CHRISTIANDarkness—that's all I could see around me. I was trapped in an unknown dungeon, and for a while, I didn't know how to escape from that tormenting imprisonment.Nevertheless, that gentle, calming voice—my sole source of comfort during that difficult confinement—is hers, Veronica's, and it sustains my hope.In that moment of vulnerability, her soothing guidance kept me alive and motivated. I followed her voice. I don't know for how long, but I didn't give up.At one point, I also heard from Zeon, who pleaded with me to return to him, which gave me renewed hope. Then, my mother's remorseful pleas urged me to return to her as well.With the support of my family and loved ones, a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon. I eagerly pursued it and was soon enveloped in its radiant glow…My eyes were fluttering, and my eyelids felt like they weighed a ton.“Christian…?”Her gentle voice pierced my awareness, causing me to forcibly open my eyes. Initially, my vision was blurry, but he
VERONICAOn the day of our fifth wedding anniversary, my husband Christian's unforgettable ex-girlfriend appeared, with her bright and seductive aura that perhaps melted my husband's indifferent heart.I, being the third wheel in their lives, watched them having a romantic candlelight dinner, which had never happened in the five years of our married life.Far worse was that my four-year-old son Zeon was equally involved in this happy picture.Zeon had not been intimate with me for the last two years, yet now, he was joyfully smiling at his father's ex-lover when Celine tried to wipe the cream from the corner of his mouth. "Zeon, who do you like more? Mommy or me?" she asked."Aunt Celine!" my little boy replied cheerfully, without any hesitation.My heart bled at the reply as my fingers clenched the brown envelope in my hand; inside was the pregnancy report I had just received.My marriage with Christian was ordained by our grandparents when I was still a baby. As a result of the move
THREE YEARS LATERVERONICAThe unexpected call of the nurse disrupted my silence, "Doctor, please come to the ward 305. It's urgent!" So, I left my chair and visited the ward.In the ward, an elderly woman was shouting at an intern, Sophie — "Who gave you the authority to become a doctor?" she shouted at the young girl. "How dare you ignore me! I'll complain about you!""You're not understanding, ma'am. This is not..." The poor girl tried to explain but was cut off."Shut up! I won't let you go! I demand to see your supervisor!"I, frowning, stepped inside and approached the agitated patient who was causing a chaotic mess in the ward for all the stuff and other patients in the ward."May I inquire about the situation?" I interjected, drawing everyone's attention. Addressing the patient directly, I stated calmly but firmly, "Madam, this is a hospital; you need to calm down.""Who are you?" she barked, giving me the once-over.Maintaining my composure, I replied with a smile, "I am a se
VERONICAMy heart trembled violently as I inhaled a shaky breath. Was it my Zeon who was unwell? And Christian was also out there?A thunderbolt broke my thoughts, along with the man's voice that echoed in my ears, bringing back some painful memories: "Please, open the door, Doctor."This time, it was another voice, far deeper and more magnificent. Three years had passed, and his voice still made my heart pound.Although I had a strong desire not to see him, the mother inside me couldn't hold back the urge, and after swallowing the hard lump in my throat, I eventually opened the door, only to meet the same cold, penetrating gaze.Christian—I stared back at him, unlike those five years when I used to look away and said aversely, "Bring in the patient; I will attend to him."Christian, however, did not move. His icy blue gaze seemed glued to me. His face was void, his cold eyes unreadable.In three years, he had not changed at all. When he didn't move, I felt slightly annoyed. "If you
CHRISTIANI looked at my ex-wife, falling silent at Blake's words. She was still beautiful, only there was no longer the tenderness she once showed me.I remembered how she called Zeon "my son," as if he were not hers. At that moment, I couldn't help but be glad Zeon was asleep. He didn't need to know what a cruel person his mother was, though her leaving three years ago was proof enough."Can we spend the night here, Madam?" Assistant Blake asked, his voice begging."It's Dr. Granger," she corrected, and I scoffed.I could see she was hesitating, yet I couldn't understand what was troubling her while Zeon was still feverish. Did she really not care at all?Just when I was losing my patience, she finally nodded. "Well, you can stay. But only for a night. You have to make other arrangements tomorrow.""We have no wish to stay here either," I interrupted, anger raging in my chest. "If it weren't for this unusual nature, we wouldn't have troubled you.""Whatever!" She replied nonchalantl
CHRISTIANMy gaze was stuck on the scene… My now ex-wife was standing close to another man, leaning toward his phone and smiling brightly at his words as if he had promised her the nectar of eternity.My hands were clenched tightly, possibly leaving bruises; I don't recall her ever laughing so joyfully in our five years of marriage.She has a daughter. Now, this man—did she leave us for him? Who is he, father of her daughter? Did she truly remarry?A dull ache spread through my heart as I watched her joyful laughter. Upstairs, her own son is in need of care. That little one longs for his mother's attention, and she— my eyes welled up.Is he the man who was between us during our five years of marriage? For whom she could not become fully mine?Did she truly forget her own son and embrace her new life with her daughter and husband? Does Zeon mean nothing to her?My fists tightened. I've decided to leave immediately; I can't bear to watch Zeon suffer further heartbreak by interacting wit
VERONICA"Mom—" is simply a small word, but at that moment, the heaviness of the word filled me with indescribable warmth. I didn't realize that I had craved to be called "Mom" by him so badly.And that broke me. Tarnished me to the point that, even though it wasn't my fault, I despised myself for leaving him three years ago.Since yesterday, I had repeatedly stopped myself from showing affection to him in front of Christian, but at that point, the mother within me forced me to go near him, and I did."Hey..." I said, softly smiling at him as tears blurred my vision.Raising my hand, I touched his cheeks as he stared at me. His eyes were longing and teary. He slowly leaned into my touch. "M-Mom, yo-u came." His tone cracked.The way he looked at me felt as if he had longed for me just as I had for him. Did he really miss me in these three years? Did he call for me? Am I really meaningful to him?My heart bled involuntarily... "Y-es, I'm he-re..." My voice broke as well. I want to embr
VERONICAI was puzzled to see Assistant Blake holding his large figure, which now lay on the floor."Madam, please help!" His urgent tone brought me back to the present, and I hastened to his side.With the assistance of assistant, Blake, we gently escorted him to the guest room where his children were playing. Upon seeing us, Zeon quickly dismounted from the bed and helped Cadence as they approached their father."Papa!" His voice quivered with fear as he gazed at his father.Gently placing him on the bed, Blake began removing his shoes and loosening his clothing while I sat with my children. Cadence was frightened, though she didn't understand, and immediately hid in my chest as Zeon watched anxiously.I caressed his cheeks and softly reassured him, "Mom's a doctor; he will be alright." This slowly calmed his expression as he nodded.After reassuring the children, I returned to his side and asked for my medical kit from a servant. Upon examining him, I discovered he had a high fever
CHRISTIANDarkness—that's all I could see around me. I was trapped in an unknown dungeon, and for a while, I didn't know how to escape from that tormenting imprisonment.Nevertheless, that gentle, calming voice—my sole source of comfort during that difficult confinement—is hers, Veronica's, and it sustains my hope.In that moment of vulnerability, her soothing guidance kept me alive and motivated. I followed her voice. I don't know for how long, but I didn't give up.At one point, I also heard from Zeon, who pleaded with me to return to him, which gave me renewed hope. Then, my mother's remorseful pleas urged me to return to her as well.With the support of my family and loved ones, a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon. I eagerly pursued it and was soon enveloped in its radiant glow…My eyes were fluttering, and my eyelids felt like they weighed a ton.“Christian…?”Her gentle voice pierced my awareness, causing me to forcibly open my eyes. Initially, my vision was blurry, but he
DIANA SPARKLES"How can you be so careless, Celine?" I questioned, feeling devastated by the humiliation."How could I possibly be mistaken?" she inquired, sounding bewildered. "Auntie, how could I have known he was feigning an allergic reaction? Turns out he's inherited his mother's talent for deception.”““What did you say?” I felt agitated by her comment. “Did you forget that you’re talking about my grandson?” I glared at her.What is she trying to point out? My grandson is a liar?Celine frowned, seeming displeased. “Auntie, how can you blame me after everything I did for him? I was always there, trying to please him and be his mother, and now you're blaming me for one little issue?” She retorted, “If that's the case, then you're to blame as well, aren't you, Auntie? How did you not know he was faking it?” She challenged me, heightening my dissatisfaction in her.“Celine, you were always there for him, attempting to fulfil a motherly role,” I said, frustration bubbling up inside m
VERONICAI monitored Christian's vital signs, and they were stable. His complexion improved significantly after just one day of appropriate care. While some stress was still visible on his face, it was considerably less than before… Overall, his health is improving.After taking over his care, I ceased all presence in his room. Without my permission, no one was allowed to enter. Although I expected denials from both Celine and Diana, surprisingly, Diana did not refute my order; in fact, she relayed it to everyone, including Celine.I truly wonder what has gotten into her. However, I must accept that although her intervention was unexpected, it did alleviate some of my stress…After checking on Christian, I left his room after closing his door. The bodyguard near the door slightly nodded at me before I walked away.Well, yes, for some reason, Diana even planted a guard before his room, who stopped everyone except her and I.Initially, I harboured some doubt regarding whether she suspec
CELINEI stared at Veronica's cold eyes in disbelief. They burned with accusation, as if—as if she truly knew!But how?"Wh-at are you saying? What drug?" I tried to control my shaky tone, my fists clenched tightly.A smirk played on her lips as she advanced, inquiring, "Attempting to deceive me, Celine? Have you never heard the saying, ‘One must never lie to a doctor?’” Her gaze was sharp, her tone dripping with sarcasm.I swallowed hard under her intense gaze. It felt as though she was concealing much more beneath her blazing orbs.Di-id, she perhaps find out about the accidents already? My blood ran cold at the thought. However, I refused to believe it. Knowing Veronica, she wouldn't ignore it if she knew the truth! Furthermore, there is no way she will discover my involvement.I held her gaze, and I wouldn't let her have the satisfaction of cornering me! “I have no idea what you're on about! I didn't do a thing!" I hissed, then bolted from his room.Rushing into my room, I locked
VERONICAI drive back home with a troubled heart. William's argument with that woman arose numerous questions within me…What is my connection to all of this? Why is William postponing his surgery on my account? What are his intentions? Or could I simply be an unintended consequence, and is there a larger story at play?Perhaps there is another Dr. Veronica, for whom William is hesitant to undergo surgery… However, I quickly dismissed that possibility. While coincidence is possible, it seems unlikely.After hearing them go at it, I figured it was best to bail. Wasn't I already swamped enough without more drama piling on?Alas! What is happening in my life?Following all that has transpired, I still find myself pondering one question: Why would William decline his surgery because of me?Stopping the car before my Christian's villa, I sighed. How could I possibly be implicated in all of this?I rubbed my temples in frustration and turned to the back seat, where Cadence was sleeping peac
VERONICASlightly bewildered by his request, I blinked. "My dear, I'm not sure I understand," I said, leaning towards him. "As his doctor, I am, in fact, providing his care, am I not?”“Not here, mom, but at home.” He said, making me freeze.I was taken aback for a moment, “Bb-but how can I—?”"Please, Mom, please take care of Papa," he pleaded, clutching my apron tightly. "You're a doctor, Mom. You can take care of him better than a nurse. I am scared. Please, Mom, please.”I was deeply concerned. His plea was heartbreaking, and his tearful, frightened expression pained me. Zeon is not one to create unnecessary trouble, so his distress must have stemmed from genuine fear and insecurity following his father's collapse, which only made me fear more for him.I cupped his cheeks. "Baby, I understand that. But you know Cade is still a baby; how can I leave her alone at home?" I tried to make him understand.He, however, grasped my apron sleeves. "Please bring her with you; I will take car
VERONICA"What the heck?" I gasped, flipping through the pages. "How's that even possible?”"I, too, found this unexpected, Doctor. Mr. Wolfe showed no obvious signs of poisoning, so I repeated the test, and the results were unchanged.It appears the poison was ingested very slowly, but consistently," Sophie replied.I frowned, "Due to the slow absorption rate, there were no acute symptoms, only significant fatigue. However, what was the purpose of that medication, then?” I murmured."Medication?" Sophie caught the word. Her brows furrowed as she gazed at me. "There was no trace of unusual medication intake in his blood, except aspirin. It seems he often takes it.”"Aspirin..." A wave of concern washed over me.The mention of aspirin usually indicates fever or pain. I remembered him fainting at my place before; he had a fever then, and assistant Blake mentioned a headache as well. Could this be related?“Doctor? Are you thinking of something?” Sophie's concerned voice caught my attent
VERONICAThis evening's disagreement continues to weigh heavily on me, as my gaze lingered on the haggard, unconscious man…His intense gaze remains vivid in my memory… I observed pain, disbelief, and disappointment in his orbs, as if, as if he were imploring me to believe his innocence.Following Christian's lapse into a coma, my thoughts have repeatedly returned to our intense argument earlier this evening. Nate's initial concerns about exhaustion aside, I remain deeply unsettled.However, was I truly at fault? Were there no other contributing factors to his predicament? I suspect I bear some responsibility for his condition, yet remain unconvinced. Was exhaustion the sole cause?Could it be that he was truly innocent and unaware of Celine's involvement? But then, why did he refute William's involvement? What prompted him to create that scene if he wasn't protecting Celine?Or, it's just my foolish thoughts, trying to defend him subconsciously? Ugh!I slumped against the couch and c
VERONICAHer head tilted to the side as she stumbled back. Her eyes shot up at me in disbelief. Both of them turned numb, and before they could come up with a more complicated response, I coldly gazed at Diana, completely ignoring that bitch, “do not dare to cross the line with me.” I hissed sharply."You left the little child home alone, and he, scared of his father's situation, was forced to call me. This shows the shameful carelessness of someone who claims to be a careful mother and grandmother.”"It was I who called the ambulance and brought him to the hospital. So, bearing that in mind, stay away from the hospital's affairs. Unlike you, I am a doctor and well aware of my responsibilities. If you dare to raise your voice again, I will call security and have both of you removed from the hospital.” I formally cautioned them; my firm tone resonated through the hallway, causing the approaching nurse to stiffen in response to my authority. Knowing me, she understood that if necessary,