Veronica Parker was baffled by Rachel Hamilton but she didn’t show a pleading face and remained her composure.
“If you have anything to say, just say it. Let’s stop wasting each other’s time and spill everything.”
“When I was parking just now, I found a Rolls-Royce. I didn’t know it was yours until I asked about it. Did Nick buy it for you? Because as far as I know, you can’t even afford a tire!”
Veronica said nothing and looked at Rachel’s expression. “I thought you’d be angry.”
“Why should I be angry? Not only am I not angry, but I am very happy! I even want to take you for a drink!” Rachel was not pretending to be happy but she really was happy. “Do you want to know why I’m happy?”
“No.” Veronica was still not interested at all.
“How could you not? You’re not interested in anything between you and Nick?” Rachel took out her cell phone and she placed it in front of her face. Not, later on, she clicked on the recording and it said, “Listen to it and make sure you are interested.”
The recording has been played and the first sentence on it was what Kay Tours said, ‘Mr. Cage, I want to know your thoughts about Veronica and Miss Hamilton. I’m not sure who you were in love with. Was it Veronica all along?’
Veronica was stunned. Was it Nick?
‘Love? Maybe I misunderstood it.’
Veronica’s eyes trembled when Nick said the word “love.” Was it a question?
‘Love was an emotion that easily arose. Sending a watch or a car, including having tattoos on the body, showed a sign of love. Just like when you look at a certain painting. If you liked it, you would treasure it and keep it for yourself. This kind of love would not completely control your emotions, and your life would not be affected if you lost it one day.’
Veronica’s head went blank that for a moment, it caused uncomfortable tinnitus and her body froze.
‘If you liked it, you don’t have to love it because it would eventually kill you.’ She heard Nick added what he said.
‘Would it be different if Chloe Bowen wasn’t Veronica’s biological mother?’
When he was asked, Veronica felt the tension all over her being. Her heart was beating so fast as if it were racing. She continued to listen nervously and waiting expectantly at Nick’s answer even it meant hurting her and breaking her down into pieces.
‘I don’t think so. It would be the same, I guess.’
Nick’s low voice of awe clearly penetrated and broke Veronica’s heart, making her looked slightly pale. And there Kay was still asking, ‘Mr. Cage, aren’t you going to marry Veronica?’
Nick fell silent after the question was thrown at him, but he countered it by saying, ‘You seem to talk a little too much today.’
‘I’m sorry. I’m just curious about it anyway.’
Veronica still froze in her seat and listened to Nick’s final answer. Kay asked him about getting married, but he thought he talked too much. Was it superfluous to ask about that matter?
‘Have you decided in going to the beach?’
‘Yes, and it’s already arranged.’
Rachel turned off the recording. “And it stops there because nothing follows.”
Veronica tried to suppress the expression on her face and she composed herself and cleared her throat before asking, “Where did you get the recording?”
“Well, when it comes to talking about it, it can only be said a beginner’s luck! I was going to ask Nick to help me get back to the screen, but he didn’t give me a vivid answer. And because I was anxious to know the result, I secretly left my cell phone in the box. But I didn’t expect to hear anything else aside from my original intention of leaving it there. I heard yours! Don’t you think it’s kind of fun?” Rachel exclaimed proudly.
Veronica didn’t doubt a single word nor voice of that recording. Rachel’s brain couldn’t think of deceiving her in a synthetic way like that! She was sure the recording was real! The conversation between Nick and Kay was even more real!
“Come to think of it! I’ve never been in such a good mood when I grew up!” Rachel smiled from ear to ear. “What did I even tell you before, huh, Veronica? Nick can’t marry you! I knew he just thinks of you as one of his play toys! And most of all, he is just interested in your body, and when he has had enough fun, you will surely have no value at all! By the way, he said that even if you were a painting, he will not be affected if he lost you one day. Veronica, are your dreams now shattered? Don’t ever think that after giving birth to his six children, he will let you be his Mrs. Cage. There is no way for that to happen!”
Veronica’s hands under the table were clenched into fists that her fingernails sank deeply into her pinkish palms. But she felt no pain. Her body went numb because of the revelation she just heard from the recording that Rachel played a while ago.
“I didn’t think I ever said I was going to marry Nick, did I? He wants to send a watch and a car, all of which is his wishful thinking.”
Rachel slightly leaned forward and asked her sarcastically, “Have you really never thought about it? How come I don’t believe it?”
“Whether you believe it or not, it is none of your business. Why don’t you just mind your own?”
“But Nick actually got a tattoo on his body. What did he get tattooed on? Can you tell me? I’m curious!”
“If you want to see and know about it so much, why don’t you ask him yourself?”
Rachel said carelessly, “Oh, I realized I don’t have to ask. Anyway, no matter he gives something to you or gets a new tattoo, I’m relieved to know that he just treats you like a cat or dog. What’s so surprising about it? I should’ve known and trusted my instincts! Well, I won’t stay here any longer. Is Nick going to take you out to the beach next time? Why don’t you have a good time then?” She mockingly laughed at me before turning her back at it me.
Rachel left the entertainment department with laughter all the way. Her every word, every laugh hit Veronica’s face. She was all red waiting for a trigger before exploding.
The unknown Lucy Underwood came in and said, “Is Miss Parker all right?”
“What can I do for you?”
“Just now, I heard Rachel laughed a lot.”
“Well, I told her a joke and thought it was funny, so maybe that’s why she laughed.”
“Oh.” Lucy thought, ‘What kind of joke would she laugh at like that? Like neurotic!’
“Close the door for me.”
“Okay.”
The light was being lit in the room, and the moment the door closed, it was so bright that it stung Veronica’s pupil.
Her body was trembling and no matter how much she endured, her eyes were still sour and feverish which seemed to be gathering tears. She was slightly trembling. What she felt in her heart made her bend over and lie down on her office desk. She was trying to breathe slowly to relieve the strong tingling she felt. It turned out that, Nick giving gifts, his possessiveness, and saving her life in times of danger had nothing to do with love.
How could she not realize earlier? She was so naive! She was blinded by Nick’s behavior and aggressive eyes! How could she forget that she hated him and that it was already engraved in her heart? And she really bought the crap that there were 98 rooms in Winter Villa and it lacked a bathtub? Why would she think Nick Cage would truly fall in love with her?
Every word in the recording was a kind of a mockery to her. She had been mocking her wishful thinking and ignorance and finally letting others took the opportunity to slap her in the face and trample her throbbing to the ground!
How could Nick do this to her? How could it be? Why? If Nick had treated her like before and always treated her like that, she wouldn’t have any reaction when she heard those words. But now, she had no face to show everyone else and her heart was full of burning, tingling pain.
Veronica’s tears still fell uncontrollably, falling to the ground one by one like that of raindrops. Her body trembled gently, and sadness occupied her whole being and seemed to not leave her. Veronica stared at the teardrops on the ground, her eyes were unbearably weeping! Who was to blame, then? It wasn’t entirely Nick’s fault, was it? It was that he was too self-righteous and affectionate!
Would she be so sad if she only thought of herself as Nick’s children’s mom? Yes, she deserved it and had undeserved thoughts about life!
After crying, Veronica stabilized her mood and lifted herself. She sat down then wiped away the remaining tears from her face and stared blankly in front of her.
She felt more and more ridiculous! She even thought of letting Nick carry a litter of snakes and rats from the North family. There was no need to cooperate with Saxon Raglan! Thinking that she was not a biological daughter of Chloe, she also wanted to tell him that she doesn’t care about it at all! It didn’t matter whether she was Chloe’s daughter or not!
Yeah, would Nick Cage be so nice to her if it was important? In the end, she was the only one who was confused with a ridiculous look of falling into the honeypot!
In Nick’s mind, what did he think when he looked at her like that? He must’ve thought she was stupid!
Her cell phone on the table rang which interrupted Veronica’s thoughts. She lowered her eyes and picked up her phone. The incoming call was coming from Nick.
The phone snapped and fell back on the desk. Veronica had tears in her eyes again when she heard her phone kept ringing, but she still didn’t answer.
She took several deep breaths, only to find that the depression in her heart couldn’t be dispelled! Not to mention that if she answered the phone, she now thought it was torture to even look at Nick!
He was just a man, wasn’t he? Anyway, it was not the first time that she was been lovelorn!