Chapter 6

When Veronica heard that, she immediately froze.

Philip and Ruby then walked into the room. Janice simply leaned against the doorframe, looking like she wasn't keen on going in at all. She just nodded at Veronica in greeting, and that was it.

Veronica greeted her parents at once. "Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad."

Philip scoffed. "What, you finally remembered that I'm your father?"

Feeling sorry for Veronica, Ruby came over and gently tugged on her hand. "I thought you really didn't want to acknowledge us anymore, Veronica."

Veronica replied, "How is that possible? You raised me for over two decades. I owe you my life, and I don't know how I'll ever pay you back for that."

Ruby's eyes turned watery. She held on tighter to Veronica and asked, "Then why have you never come home to visit, ever? You even threw down a bank card like you were so keen on breaking all ties with us!

"You have always been the apple of my eye, Veronica. I can't possibly just part with you that easily after everything! You can't be that heartless to abandon us like that!"

Veronica looked up at Janice and saw her looking a little upset when she heard that. Veronica hurriedly removed her hand from Ruby's grip and said politely, "Mom, I was the one who stole Janice's life from her. I've wronged her for years.

"Next time, please just give all of your love to her instead. I'm not worthy of your love anymore. In fact, I never was."

Philip and Ruby looked upset when she put it this way. Ruby asked, "Are you still mad at Ian? He only said all those hurtful words because he couldn't accept it at first.

"Veronica, he's been overseas for a year now and has barely kept in touch with us, almost as if he's already cut us off. Can't you please forgive your own brother?

"You just need to give in and apologize for your faults, and everything will return to normal again. You two will remain as close as ever. Isn't that for the better?"

When Ruby saw that Veronica wasn't saying anything in return, she felt very upset and began thumping her chest.

"Both of you are really driving me to my wits' end!"

Veronica couldn't deny that she also felt upset to see Ruby like that. After all, she used to have a happy family too. Philip used to spoil her rotten, Ruby used to shower her with love, and even her brother, Ian Sherman, used to be very protective of her.

She used to get everything she ever wanted in the family, and they all fiercely protected her from the harsh realities of the world. However, one day, Veronica realized that everything she thought she owned had actually been taken from someone else.

And she was actually a nobody instead.

She couldn't accept the truth at first. Just as she was about to look for Ian—the one she had been closest to growing up—so that she could seek comfort and win him over to her side, she overheard him talking to someone else on the phone instead.

"Veronica was supposed to be nothing but an orphan! She was the one who made my real sister suffer at the orphanage for 20-something years! She owes us, and she will forever be indebted to us, so she deserves this!"

Ian's words felt like a knife to Veronica's heart. She had immediately turned and run away from there as quickly as she could.

The Shermans began treating her very differently after learning about her real identity. Veronica could no longer feel like part of them.

Coincidentally, her and Janice's birthdays were approaching, and someone asked the Shermans if they wanted to throw a big birthday celebration for both daughters.

Ian had said simply, "Veronica deserves nothing."

Veronica heard about it.

The Shermans indeed threw a massive party for Janice and also revealed her true identity to the world.

Veronica wisely chose not to show up.

Ruby had tried calling her twice before, but neither Philip nor Ian had ever asked about her. It was as if they had already removed her from the family altogether.

Veronica had returned home to the Shermans once. She wanted to tidy up some of the things she'd left behind at their place. Some of her most important things included her certifications and design drafts. She had also put all her savings on a bank card and left it on the table, seeing it as a way to partially make up for everything.

When Ian saw her packing up her things, he mocked her and said sarcastically, "You're nothing without us. Veronica Sherman, you'd better come back and repay everything you owe Janice!"

Veronica and Ian got into a huge fight that day. That was also the first time they had ever quarrelled with each other.

They had fought so fiercely that they began calling each other names and hurling the cruelest insults they could think of. Naturally, Ian's words were the most hurtful of all.

"You and your horrible temper! If you were the one at the orphanage instead, you'd still not be half as good as Janice! Just look at your fucking self in the mirror, Veronica! Look at your pathetic self!"

"My pathetic self?" Veronica exclaimed. "So you've always thought that I never had a single talent to my name? Or is it because I actually came from a poor background that you think I never deserved to be your sister in the first place?"

With that, their fight ended on a sour note.

Veronica had to admit that her feelings had been profoundly hurt that day. That was why it was impossible for her to give in and apologize to Ian.

When Philip saw that Veronica was being stubborn about it, he flew into a rage and said, "That's enough. What's the point of trying to talk to an ingrate like her anyway?

"We married her off to someone as good as the Goodwins, and look what a mess she made out of it. It's only been a year, and the Goodwins aren't even treating her like she's worth anything anymore.

"She's just a useless little piece of shit! We're leaving!"

Ruby held Veronica's hand tightly, seeing as she was reluctant to leave. "Veronica, even though you're not our biological daughter, you're still the real Mrs. Goodwin. You must hold on to this marriage!

"The Goodwins are only just starting to rise now. As long as you can successfully give birth to a male heir, you'll never have to worry about anything for the rest of your life.

"Your father and I are only doing this for your own good. We would never wish anything terrible on you. You must listen to what I say, understand?"

Philip then pulled Ruby out of the room by force. Janice also just threw another sidelong glance at Veronica before turning to leave.

Once again, Veronica found herself completely alone. She pulled herself together and quickly dealt with her sadness before hurrying out the door.

Jasmine Harper, an 18-year-old maid, was waiting for her around the corner of the stairs.

"You're finally here, Mrs. Goodwin! You told me to keep an eye on Mr. Goodwin tonight. After he came out of your room, I saw that he went to find the female secretary he had brought with him today.

"The two of them are now in the backyard behind the rose garden."

"Let's go," Veronica said.

She knew that her sudden appearance had completely stolen the limelight from Daphne that night. Thus, she figured that Daphne would definitely be feeling very jealous and indignant about it.

Veronica had been waiting for the emotionally unstable Daphne to lure Henry away on his own. After all, Daphne was Henry's first love, and he would almost certainly find a way to calm her down and reassure her of his feelings whenever he saw her upset like that.

And since it was dark, and roses surrounded them, what else could they possibly be doing under the moonlit sky?

Veronica knew that she only had to expose their affair and then create a huge fuss about it. If things continued to get out of hand, she could threaten him with divorce.

Goodwin Group had only gone public a few days ago. Henry would never bear to watch his stock price plummet. So even if he knew he was walking into a trap, he would still be forced to accept her divorce proposition.

Veronica was ecstatic. However, just as she stepped into the garden, she bumped into Esther, who was being wheeled out by Grace.

"Veronica? Where are you going?"

Veronica stopped in her footsteps and politely greeted Esther. "Hi, Grandma. What are you doing here?"

Esther tugged on Veronica's hand and said, "Of course I have to be here! It's such an important event. However, I heard that you were resting at the hospital, so I hadn't been in the mood for anything earlier. I had only just shown up for a while before excusing myself to go and rest.

"But what happened to your forehead? Come, let me have a look at it."

Veronica ignored the urgent look in Jasmine's eyes and crouched a little, letting Esther look closer at her cut.

Esther looked very sorry for her. "How did you manage to get yourself injured all over?"

Veronica was a little anxious now. She said, "Grandma, I have something else to attend to now. Can you please excuse me—"

She then tried to get to her feet, but Esther tugged her arm again and asked, "Veronica, can you please come with me to the front yard?"

Veronica looked at Esther rather suspiciously. "Grandma, did you—"

She wondered if Esther was preventing her from going around the fence on purpose. Had Esther found out about what was going on in the rose gardens after all?

Esther clutched Veronica's hand tightly as her eyes reddened. "My child, there are some things that cannot be mended once the crack has happened.

"But don't worry. I'll make things right for you again. Think about it, okay? Do you really want to go back there?"

Veronica understood now. Esther had purposely come out to stop her from discovering Henry's affair.

She immediately felt a deep pang in her heart, spreading throughout the rest of her body.

Esther was the only person in the family who still treated her with kindness, but she was still Henry's grandmother.

Veronica pulled her hand away from Esther and said, "I'm sorry, Grandma."

She didn't want Esther to worry about her either, but if she missed the opportunity that day, she didn't know how much longer she would have to wait for another chance like this.

She hurried over to the rose gardens. Soon, she could hear Daphne's voice coming from around the back of the wall.

"S-Slow down, Henry! It's too warm… Tell me, have you ever touched her like this? Swear to me that I'm the only one you've ever touched!"

Henry's deep voice could be heard. "Daphne, you know that I've only ever felt the same about you. I swear by the moon and the sky that I'll never have anyone else but you…"

Their soft moans and gasps could be heard after that. Just as Veronica was about to go over the wall and catch them red-handed, there was a sudden loud shriek behind her.

"Mrs. Goodwin Senior! What happened? Mrs. Goodwin Senior!

"Mrs. Goodwin, please help! Mrs. Goodwin Senior just fainted!"

Veronica immediately stopped in her steps.

She was so close. She was literally just one step away from tearing Henry's fake mask off and exposing his true colors to the world! She could have caught them in the middle of the act and gathered enough evidence to prove he was cheating on her.

And if they refused to admit it, she still had that recording and could play it for everyone to hear, ruining the rest of the night!

"Mrs. Goodwin, please! Mrs. Goodwin Senior isn't going to make it!"

Veronica turned and hurried back toward where Esther had fallen from her wheelchair. Her steps grew heavier, and she felt as though her heart had just plunged down a bottomless valley.

"Mrs. Goodwin Senior? Mrs. Goodwin Senior!"

Esther had genuinely passed out. However, nobody else was in the backyard. There wasn't even a single maid. They were the only people there.

Grace was so anxious and panicked that her legs gave out.

Veronica calmly spoke to Jasmine. "Hurry up and get help from the front yard!"

Then, she half-carried Esther in her arms, glancing back longingly at the arched doorway at the back of the rose garden.

Henry still hadn't shown himself until now.

She thought that it was a great pity, though. Grace's cries had alerted them that they were nearby, and Veronica had lost her chance to expose the disgusting couple's affair.

However, Esther didn't look like she was doing well at all.

James was Grace's nephew. After checking Esther thoroughly, he shook his head and said, "Mrs. Goodwin Senior's cancer has already spread throughout her body, including her brain. She had also suffered a severe shock earlier and fainted from the emotional stress.

"It would be better to just go with everything she says in the future to not aggravate her situation anymore. Otherwise…"

James had barely finished his sentence, but Grace was already shaking from crying so hard.

Veronica only learned about Esther's grave situation after hearing what James had said. She had never realized it was this bad!

Meanwhile, Lily glared suspiciously at Veronica and said, "You two were the only people who were there when this happened. What could possibly have caused her so much distress?

"Was it you, Veronica? What the hell happened in the backyard?"