Chapter 19
The word “ready” got stuck halfway in Isabel’s throat, and the sound she squeezed out couldn’t have been any smaller.
Veronica snapped out of her shock, too. As she retreated, Raymond also stepped away and turned his head. She didn’t notice the suspicious blush on the tips of his ears.
“Bella, give me a second, Veronica said to Isabel.
Isabel nodded, her gaze glued to Raymond. Veronica didn’t explain anything and turned to head into the bathroom to finish brushing her teeth and washing her face.
Isabel darted up to him. “Hi, I’m Isabel Gorman. I’m like a sister to Ronie. Are you
Raymond said, “I’m Veronica’s fiance.”
Isabel was stunned. “Whoa.”
her boyfriend?”
Veronica, who had just stepped out of the bathroom, froze in place. She thought, “How did he lie like that with a straight face? Fiance? How dare he?
She marched forward, ready to argue with Raymond about this ridiculous claim like he was clinging to her for clout, but Isabel grabbed her arm and pulled her aside.
Isabel grinned, “Ronis, good for you. It’s only been a short time since we last saw each other, and now you have a fiancé. Spill it. How far along are you two?”
Veronica quickly said, “Bella, this is a misunder-
Isabel cut in, 1 get it. You don’t want to reveal who you really are, You wanna see if your fiancé loves you for you or for your money. I totally understand.”
Veronica was speechless. She thought, Thanks, Isabel, for understanding absolutely nothing.
Off to the side, Isabel remarked, “Let’s go have lunch at my place. It’s the perfect time for my parents to meet your fiance.
Then she leaned in close to Veronica’s ear and whispered what she thought only the two of them could hear, “Ronie, your fiance’s got the full package–tall, handsome, hunky. Looks like he really knows how to perform”
Veronica replied, “Thanks, but you really don’t have to stress that last word. And he’s not my fiancé
Isabel giggled mischievously, her mind already running wild with images of Veronica and Raymond’s spicy love life. Isabel thought, “Obviously. Being able to perform in bed is non–negotiable.
Veronica gave a dry laugh and told Isabel to head downstairs first. Isabel reminded Veronica over and over to make sure Veronica brought her fiance to her house, even though Isabel still had no idea who this so–called “fiancé actually was.
Once Veronica was alone in the room with Raymond, she crossed her arms and walked over to the couch. She leaned casually against the armrest and looked up at Raymond, her tone indifferent. “Mr. Harrington, let’s hear it. What exactly do you want?” she asked.
Raymond frowned, like he couldn’t quite figure out why Veronica was being so coli.
Veronica stood up straight. “Never anind. I won’t ask what you want anymore. But someone like you should already know what kind of person I really am in private, right?”
She thought, Is he trying to cozy up to me to get something out of it? He’s got it all planned out, huh? Too bad it’s going to blowi
up
Raymond furrowed his brows, and then his expression softened. “I don’t care what kind of person you are.”
Veronica looked confused. “Huh?”
“I already made up my mind a long time ago.
“Made up your mind?“
“To devote myself to you
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Chapter 19
Veronica thought, What the hell? I was just joking back then, and he took it seriously? And what year are we even in? Who still talks about devoting themselves like that?
‘Besides, all I did was clean a wound on his waist. It wasn’t even a life–saving moment
Veronica’s gaze dropped to Raymond’s waist as she wondered, “Would it cancel out if I stabbed him a few times now to make up for meddling in the first place?
Raymond said, “Don’t worry. My waist’s in perfect shape. Once we’re married, I definitely won’t let you down.”
It took Veronica a second to understand what he meant by not letting her down. “Why would I be let down?”
Raymond frowned. “Aren’t you worried I can’t perform?”
Veronica choked, nearly coughing on her own saliva. She felt like there was no w
no way to have a normal conversation with Raymond.
She figured that it wasn’t just that they were different genders or from different generations–their minds operated on entirely differen wavelengths. And as far as she was concerned, hers was clearly the superior one.
Ignoring Raymond completely, Veronica walked out, pressing her throbbing temples. There’s no point arguing with a primitive mind.” she thought. ‘It’ll only bring me down to his level.
Isabel, waiting downstairs, saw Veronica coming out alone and pecked curiously into the hotel “Where’s your fiancé? Isabel asked
Veronica glanced at Isabel. “You’re really that interested, huh?”
Isabel said, “Of course. It’s rare to run into a decent guy like him. And since he’s my bestie’s fiancé, of course I’m interested.”
Veronica snorted, “Once you find out who he really is, I’m sure you’ll be even more interested. She still remembered all the complaining Isabel had done in the car after picking her up at the airport.
Not long after Veronica left the hotel, Raymond left too. He had to attend a dinner party hosted by some local Palmrinians.
The Gorman family lived in a sprawling garden estate, and the “dinner” Isabel mentioned wasn’t some casual meal–it turned out to be a pretty big party. Veronica was rendered utterly speechless.
Isabel smiled, “Ronie, come on. I’ll introduce you to a few people. They’re all fans of yours.”
Veronica unwillingly followed Isabel over to a small group of four or five young people. The rowdy group immediately straightened up. the moment they saw Veronica, and even forgot to drink the wine already at their lips.
“Ms. Weston” one of them asked cautiously.
With a slight blush on her face but still calm and poised, Veronica reached out to shake his hand. Just call me Veronica.”
The young guy exclaimed, “Whoa, the Rally Queen just shook my hand. I’m not washing it tonight.”
Another one asked, ‘C–can I shake your hand tool
Someone else chimed in, Tm not washing mine for a year?
These kids were all part of the younger generation in the Gorman family, around the same age as Veronica. They all had one thing in common–they loved racing, especially rally racing
And Veronica had taken home the World Rally Championship title when she was just eighteen, something most people could only dream of achieving
So to these kids, Veronica was basically a legend. Even though they were close in age, that didn’t stop them from looking up to her like she was their idol
Someone asked, “Ronie, can you tell me your technique for crossing the rainforest?”
“I wanna learn how to drive through snow mountains too, another ad
raddled.
“Ugh, you guys have no arubition. Unlike you, I wanna learn everything someone else snorted snugly, lifting his chin with a suspicious blush on his face.
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Veronica chuckled and didn’t hold anything back. She shared all the techniques she knew with them. They listened so intently that they
want to get distracted, slowly closing in around her without even realizing iL
Raymond and Marco Gorman stepped out of the study just in time to see this scene. Raymond narrowed his eyes, his pupils shrinking slightly, his gaze sharp as a blade.
“Ronie, Raymond called out
