My Coldhearted Husband’s Regret

Nate pressed on with his inquiry. "So you're definitely returning Tuesday?"

Marco made a soft sound of confirmation. Before Nate could continue their conversation, Marco cut it short. "I need to go."

"Sure thing. Just give me a heads up when you land. I'll drive over so you can spend time with Niall."

Marco gave his agreement. "Fine."

The following morning, Veronica laced up her running shoes and pushed herself through a demanding forty-minute jog before returning home. After a quick breakfast, she gathered her things and headed out for what would likely be one of the most important meetings of her life.

When she walked into the prestigious law firm, Dario was already waiting in the conference room, his presence immediately reassuring her frayed nerves.

He raised his hand in greeting as she approached.

Leon Bell, the divorce attorney Dario had recommended, stood to welcome her. His assistant moved efficiently around the mahogany table, filling delicate china cups with steaming tea before retreating to a respectful distance.

Veronica reached into her leather briefcase and withdrew the divorce agreement, the papers feeling heavier than they should as she slid them across the polished surface to Leon.

He accepted the documents while Dario, taking advantage of their long friendship, leaned closer to examine the contents over Leon's shoulder.

The custody arrangement for Sabrina was outlined in the opening section, and Dario found himself staring at those particular lines longer than necessary. His eyes shifted to Veronica, studying her composed expression.

He remembered Sabrina from their brief encounters years earlier. During that period, Veronica had been completely devoted to her daughter, her face lighting up whenever she spoke about the little girl. Every conversation had somehow circled back to Sabrina's latest accomplishment or adorable antics.

Yet since making the difficult decision to divorce Cullen and rejoin DataPulse, Veronica had never once spoken her daughter's name in his presence.

This glaring omission had not escaped Dario's notice. He suspected that during the past year while Sabrina had been living overseas with Cullen, the child had likely developed a strong bond with Niall. Perhaps something had occurred that had wounded Veronica so deeply that she could barely speak of it.

Observing how Veronica instructed the lawyer to concentrate solely on financial vulnerabilities while completely avoiding any discussion of custody arrangements, Dario understood the painful truth. She had reached the heartbreaking conclusion that she must surrender her daughter.

He chose not to probe further into such sensitive territory. Dario recognized that beneath Veronica's gentle exterior lay someone who felt emotions with devastating intensity.

For her to voluntarily relinquish her own child meant she had endured disappointment so profound that it had fundamentally changed her.

Rather than dwell on such painful speculation, he returned his focus to the legal document spread before them.

Several minutes passed before he let out a low whistle of surprise. "This is an impressive portfolio of real estate holdings. I have to give Cullen credit where it's due—he's being remarkably generous."

Veronica lifted her teacup to her lips, taking a measured sip without offering any commentary.

Dario continued leafing through additional pages, careful not to disturb Leon's concentrated review. Eventually, he shifted his chair closer to Veronica and began discussing the academic research project she had been working on.

Their conversation flowed in the specialized language of their shared field, delving into intricate details of her theoretical framework and methodology.

Leon's assistant sat quietly, completely unable to follow their technical discussion. Meanwhile, Leon himself remained absorbed in his meticulous examination of every clause and subsection within the divorce settlement.

When a full hour had elapsed, Leon finally raised his head and addressed Veronica directly. "I've completed my comprehensive review of this agreement. I can confidently say there are no problematic clauses whatsoever. In fact, the terms are extraordinarily advantageous for you."

Veronica set down her cup with careful precision. "Could you elaborate on that assessment?"

Leon adjusted his glasses and explained his findings. "The monetary settlement is presented in clear, unambiguous terms. Each piece of real estate is properly documented with clean titles and no encumbrances."

He flipped to another section before continuing his analysis. "Regarding the corporate shares Cullen is transferring to you, the agreement contains very specific protective language. You'll receive annual dividend payments, but should the company face any legal challenges, financial penalties, or other corporate liabilities, Cullen retains full personal responsibility. You would be completely shielded from any negative consequences."

Veronica felt her breath catch slightly at this unexpected revelation.

Dario, however, stared openly in amazement. "Are you absolutely certain you interpreted that correctly? Cullen actually structured it to be that protective?"

Leon responded with the confident smile of a seasoned professional. "Are you questioning my expertise, Dario?"

Dario shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Not exactly questioning, just... this level of consideration seems completely out of character."

While Veronica felt a measure of surprise at this development, she wasn't entirely shocked by Cullen's approach.

During their years of marriage, he had maintained an emotional distance that often felt like living with a stranger. He had rarely offered support when she needed it most.

However, she understood enough about his personality to recognize a pattern. When Cullen committed to providing something, he typically ensured it came without strings attached or hidden complications.

This understanding had motivated her request for legal review in the first place. Her concern hadn't been rooted in suspicion that he would deliberately deceive her, but rather in her practical need to identify any unintended legal vulnerabilities that might surface later.