Chapter 2

Veronica's eyes were as cold as ice.

Even Lily was shocked by Veronica's resistance. "You—"

However, before Lily could return to her senses, Henry's younger sister, Mabel Goodwin, rushed up and shoved Veronica away.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Veronica? This is our place! How dare you attempt to hit your own mother-in-law! Are you insane?"

Veronica nearly lost her footing. However, someone suddenly came up from behind and supported her. The person was none other than Henry, who had also just stepped through the door. He frowned and asked, "How could you be so careless?"

He sounded concerned about her, but to Veronica, it sounded more like an accusation.

Ever since finding out about the truth, Veronica would feel disgusted whenever she looked at Henry. So, she just pushed him aside.

Just as Henry began to suspect Veronica's behavior, Mabel scoffed. "Look at what you've done! You've spoiled her into a proper bitch!

"She disrespected Mom just now and even dared to push you away! Who the hell does she think she is?

"She's nothing but a fake heiress that even the Shermans don't want anymore. She replaced the real heiress and stole her life, enjoying a life of luxury in her place! And now that she has been chased out of that family, just look at how she's behaving!

"I can't believe she was so lucky to marry into our family. And yet, she's not grateful for the opportunity at all! How dare she disrespect us!

"You need to teach her a good lesson!"

Mabel's accusations deepened Henry's frown.

"Veronica. How could you be rude to Mom? Even if she said a word or two to you, you should have endured it as her daughter-in-law. Think of it as doing it for my sake."

Veronica's hands balled into fists by her side. She suppressed the anger in her chest, knowing that she should have seen through Henry's pretense a long time ago. She used to feel sorry for him because he seemed like he was caught between her and Lily. But now, Veronica just found it extremely laughable.

She looked at Henry and retorted, "Bear with it? I had put up with Lily's sarcasm and Mabel's accusations for an entire year. Is that still not enough for you?"

Then, she looked at the apple on the floor and said, "Your mother threw that at me as soon as I stepped inside the house, and Mabel rushed up to me, calling me a bitch. You're calling that just 'a word or two'?"

Mabel was just about to snap back when Veronica interrupted her and continued saying, "Mabel, I am still your brother's lawfully-wedded wife. And yet, you're always cursing and yelling at me whenever you see me. Who's the one being rude and disrespectful here? Shouldn't it be you instead?"

Veronica's words made Mabel turn red with indignation. Henry also didn't have a comeback for that.

Then, Veronica left the three of them behind and walked off without saying another word, no longer obliging and giving in to their rudeness anymore.

Mabel flew into such a rage that she began screaming and shouting. Meanwhile, Lily also got mad and exclaimed, "This is mutiny! Mutiny! Henry Goodwin, are you just going to watch as your wife bullies and mistreats us like this?

"What are you trying to do to me—still refusing to divorce a fraud like her? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Henry, having just been scolded by Lily, wore a dark expression as he rubbed his forehead.

"That's enough, Mom! She's pregnant, so her emotions are all over the place. Just be more considerate of her and let her be."

Then Henry walked after Veronica, leaving Lily and Mabel behind, both wearing looks of disbelief.

Veronica was pregnant? That bitch was actually pregnant?

Henry found Veronica in the kitchen. He stared coldly toward the side, and the cook, who had been watching over Veronica, quickly excused herself and left.

Henry then grabbed Veronica by the arm and yanked her toward him. He yelled at her angrily, "That's enough, Veronica Sherman! What the hell is wrong with you?

"How dare you give attitude to Mom and Mabel and even argue with them! All just because I rarely ever came home to keep you company.

"I've already told them that you're pregnant. The entire Goodwin family will now meekly listen to everything you say. Are you happy now?"

Veronica simply found his words amusing. "Henry Goodwin, you seem to be very concerned about the baby I'm carrying."

Ever since she was denounced as the Sherman heiress, Veronica's status had plummeted, and she was treated worse than even the maids in the Goodwin household. Every time she came here, she had to endure every insult and jab aimed at her.

Who would have thought that Henry would end up telling Lily and Mabel to back off and leave her alone?

It was most probably because Henry was sure that the baby she was carrying really belonged to him and Daphne. Otherwise, he wouldn't have treated her this way.

Veronica had finally seen his true colors, and she just found him vile and disgusting. She turned around and immediately threw up.

Henry's expression fell. "You—"

He could smell her stomach contents, and he couldn't stop himself from looking at her in disgust.

He was just about to tell Veronica off when the housekeeper, Grace Turner, quickly appeared at the door.

She exclaimed, "Mrs. Goodwin! What are you still doing here? Mrs. Goodwin Senior has been waiting for you for a long time. Hurry up and come along with me!"

Veronica, looking pale, rinsed her mouth and said, "Wait, I've made some beef stew for her."

She had asked the cook to start the stew on her way over so she could give it to Esther when she visited.

Esther lived in a separate, smaller mansion at the back of the Goodwin residence. She was overjoyed when she finally caught sight of Veronica.

"You're finally here, Veronica! Come here and let me have a good look at you.

"Wait, why are you looking so tired and exhausted? Has Henry been treating you terribly?"

Esther's health was poor, and she usually spent her days in a nursing home. However, once a week, she would return to the Goodwin residence. Veronica was expected to be there to take care of her on that same day.

Esther was very fond of Veronica, even more than she was of Mabel.

She was also the only person in the entire Goodwin household who still treated Veronica like she did before her identity as a fake heiress was exposed.

Henry followed along as well and looked at Esther, his expression one of jealousy. "Grandma? Are you really siding with her instead of your own grandson?

"Who would dare to treat her terribly in the Goodwin household? She's pregnant now. We're all delighted about it."

Esther was very happy when she heard that. "What? Veronica, is that true?"

Veronica knew that she wasn't going to be able to hide her pregnancy anymore. So, she nodded hesitantly and said, "Yes, Grandma."

Esther was so excited that she immediately told Grace to fetch the heirloom bracelet from her safe so that she could give it to Veronica.

Lily, who had rushed over, happened to witness everything and nearly flew into a screaming fit.

To think that Veronica, that bitch, would receive that heirloom bracelet instead of herself!

Mabel was also watching from the side. She glanced at Lily with reddened eyes and said, "Mom! How could Grandma just give that heirloom bracelet to a bitch like Veronica?

"You gave birth to Henry and me, but Grandma never gave it to you! And you're also the one taking care of the house. She should at least acknowledge all the things you've done for the family!

"How dare Grandma skip over you and give it to Veronica straight away! I really wonder how that bitch managed to hypnotize Grandma into giving it to her!"

Lily's face was purple with anger. Her shoulders shook as she said, "It's all because of that bitch! Veronica Sherman! Henry's already defending her and telling both of us off, and your Grandma gave the heirloom bracelet to her, all just because she got pregnant!

"Imagine what would happen to us if she really were to give birth to the first great-grandson of the Goodwin family!

"I'm not going to let that happen! Veronica cannot give birth! Her baby must die!"

An evil, calculating look instantly appeared on Lily's face.

Mabel was a little scared when she heard that. However, she also hated Veronica with a passion.

Veronica suddenly shivered for no particular reason. She turned and looked in the dark corner, quickly noticing two retreating shadows hurrying off.

Dinner was tense and filled with jealous looks.

Meanwhile, Lily's husband, Albert Goodwin, never showed up. As a result, Esther was the only one genuinely happy about Veronica's pregnancy.

After cheering Esther up and finally leaving the Goodwin residence, Veronica got into the car and immediately took off the bracelet.

Henry saw it and immediately frowned. "What's the meaning of this, Veronica Sherman? Are you looking down on it?"

The Goodwins had only made their fortune in the last three generations. So, the bracelet wasn't exactly expensive. However, it had been kept in the family for quite some time and had somehow earned the status of a family heirloom, which is why it was treated as such.

Yet, Veronica had seen plenty more other priceless jewelry in her lifetime. After all, the Shermans had been spoiling her rotten before this. And Henry naturally thought that Veronica didn't think much of the bracelet Esther had given her.

He angrily punched Veronica's seat and didn't wait for her to explain before screaming in her face.

"You're going too far, Veronica Sherman! Don't forget that the Goodwins took you in even after you were abandoned by the Shermans! How dare you think lowly of this bracelet! Who gave you the guts to do so?"

The look in Henry's eyes was like that of a dangerous, murderous beast. He had been playing the role of a loving husband all this time. Was he finally going to reveal his true colors?

After pretending to be a dutiful husband for so long, did he really think that Veronica couldn't leave him just because she was now pregnant with what he thought was his child?

Veronica suppressed the emotions within her and put on a shocked, upset face. "Is that what you've always been thinking of me, Henry?"

Her eyes reddened as she carefully wrapped the bracelet in her handkerchief and placed it in her bag.

"I just thought that it wouldn't do if I were to get a single scratch on such a priceless item. I have nothing but gratitude for Grandma, and I can't even thank her enough for her kindness. How could I ever look down on the things that she gave to me?

"Also, she said that this is the heirloom that's only given to the wife of the eldest son in the family. I just thought it would be better for me to store this in the safe as soon as we get home.

"Only once the baby is born would their mother have the right to wear this bracelet on her wrist. Don't you think so, Henry?"

Veronica deliberately wore an expression as if she might burst into tears at any moment, gazing deeply into Henry's eyes.

Henry's expression finally relaxed after he heard Veronica's explanation. He tugged at his collar and said matter-of-factly, "You are right. Only the mother of the eldest grandson of the family deserves to wear the heirloom bracelet."

Veronica inwardly chuckled when she heard that. She figured that he was probably thinking about Daphne wearing the bracelet instead. However, unfortunately for him, his and Daphne's embryo had failed the first time.

She was planning to crush their dreams at the right moment, right in front of their faces.

The cold look in Veronica's eyes made Henry feel a little uneasy.

"Fine, fine. I was wrong, okay? I shouldn't have yelled at you earlier. But you were in the wrong as well. I'll let you off the hook this once for talking back to Mom. But there won't be a next time. Do you understand?"

Henry then caressed Veronica's face, a gesture to show that he was compromising for her sake. Then, he told her to get out of the car.

Henry told her that he was very busy at work and had to return to the office soon, so he got the Goodwin residence's driver, Matt Tyson, to send Veronica home instead.

After seeing Henry's car disappear down the road, Veronica then took out her handkerchief and scrubbed at her face where he had touched her.

She scrubbed so hard that her face began to burn. Finally, she flung the handkerchief to the ground in fury.

After getting home, Veronica didn't put the bracelet into her safe as she said she would. Instead, she called up her senior, Tina Adams, whom she hadn't contacted in a very long time.

"Tina? It's been a while," Veronica said. "I have the design sketches for a set of emerald jewelry with me. Can you help me create the pieces?"

Tina sounded very excited on the phone when she saw that it was Veronica calling. "Veronica! Is it really you?

"Oh my god, of course! You're Vivian, after all—the famous jewelry designer who suddenly announced a hiatus and disappeared from the industry for years. Of course I'm more than willing to help you make your comeback!

"But have you really decided to do that?"