My Coldhearted Husband’s Regret

For Rose's safety, Veronica didn't take any chances. She hired two additional caregivers not only to look after her sister but also to monitor any suspicious activity around Room 1003. That same evening, she received confirmation that the patient in Room 1003—Jade—had been discharged earlier than expected.

Despite Jade's departure without incident, Veronica's protective instincts remained on high alert. She decided to keep both caregivers on duty, instructing them to continue their vigilant care of Rose. Better safe than sorry, especially when it came to her sister's well-being.

Meanwhile, Dario was knee-deep in critical negotiations for the autonomous vehicle project, keeping him occupied day and night. The timing couldn't have been worse as the prestigious Enterprise Excellence Summit approached—a government-sponsored event celebrating businesses that had shown remarkable growth and contribution to the economy.

With her husband unavailable, Veronica stepped in to represent Valerie Corporation among the six to seven hundred invited companies. She arrived at the venue neither too early nor too late, maintaining the perfect balance of professional punctuality.

The moment she entered the grand hall, Marco, who had just finished conversing with another attendee, immediately made his way toward her. His eagerness to greet her was apparent to everyone in the vicinity.

"Ms. Murray, you're here," he said, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her.

Veronica acknowledged him with a slight nod. "Long time no see."

From across the room, Niall observed their interaction. As Stellar's representative, she wasn't surprised by Marco's immediate gravitation toward Veronica. She simply pressed her lips together and averted her gaze, a subtle gesture that spoke volumes about her feelings.

The seating arrangement placed DataPulse's representatives quite favorably, near the front and not far from Valerie Corporation's designated area. After their brief exchange, everyone returned to their assigned seats.

Veronica noticed that the seat next to DataPulse was reserved for the Dennis Group. She had spotted Niall among the attendees earlier but hadn't seen Cullen, leading her to assume he wouldn't be attending the summit.

Just as she settled into her seat and exchanged pleasantries with a business representative seated to her other side, Cullen appeared and took the empty seat beside her. The unexpected proximity created a tangible tension between them.

Veronica had no intention of acknowledging his presence, but Cullen nodded politely and asked, "Just got here?"

She deliberately ignored him, turning her attention elsewhere. The business representative on her other side, noticing Cullen's arrival, leaned forward to greet him enthusiastically.

After exchanging a few words with Cullen, the representative glanced between him and Veronica. For a moment, it seemed like he might comment on what an attractive couple they made, but remembering their respective relationship situations, he thought better of it.

Instead, he looked at Marco, who was seated on Cullen's other side, and chuckled good-naturedly. "Oh my, this whole row is full of young, talented elites. Sitting together like this is truly a sight to behold."

Cullen offered a courteous smile and engaged in brief small talk before the representative returned to his seat.

The irony of the situation wasn't lost on anyone aware of their circumstances. With only days remaining until Cullen and Veronica's divorce would be finalized, they sat side by side like perfect strangers. Apart from Cullen's initial greeting, not a single word had passed between them.

Marco observed them from the corner of his eye before looking away, the awkwardness of the situation palpable.

Breaking the silence, Cullen turned to Marco. "It's been a while. What have you been busy with lately?"

"The biotech project from last year ran into some snags," Marco replied. "I've been traveling extensively for work because of that."

"Still not resolved?" Cullen inquired, showing genuine interest.

"It'll take some time."

"Need help?" Cullen offered.

Marco shook his head. "Not for now."

With a thoughtful nod, Cullen then shifted his attention to Veronica. Sensing his gaze, she reluctantly glanced his way.

"I finished reading those papers you mentioned the other day," he said. "They're excellent. But after reading them, I do have a few new questions—"

Veronica turned away abruptly, making it clear she had no interest in engaging with him. Cullen simply smiled at her reaction and didn't pursue the conversation further.

Meanwhile, several rows back, Niall sat in Stellar's designated spot. Despite the company's recent rise to prominence, its standing still couldn't compare to industry giants like the Dennis Group and DataPulse, resulting in her seat placement in the third-to-last row.

From her distant vantage point, she watched Cullen, Veronica, and Marco sitting together near the front. The sight of them—three powerful figures in such close proximity—caused her to press her lips together even more tightly, her expression a complex mixture of emotions she struggled to conceal.