Chapter 45
Fallout
Veronica’s POV
The room was silent for a split second, as though the universe itself paused to decide my fate. Then, rage surged through me, hot and unrelenting, wiping away any shred of restraint I had left.
“You’ve crossed the line, Meghan,” I said, my voice low but trembling with fury.
“Oh, have I?” she retorted, a gleam of triumph in her eyes as she crossed her arms. “The truth hurts, doesn’t it?”
The truth? This wasn’t truth. This was her twisted, spiteful narrative. And I refused to let her spread lies about me. Not here. Not in Rye’s store.
And who the fuck was she even talking about? My father?
“I don’t know what delusional fairytale you’ve cooked up in that head of yours, but let me make one thing very clear,” I began, stepping forward, my gaze locked on hers. “You don’t know me. You’ve never known me. And for someone so obsessed with my leftovers, you seem remarkably insecure.”
Her face twitched, a crack in her mask of smug superiority. “Leftovers? Honey, I’m the one he chose. You were just the practice run.”
“Chose?” I laughed bitterly. “Carter didn’t choose you. You were convenient. Easy. A quick distraction. And now you’re stuck playing house with a man who still can’t keep his eyes, or his hands, to himself.”
11
The gasp from Carter’s mother was almost satisfying, but I didn’t stop to savor it. The fire inside me wouldn’t allow it.
“Enough!” she snapped, stepping between us like a protective shield. “Veronica, this behavior is unbecoming. No wonder Carter left you. A woman with no class-”
“No wonder?” I cut her off, turning my glare to her. “You raised him, didn’t you? A man who cheats, lies, and lets his mother coddle him like he’s five years old? That’s on you, not me.”
The color drained from her face, and for a brief moment, she looked genuinely stunned. She thought I was just going to stay silent and let them walk all over me again.
Meghan, however, recovered faster.
“Look at you, so bitter and alone,” she sneered. “That’s why you’re out here clinging to the scraps of your past life. Shopping for shiny trinkets to distract yourself from the fact that no man will ever love you again.”
The words struck a nerve, but I refused to show it. I squared my shoulders, lifting my chin. “You think jewelry defines love? How sad. But then again, I suppose it’s all you’ve ever had to offer.”
She raised her hand to hit me but I caught it, twisting it so hard that it hurt.
“What happened? Is that pain I see on your face? You suddenly can’t run. your mouth anymore?” I mocked.
Her mouth opened to fire back, but a loud voice cut through the escalating
argument.
“Enough!” Rye’s voice echoed through the store, sharp and commanding as she glared at Meghan. “This is my shop, and I won’t have it turned into
a battleground. You can’t just walk in here and embarrass my clients. If you can’t behave like civilized adults, I’ll have to ask you all to leave.”
I let go of her immediately and she massaged her fingers immediately, whimpering and cursing.
Then Meghan bristled, clearly offended. “You’re taking her side?”
“I’m taking the side of decency,” Rye said firmly, folding her arms. “Now, if you’re here to shop, do so quietly. If not, there’s the door.”
For a moment, the tension hung heavy in the air, thick and suffocating.
Then, Meghan let out a disdainful snort, “I don’t even know why I waste my time on paupers like you but be well assured that’s you will regret this!” With that, she turned on her heel, stalking toward the exit.
Carter’s mother hesitated, her lips pursed, before following her out
without another word.
The door slammed shut behind them, and I exhaled a shaky breath, the adrenaline draining from my body.
“I’m so sorry, Rye,” I murmured, feeling a pang of guilt for the scene that had unfolded.
Rye shook her head, her expression softening. “You’ve got nothing to apologize for, Veronica. Some people are just… rotten. Don’t let them get to you.”
I nodded, though my hands were still trembling. “Thank you. For standing up for me.”
“You’ve been a loyal customer and a good person for years,” she said with
a small smile.
I let out a small smile. I looked to see everyone putting away their phones.
1144400
and returning to their business, yet I knew that somehow, this would still make it online.
“So, anyone you like?” She asked.
“I love all of them.” I chuckled.
“Well, you can never have too much jewelry so feel free to take them all.” she snorted.
I wanted to just ignore her comment and pick one but I decided that I have deprived myself of things long enough. Maybe it was time to indulge myself a little.
“Fine! Pack them all up,” I said and she grinned.
“Perfect!”
On arrival home, I met with my father going through some files in the living room.
““Good day, father,” I greeted him. “I see you’re busy.”
He looked up and his stern expression melted into a smile. “Well I got a proposal from Grayson & Sons. I suppose you know a lot about them.” he said and my expression changed.
Carter was seeking a partnership with my father? After all that he did to me and the embarrassment his mother caused me today? Did he really think that was going to work?
My father handed over the file to me.
“What do you think about it?” He asked.
I scanned through it and as expected, it was the very same lines he’d used to convince his old clients. Everything I had written before, nothing of
his. No originality, nothing.
“So?” My father asked.
“I don’t think you should go into a partnership with them,” I said closing
the file.
“Really? Why?
“Because this proposal was written by me for an investor a few months back.” I told him.
