My Coldhearted Husband’s Regret

Veronica hesitated only briefly before reaching for Leo's homework assignments.

Leo possessed solid academic abilities with excellent fundamentals. After Veronica quickly reviewed the problems and offered some strategic guidance, comprehension dawned across his features immediately.

"Incredible! You're absolutely brilliant, Veronica!"

The moment understanding struck, Leo dropped to the floor beside the coffee table and attacked the remaining questions with renewed confidence.

He swept his materials away the instant he completed the final problem. "Perfect! Now I can return to my phone without guilt!"

Veronica's lips curved upward as she folded the newspaper she had nearly finished reading. Her energy was gradually returning, and she decided to venture upstairs in search of something engaging to read.

Leo suddenly scooted closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "My racing goddess competed in another street race last week, Veronica, and her performance was absolutely breathtaking this time. I managed to record some footage. Want to see it?"

The warmth drained from Veronica's expression. "No thank you. Racing doesn't particularly interest me."

"Really?"

Leo's eyebrows shot up in genuine confusion.

He had brought up the topic specifically because he assumed Veronica shared his enthusiasm. "You spent such a long time studying the race through those binoculars that afternoon. I was completely convinced you had developed a passion for it."

Veronica shook her head. "The race itself wasn't what captured my attention. I simply recognized several familiar faces in the crowd."

"Ah, that explains it."

Since her disinterest was unmistakable, Leo abandoned the conversation thread. He redirected his focus to Niall's race footage, providing animated commentary as scenes unfolded. "Apparently she won't be participating in the upcoming competition. I never got the chance to witness her racing skills in person, unfortunately. When will another opportunity arise if she skips this next event?"

Leo released a disappointed exhale.

"I'm going upstairs to locate a book," Veronica announced, cutting through his monologue.

"Sounds good!" Leo replied with characteristic enthusiasm. "I'm relieved you're feeling stronger, Veronica, but please don't push yourself too hard!"

"I appreciate your concern. I'll be careful."

The moment those words left her lips, she rose from her seat and headed toward the staircase.

Cullen was absent when she entered their shared bedroom.

Veronica spotted the book Cullen had borrowed earlier resting on the nightstand. She retrieved it and tucked it safely back into her personal bag.

She typically brought one or two novels whenever she planned overnight visits.

However, her usual reading materials were nowhere to be found throughout the room. Suspecting they might have ended up in Sabrina's quarters, she pivoted and made her way down the hallway.

Sabrina had left her door partially open.

As Veronica approached the threshold, Sabrina's animated voice floated into the corridor. "I'm dying of boredom over here, Niall! Please stay on the line and keep me company for a few more minutes."

Veronica froze mid-step and pressed her back against the hallway wall.

Several seconds passed before Sabrina's delighted laughter rang out. "Don't stress about it, Niall. I absolutely promise to drink all of that soup later!"

"Goodbye for now, Niall!" She made exaggerated kissing sounds toward her phone.

Sabrina remained in her room rather than emerging immediately after ending the call.

Veronica's throat still carried residual irritation from her recent illness. She released several harsh coughs before stepping into Sabrina's doorway. Only then did Sabrina finally glance upward.

She had been stretched across her mattress, kicking her legs playfully in the air with obvious joy. Upon noticing Veronica's presence, she bounced to her feet. "What brings you to my room, Mom?"

"I'm searching for a book," Veronica responded with deliberate neutrality.

Sabrina skipped over and attempted to capture her hand. "Cook just announced that the soup is completely ready. Would you like to go downstairs together, Mom?"

Veronica smoothly extracted her hand from Sabrina's grasp. "I already had my portion. If you haven't eaten yours yet, you should head down and get it."

Following her cheerful conversation with Niall, Sabrina was floating on such a cloud of happiness that she completely missed the subtle tension radiating from Veronica. "I'll go grab mine right now then!"

Veronica offered only a quiet murmur of acknowledgment.

The house suddenly felt heavier around her as Sabrina's footsteps faded down the staircase. Veronica remained standing in the doorway, processing the intimate tone she had overheard during that phone conversation. The casual affection, the blown kisses, the obvious delight in Sabrina's voice when speaking to Niall created an uncomfortable knot in her chest.

She had come looking for a simple book to pass the time. Instead, she had stumbled upon a conversation that raised questions she wasn't prepared to examine. The way Sabrina's entire demeanor had transformed during that call, the genuine happiness that had lit up her features, suggested a connection that ran deeper than casual friendship.

Veronica finally stepped fully into Sabrina's room, scanning the organized space for her missing books. Everything appeared perfectly arranged, from the neatly made bed to the carefully organized desk. It was the room of someone who maintained control over their environment, someone who kept their private thoughts and feelings carefully contained.

Much like herself, Veronica realized with uncomfortable clarity.

She located her books stacked on Sabrina's reading chair and gathered them quickly. The sooner she could retreat to her own space, the better. The conversation she had accidentally overheard wasn't meant for her ears, and dwelling on its implications would only create unnecessary complications.

As she prepared to leave, Veronica couldn't shake the image of Sabrina's radiant smile during that phone call. It had been genuine and unguarded in a way she rarely witnessed. Whatever was developing between Sabrina and Niall clearly brought her stepdaughter considerable happiness.

That should have been enough. That should have been all that mattered.

Yet as Veronica made her way back to her own room, she couldn't ignore the growing sense that the dynamics within their household were shifting in ways she hadn't anticipated and wasn't certain she was prepared to navigate.