Chapter 4

Veronica said, "Someone just wants me to suffer throughout my pregnancy."

She thought about the numerous bruises on her belly and the terrible morning sickness symptoms she had been experiencing every day. She felt a deep hatred.

Frank looked at her pitifully. "Then, what are you planning to do now?"

Veronica was planning to wait for the perfect moment to strike.

Just then, she suddenly received a news article notification on her phone. It read, "Goodwin Group Goes Public Successfully."

There was her chance.

…

Five days later, the Goodwins would throw a huge dinner event and invite every prominent figure in Amberdale. However, Veronica only found out about it from Anna, even though she was part of the family too.

"Mrs. Goodwin, I only heard about it when I went to tell Mr. Goodwin about your condition. Is that information of any use to you?"

Veronica asked, "You didn't say anything, did you?"

Anna replied, "Don't worry. I only told him that you could stay at the hospital for the safety of your babies and that you were taking your shots every day. I also mentioned that you couldn't have any visitors at the moment."

"Good job," Veronica said. "The last time, you told me that you didn't want money. So, you can now tell me what it is that you really want."

Anna didn't hide it from Veronica anymore. She immediately told her what she wanted. "I heard that the event would be held at the Goodwin residence itself. If you're planning to attend, Mrs. Goodwin, may I join you?"

Veronica immediately understood that Anna had her own reasons for wanting to attend the event. So, she agreed to it.

Meanwhile, right after ending the call with Veronica, Anna dialed another number on her phone.

"Hello, Mr. Johnson? It's me, Anna Holmes. I've already managed to find a way to enter the Goodwin residence."

A very low voice said over the phone, "You're slow."

Anna pushed her glasses up on the bridge of her nose and said anxiously, "It's a little hard to get into the Goodwins' good graces, but don't worry. I've already reached an agreement with the young Mrs. Goodwin.

"Mr. Johnson, you said that the artist you've been looking for was last seen at the Goodwin residence. That's why you sent me here—to investigate and look for clues to their whereabouts.

"But there's something I still haven't been able to confirm. Is this mysterious artist… male or female?"

Cade Johnson's voice was icy. Even Anna couldn't help shuddering just from talking to him on the phone.

He said, "They only go by V."

Five days passed in the blink of an eye. The huge event was really held at the Goodwin residence, as speculated.

Veronica drove the electric car she'd just bought and found herself caught in traffic on the bridge leading to the Goodwin residence.

There was only one hour left until the event started. Anna was waiting for her at the other end of the bridge, but Veronica figured that it would take her another 40 minutes to get off it.

Seeing that she would be late, Veronica considered abandoning her car and walking across the bridge. Suddenly, a loud bang erupted behind her, and the cars behind kept piling up, sent flying forward.

Veronica's new car was also involved in the accident. Her entire car was sent flying, and she even knocked her head hard against the steering wheel. It cut into her forehead, and she began to bleed.

She instinctively and anxiously held a hand to her stomach.

Fortunately, she had fastened her pregnancy seatbelt, and her stomach hadn't been bumped into. She didn't even give herself another moment to catch her breath before unbuckling the seatbelt and getting out of the car.

People were honking and screaming behind her, and some victims were seriously injured.

"Miss, are you alright?"

"Miss?"

Some concerned people immediately approached her to ask if she was okay. Veronica politely thanked them and declined their help before hurriedly rushing off from the accident site.

If the police arrived, she would definitely miss the event that night. That was why she had to leave as quickly as possible.

Veronica hurried through the cars and onlookers, finally making her way off the bridge. She quickly spotted two black cars parked at the junction ahead.

One of the cars was an MPV, and the other was a sedan.

Anna was just coming out of the MPV in the back and nodding politely to someone who was still seated inside.

Veronica walked over to her. She heard Anna say, "I understand, sir."

When Anna turned around, she was shocked to see Veronica there. "Mrs. Goodwin?"

She got a huge fright when she saw that the blood had streamed down all over Veronica's face. She immediately rushed up to the latter and held her arm.

"Mrs. Goodwin! What happened to you? You…" Anna looked deeply worried about her.

Veronica spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice. "There was an accident on the bridge. I'm fine. It's just that my car is totaled, and it's going to be hard for me to get a cab now. Can I hitch a ride with you instead?"

She then looked at the MPV in front of her.

Both cars were just ordinary local vehicles, but on this very eventful night, they somehow gave off a dark, eerie vibe.

It was as if they dared passersby to approach the cars and try to provoke a beast lying inside.

Veronica didn't want to know who these people were to Anna. She was simply in a rush to get to the Goodwin residence.

Anna hesitated, her face freezing for a bit. Then, she slowly glanced at the dark figure sitting inside the MPV.

"I…" She did not dare to ask anyone in the MPV for anything.

Suddenly, the vehicle's window was rolled down.

Derek Miller, Cade's personal assistant, smiled at Anna from the driver's seat and said, "Dr. Holmes, he says that you may both get in. You may help patch your friend's injury up first."

Anna then remembered there was a first-aid kit in the car and hurriedly helped Veronica inside.

Veronica immediately spotted Cade inside the car. He was dressed in all-black casual clothing, his hair swept away from his face. Yet he wore dark shades despite the darkness outside, exuding a cold, mysteriously threatening aura.

As for the rest of his features, Veronica couldn't see everything clearly.

Anna looked very anxious. "Sorry for intruding, sir."

She then brought Veronica into the back seat. Veronica nodded a greeting at Cade, still not knowing who he was, and followed Anna to the back without saying another word.

Anna hurriedly cleaned and examined the cut on Veronica's face. It was quite a long gash.

"Mrs. Goodwin, you need to get stitches at the hospital."

"I'm not in a hurry," Veronica said.

Anna immediately understood. She figured that Veronica planned to show off her cut at the Goodwin residence later.

Anna had heard that the CEO of Goodwin Group would be accompanied by his new secretary that night. Yet, he didn't say a single word about his currently pregnant wife.

So, if Veronica, his pregnant wife, showed up at the event all cut and bloodied, she would undoubtedly be the talk of the town later on.

Anna wanted to watch it all play out, but she still thought that Veronica was doing a little too much to make it happen.

Nevertheless, she respected Veronica's wishes. After all, her own goal was just to follow her into the Goodwin residence. Moreover, it would be easier for Anna to do what she needed if there was some chaos in the crowd later.

After cleaning the blood from Veronica's face, applying antiseptic, and dressing the cut, Anna patted Veronica's hand comfortingly and said, "Don't worry, Mrs. Goodwin. He will definitely get us to the Goodwin residence on time."

Veronica turned to look at the man sitting in the front again. He was practically hidden in the shadows, and yet, she could feel his strong presence inside the car.

Veronica could tell that he wasn't someone to be messed with.

She wondered who this man was. And since when had there been a person like him in Amberdale?

Veronica apologized and said, "I'm sorry for causing you trouble, sir. I'm willing to pay for the ride."

Anna was just about to tell her that it wasn't necessary when the man spoke up. "Sure."

Anna was deeply surprised.

After getting out of the car, Veronica considered paying the man back via Venmo, but Cade never took his phone out or showed her his details.

Instead, he took out a business card and gave it to her.

"My phone's out of battery. You can contact me later and send the payment to me instead."

Veronica turned to look at Anna first, then at Derek. She didn't know what Cade was up to, but since she owed him a favor for that night, she figured that she couldn't possibly offend him now.

She took the business card. But when she glanced at his printed name, she immediately froze as if she had been struck by lightning.

Cade Johnson? Why was this name so familiar to her?

She quickly recalled where she had encountered his name before. Wasn't he the person Frank had brought up a few days ago, saying that the nurse had mixed up Henry's semen sample with one belonging to Cade Johnson?

The very Cade Johnson—the richest CEO in Amberdale, owner of Johnson Corp, and heir to a secretive, mysterious, yet wealthy and influential family?