My Coldhearted Husband’s Regret

The following morning, Veronica navigated the bustling morning traffic after dropping Sabrina off at school, making her way back to DataPulse headquarters. She had already met with executives from two potential autonomous vehicle partners through Dario's connections, but neither company felt like the right fit for what she envisioned. Their technology was impressive but lacked the innovative edge she was looking for.

Determined to find the perfect collaboration partner, she agreed to attend an industry cocktail party with Dario that evening. The event promised to gather key players in tech innovation under one roof – an ideal opportunity to make connections that could benefit their autonomous vehicle division.

They arrived at the elegant venue while the party was still in its early stages. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the gathering crowd of tech industry elites. Veronica wore a tailored navy pantsuit that exuded quiet confidence, while Dario opted for his signature charcoal gray suit.

"I heard a key player in integration systems might be here tonight," Dario mentioned as they accepted glasses of champagne from a passing server. "Their integration systems could be exactly what we're looking for."

They engaged with several industry veterans, carefully feeling out potential partnerships when Veronica spotted Cullen and Niall entering through the main doors. Their presence created a subtle ripple of attention across the room. Veronica and Dario exchanged a quick glance before deliberately turning away, pretending not to notice the pair.

Their reaction wasn't particularly subtle, but it didn't matter – Cullen and Niall made no effort to approach them either. The invisible tension between the former couples hung in the air, noticed by several observant attendees who followed the dynamics with curious eyes.

The evening progressed with polite conversation until Maverick and Kolton arrived, adding another layer of complexity to the already tense atmosphere. Maverick, ever the strategic networker, immediately assessed the room. He noted the two distinct camps that had formed – Cullen standing with Niall on one side, Veronica with Dario on the other.

Making a calculated decision, Maverick approached Veronica and Dario first.

"Mr. Reid, Ms. Murray," he greeted with practiced charm. "It's been quite some time."

The acknowledgment was correct – they hadn't crossed paths with Maverick in weeks. Both Veronica and Dario responded with perfunctory nods, their expressions remaining deliberately neutral. Their lingering distrust of Maverick was evident in their cool reception.

Maverick, perceptive enough to read the room, didn't push his luck. With the briefest of pleasantries exchanged, he pivoted smoothly toward Cullen and Niall.

"Mr. Dennis, Ms. Crystal," he greeted with equal formality.

Cullen acknowledged him with a minimal nod, clearly uninterested in extended conversation. Niall, however, turned from her conversation partner and offered a small smile of recognition.

"Ah, Mr. Harris," she said, her voice carrying just enough warmth to be polite. "It has been a while, hasn't it?"

Maverick met her gaze directly. "Indeed it has."

Though something flickered behind his eyes, he quickly composed himself and looked away. Noticing they were engaged in what appeared to be an important business discussion, he excused himself without further disruption and moved on to other guests.

Throughout the evening, Veronica and Dario found themselves constantly engaged by eager entrepreneurs and established executives alike. DataPulse's reputation as an emerging powerhouse in tech innovation made them popular targets for networking.

Cullen and Niall experienced similar attention, though with a noticeable shift in dynamics. Previously, when Niall accompanied Cullen to such events, she had been treated as merely his plus-one – a beautiful woman on his arm but not someone the industry titans took seriously in business conversations.

Tonight was markedly different. Stellar now legally belonged to her, regardless of how she had acquired it. With the company's valuation, she stood on the threshold of joining the billionaire ranks through her own merit.

Business leaders who had once dismissed her now approached with calculated deference, suddenly discovering her "brilliant mind" and "innovative vision." The transformation was impossible to miss – not just for Niall herself, but for everyone watching.

Kolton nudged Maverick with an elbow as they observed from across the room. "You have to admit defeat on this one," he said, keeping his voice low. "Cullen handed over a billion-dollar company without hesitation. That kind of grand gesture? You can't compete with that."

Maverick remained silent, watching Niall command the room with newfound authority. Though he considered Cullen his rival, he couldn't deny a begrudging respect for how Niall had been elevated.

"She deserves it," he finally murmured, his eyes never leaving her figure across the room.

Kolton's eyes widened in surprise at the admission. He studied his childhood friend's expression, noting the unusual sincerity there.

"Financial freedom changes everything," Kolton commented after a moment. "When you have that kind of money, you can lavish it on whoever you want, whenever you want. No one can stop you. I'll admit, I'm a bit envious of Cullen in that regard."

Maverick cut him off with a cold retort. "If you had that kind of financial freedom, you'd burn through every cent within a year."

Kolton opened his mouth to object, then closed it again, unable to formulate a convincing counter-argument.

Meanwhile, Veronica and Dario had also observed the transformed attitude toward Niall with interest. During conversations throughout the night, they overheard several comments about Cullen's extraordinary generosity – casually transferring billions to a beautiful woman as if it were nothing more than a token gift.

Across the room, Niall was equally aware of Veronica and Dario's presence. Between conversations with potential business partners, her eyes occasionally drifted in their direction, curiosity evident in her gaze. Despite the steady stream of people vying for her attention, she seemed determined to figure out exactly what had brought the pair to this particular gathering.