My Coldhearted Husband’s Regret

Isaac stepped forward, clearly determined to address the situation. "Ver, I need to..."

Before Veronica could even process his words, Dario let out a low laugh that held no warmth. "Mr. Crystal, have you come here to make some grand announcement about you and Ver?"

Isaac's confident expression cracked, replaced by an uncomfortable grimace. "Mr. Reid, I just need a private word with Ver. Perhaps you could..."

Dario's voice cut through the air like a blade. "If you're so anxious to broadcast your relationship with Ver to the world, please don't let us stop you. Say whatever you need to say."

Isaac's jaw tightened. He understood the warning beneath Dario's calm tone and knew better than to push further. Reluctantly, he began walking away with Huxley trailing behind him.

But Isaac couldn't resist one final attempt. He turned back toward Veronica, his voice carrying across the space between them. "I'll be calling you tonight. Make sure you answer."

Veronica's face remained impassive. She had no intention of engaging with his demands.

The call he was promising would go straight to voicemail if she had anything to say about it.

Once Isaac disappeared from view, Dario exhaled sharply. "God, I wanted to deck him right there."

Veronica understood that impulse all too well.

The frustrating reality was that when it came to the whole Cullen situation, she had never managed to clear her name completely.

If she decided to go head-to-head with the Crystal publicly, Cullen and his allies would undoubtedly weaponize that confrontation to shield Niall from any consequences.

Moreover, she had learned from bitter experience how the Mack could manipulate any situation to their advantage.

Her mother's current state in the nursing home served as a constant reminder of their ruthless capabilities.

While discussing the situation with Dario, Veronica glanced around and realized Cullen's group had abandoned their chess game.

The afternoon was growing late, so they made their way over to where Mary was stationed.

Mary and Neal had just concluded their lengthy conversation about various artistic techniques and historical periods.

When Neal spotted the approaching group, he excused himself from Mary to acknowledge his friends.

Mary recognized this as her cue to leave and began gathering her things just as Veronica reached her side.

Upon learning of their departure, Neal insisted on presenting Mary with a special gift. He carefully handed her Whisper Summit, the painting that had captured her attention earlier during their discussion.

After exchanging polite farewells and expressions of gratitude, the group prepared to leave.

As they stepped outside, Veronica noticed Cullen and Niall still occupying the pavilion, their heads bent together in intimate conversation.

The moment Cullen spotted their group, his gaze found Veronica's face briefly before he deliberately turned his attention back to Marco, Nate, and the others surrounding him.

Niall caught the entire exchange. A satisfied smile played across her lips as she pointedly looked in the opposite direction.

Marco offered a subtle nod in Veronica's direction, which both she and Dario acknowledged with their own brief nods before continuing on their way without pause.

The following morning brought the familiar routine of heading to DataPulse for another day of work.

The company's newest initiatives were gaining momentum, creating an endless stream of tasks and deadlines. Before long, Veronica found herself completely absorbed in the demanding workload.

The subsequent days blurred together in a whirlwind of meetings, presentations, and problem-solving sessions that left little room for anything else.

Then one afternoon, Veronica discovered her desk adorned with several beautifully decorated gingerbread cookies, courtesy of her coworkers.

The sight caught her completely off guard. "Wait, is it really Christmas season already? Where did the time go?"

Her colleague stretched her arms above her head and nodded enthusiastically. "The whole city's gotten into the spirit. I'm meeting some friends after work to check out all the holiday displays and maybe do some shopping. What about you? Got any festive plans brewing?"

Veronica offered a gentle smile while shaking her head. She carefully stored the gingerbread treats in her desk drawer and immediately returned her focus to the computer screen.

When the workday finally ended, she remembered that one of her houseplants had been looking rather pathetic lately, so she decided to stop by the mall to find a replacement.

The moment she entered the shopping center, she was struck by the elaborate holiday transformation her colleague had mentioned.

Towering Christmas trees sparkled with thousands of lights, while cheerful Santa figures beckoned from every corner.

The festive atmosphere was genuinely enchanting.

The corridors teemed with shoppers, most of them moving in pairs or small groups, their faces bright with holiday excitement.

Veronica paused to take in the vibrant scene surrounding her, and suddenly her feet refused to carry her forward.