

"Goodnight, Sabrina."

"Goodnight, Mom."

The next few days passed in a blur of intense work. Veronica had intended to shop for her grandmother's birthday gift, but every spare moment was consumed by pressing deadlines and client meetings.

After three days of non-stop work, Dario decided to treat the entire team to an elaborate lunch at an upscale restaurant as a reward for their dedication.

Following the meal, Veronica excused herself to the restroom. On her way back to their private dining room, she froze mid-step.

A group of eight or nine people was emerging from another private room down the hallway. They moved quickly toward the elevators, completely unaware of her presence.

"Isn't that...?" Dario had appeared beside her and followed her gaze to the departing group.

Veronica recognized them all immediately. Niall walked arm-in-arm with Isaac and Huxley. Beside them was a stunning woman who stayed close to Isaac, obviously his current wife. And there was an elderly woman whose arm Niall held with apparent devotion.

"The Crystal family," Veronica said simply.

Understanding flashed across Dario's face. He studied the elderly woman with curiosity, then looked back at Veronica with concern. "That older woman... is she—"

That was Sophia, Veronica's paternal grandmother.

"She means nothing to me now." Veronica's voice was steady and emotionless.

Dario placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Should we go back?"

"Yes."

She had legally changed her surname years ago and severed all connections with the Crystal family. They truly were strangers to her now, and she felt nothing for any of them.

But there was something else that concerned her. Recently, she had learned that Niall's uncle's family, the Mack, had been purchasing property near her grandmother's villa in Porter. They were clearly planning to relocate permanently.

She had suspected the Crystal family would follow their lead, but she hadn't been monitoring their activities. Seeing nearly the entire family gathered in the city suggested they were already in the process of moving.

That afternoon, Veronica managed to leave work early. She met Whitney for dinner, and afterward, they spent over an hour browsing through various shops. Despite their efforts, they still hadn't found the perfect gift.

While Whitney was trying on clothes in a boutique, Veronica's phone rang again. Sabrina's name appeared on the screen.

"Mom, when are you coming home?"

"What's wrong?" Veronica asked, though she kept her tone neutral.

"Dad's away on business, and I'm so lonely!"

Normally, Cullen's absence wouldn't prevent Sabrina from spending time with Niall. But tomorrow was Saturday, and instead of making plans with her beloved future stepmother, she was calling Veronica instead.

Most likely, Niall was too occupied to entertain a child. With Sophia and the rest of the Crystal family now in town, and Cullen away on business, Niall probably had no time or patience for Sabrina's needs.

"Find something to do for now. I'll come back tomorrow."

"Really?" Sabrina's voice immediately brightened. "Promise you'll be there in the morning?"

"I promise."

That evening, despite hours of searching, Veronica still hadn't found a gift that felt right for her grandmother. The birthday was approaching rapidly, and she considered settling for something adequate. But when it came to her grandmother, she couldn't bring herself to compromise on something so important.

The next morning, Veronica returned to Cullen's villa as promised. While Sabrina ate her breakfast, Veronica remembered something she needed to retrieve from upstairs.

She climbed the stairs to the master bedroom, expecting to find everything exactly as she had left it. But the moment she stepped through the doorway, she noticed something that made her blood run cold.

Two elaborate brocade jewelry boxes sat prominently on her vanity table, their intricate craftsmanship and expensive appearance immediately catching her attention.