Peter put his arms around Veronica’s neck tried to restrain her from leaving. “No! Stay here!”
Lily shook her ponytails anxiously. “I’m going with Mom, too!”
Daniel’s little chubby face was excited, “You have to let us go with you!”
Isabella came over and said, “Relax, mom will be back after a while.”
Cathy asked her, “Will Mom be back in a minute?”
The other five immediately had bright eyes and especially hoped that their mother would come back as soon as possible.
Veronica poked the cute small hat on top of her head and said, “Yeah, it shouldn’t take that long.”
Veronica left the bracelet at home and went out.
She was still worried about the six little ones and wanted to come back early to accompany them.
She chose to commute to the Cage family’s house using the subway.
At first glance, a retro-style mansion was the home of a wealthy family.
When she went in, she saw Kevin Cage, Chloe Bowen, and John Cage, standing at the door, who seemed to be waiting for her.
“Older Sister!” John came over with his short legs and greeted her. “I’ve been waiting for elder sister!”
Veronica smiled at him politely and said, “Well, thank you very much.”
Chloe then came over. “He’s so happy to know you’re coming.”
Veronica looked at Kevin as he walked closer to her and said politely, “Uncle Cage.”
“I told your mother to pick you up. She said you wanted to come by yourself. In fact, you don’t have to be such an outsider. We’re all family here,” Kevin said affectionately.
Veronica smiled ear-to-ear as if concealing her annoyance. She never said they were family, did she?
“Don’t stand there and come in!” Indeed, Kevin was the sociable and partying type.
“Go inside.” Chloe encouraged her daughter happily.
Veronica was about to follow the people inside when John’s little hand silently grabs one of Veronica’s fingers.
Veronica was stunned for a moment but she did not refuse.
In order to match the height of her partner, she bent down and walked into the house hand in hand.
Veronica and her family of three went to the table.
The dishes were naturally delicious and luxurious. Kevin and John were very enthusiastic and happy sitting next to Veronica. The others were sitting on a couple of child safety seats, eating by themselves.
Veronica will go back home right away after dinner.
Because there were six little children at home, Veronica told them that she couldn’t stay for too long.
“That is if you let your mother see you off. It’s not safe for a girl to be alone at night,” Kevin added.
Kevin said, “I’ll take you back.”
“It doesn’t matter. You don’t have to take me home.”
“Older sister, next time you will still you come again to our family gatherings, right?” John looked at her hopefully, looking directly at her with his bright eyes.
“Maybe next time. I’ll see what I can do,” Veronica didn’t want to deceive the children, so she just gave her false hope and said politely, “I’m leaving.”
“I’ll walk you to the door, daughter.” Chloe said as she walked, “You are so stubborn. Why don’t you want me to take you back?”
“The subway is very fast. I’d rather go home as soon as possible,” Veronica said.
“Mom is really happy that you can come today,” Chloe said, paused, and changed the subject. “Are you still in contact with Toby Cage?”
Veronica looked at her in bewilderment. Why did she bring it up again?
“Don’t blame your mother for nagging. I just think that Nick won’t be happy if you get too close to Toby.”
“How do you know that he won’t be happy? Don’t talk like I have something to do with Nick. It’s not possible and it won’t ever happen in the future.” Veronica said, without skipping a step, heading straight to the door.
Everything Chloe wanted to say got stuck in her throat. She was rendered speechless by her daughter’s fury.
Veronica thought about what Chloe said on the way back. How did she know? Did she see something? Was it because Nick was the one who saved her from Eden?
It made her feel uncomfortable.
Fortunately, Nick didn’t show up at the family gathering.
The confused and dazed Veronica got off the subway one station ahead of schedule and headed subconsciously to the Sunshine apartment, while in a little trance.
Her feelings for Toby Cage, just like this Sunshine apartment, could never be concealed even by an illusion.
Veronica sat down by the soft bed and found that there was still a tramp lying on it. She didn’t know if he was the one who gave the sleeping girl the clothes she was wearing.
As she was sitting for a while before going back home, a Ferrari suddenly stopped in front of her.
Even before the person inside came out, the heartbeat of Veronica gradually intensified upon seeing the familiar luxury car.
Toby pushed the door open, putting his long and slim legs out, but he did not get out of the car yet. He slightly turned to look in her direction and stared at her face, “What are you doing sitting here?”
Veronica stabilized her frustrated self. “Why can’t I sit here? And why are you here too? ”
“Just passing by,” Toby said coolly.
Veronica looked at the end of the road. It was twilight and all the lights were on. She didn’t know what she had to do that she passed by here.
“I want to apologize to you for what my father did.”
Veronica slightly stupefied turned and searched for Toby’s dark eyes.
She used to think that his eyes were so deep that they looked like a pit, but looking now, there were just too many feelings that she wasn’t able to comprehend. Those feelings were the kind she could only experience with her heart.
“Did my father say anything hurtful to you?” Toby asked.
Veronica lowered her eyes and looked into the distance. “He asked me to leave you alone, saying that I will disturb your Cage family. I didn’t know I could hurt your family so much. He didn’t say anything else, and he was a little emotional. Fortunately, I explained to him that I broke up with him a long time ago, and it has nothing to do with you anymore. I also promised that I will not have any contact with you in the future. I didn’t expect you to run into you when you were passing by, so you’d better get out of here quickly!”
Toby looked at her with deep and sorrowful eyes, unable to understand what she said. He then got out of the car, and as the tall man stood in front of Veronica, putting a lot of tension between them, he raised her head.
“What are you doing?” asked Veronica.
“Isn’t there’s anything you want to ask me?” asked Toby back.
“I have nothing to ask you! Now that we’re here together, I just want to say that for the sake of my personal safety, we still have to stay strangers! If there is no future, you might as well refuse to the end.”
However, this was cruel to Toby who had done so much for her behind her back.
But what qualifications did she have to be with him again? Everything has already changed.
Toby looked at her and didn’t speak for a moment, but his eyes were very sharp as if he wanted to do something to Veronica.
Veronica just felt a lot of pressure from Toby’s intent gaze, making her look away.
She stood up and was about to retreat when she heard a sleeping tramp’s voice cut in. “I’ll wear your coat, too.”
Veronica was stupefied for a moment.
Toby’s face changed only slightly, and then he understood what was going on. He was tensed all over, and his sharp eyes looked at Veronica.
Veronica bowed her head. “It’s late. I should be going back.” She wanted to just say it and run away.
If she didn’t leave now, how long would she have to wait?
The tramp said nothing, but at that time, Toby tried looking for his coat.
Toby was also obviously really disgusted with how dirty his neat clothes have become because some tramp unexpectedly wore them.
Veronica gasped. A long and strong hand behind her reached out, grabbed her neck, and squeezed the air out of her lungs. Veronica tried to free her throat from Toby’s tight grip, just like a head that floated to the surface of the water, visibly struggling. “Toby, what are you doing?”
“You gave out my clothes to the homeless and now you return them to me as nothing happened?” For Toby, who paid extreme attention to hygiene, this was not acceptable both physically and psychologically.
“No, I washed it for you. Didn’t you smell washing powder on it when I gave it to you?”
“So saying that you admit that the clothes were thrown to the homeless?”
“Who did you make me angry in the first place?” Veronica argued reasonably but surrendered. “All right, I’ll apologize to you. All right?”
Toby looked at her flushed face. His arms loosened slightly. His eyes fell on her wrist searching for the accessory, and his voice sounded low. “No bracelet again?”