Chapter 6

Beth smiled ear to ear, eagerly awaiting the moment everything would be in place again. It was she who set her eyes on Liam first and made plans to approach him but Veronica came out of nowhere to marry him.

"I can't take Liam from Veronica. She's already suffered enough," Beth said.

Evelyn didn't want to hear Beth giving up so soon. "You were the one to attend a match-making date with him. I feel bad that it didn't go as planned. She never told me she was going for him. I will make things right."

"It was my place," Beth agreed with Evelyn.

Her parents were old friends with the Sterlings so it made sense for her to be with Liam. No one thought of the girl who only found herself in this social circle because of her mother would marry Liam. 

"Talk to his mother," Beth encouraged Evelyn. 

She had the upper hand over Veronica since Liam's mother liked her. With the loss of her mother, Beth had many who took care of her like she was their daughter. 

Beth grabbed Evelyn's arm and playfully swung it. "Please, please tell uncle to increase what he deposits on my card. The reporters are outside and I will die if I end up on a blog in last season's clothes. Look at my shoes," Beth said, pouting over the pair she bought last week. 

Evelyn looked down at the shoes. She had been meaning to get a pair but Henry was stingy with his money since they had to buy the building. "Weren't they twelve hundred dollars? You should wear them a little more."

Beth let go of Evelyn's hand. "A magazine I read on my way home showed another style. Uncle wouldn't be so cheap if Veronica would have helped us. He has been taking his anger out on you because she refuses to acknowledge him as her stepfather in front of potential investors."

Beth stomped her right foot like a child throwing a tantrum. "Why does she get to mess up everything for us and then get to spend money without worry?"

"Alright," Evelyn said in a hushed tone. If Henry saw Beth upset he would find something to argue about again. "We can go shopping with the money given to us for the interviews. I have more lined up so we will have a lot of money."

Beth clapped her hands, ecstatic that Evelyn found a way to spoil her.

"I had everything set up for when she died. She managed to escape death to ruin my plans. How could a child hate her mother so much?" Evelyn wondered, taking a seat as the overwhelming day started to get to her. 

Beth sat beside Evelyn. "I will always dislike Veronica for how she ignores you. I would do anything to have my mother by my side yet she takes you for granted. I would never do that to you," she promised.

It was unfair that Veronica had everything. 

The perfect husband, mother, and life while Beth was left with nothing. It was fair that Beth took those things from Veronica since they were not appreciated.

Beth laid on Evelyn's lap like she did with her mother in the past.

Evelyn smiled, her heart touched by the love she received from Beth. "If only you were my daughter. You were sent to me to make up for that rotten girl. I will spoil you," she decided. "How about you join me to meet his mother? She has always adored you."

Beth smiled, nodding her head. "Wouldn't it be something if she started pushing for me to be with Liam?"

"It would solve all of our problems," said Evelyn.

***

Meanwhile, Veronica sat on her bed swiping through the images of herself and Liam at places she did not recognise. It was strange to see herself smiling so much with the man she considered to be cold. 

"So he can smile," Veronica said, surprised by his smile. She felt the warmth just by looking at it. 

"No," she shook her head. "Photos can be deceiving."

Were these photos before the affair Beth hinted at?

Veronica sighed, covering her face with her right hand. "Should I listen to her? She didn't seem trustworthy. She hid the ring and made that comment. Does she… love him?"

Even if they weren't close shouldn't it feel wrong to have feelings for the man married to your cousin?

Veronica continued to inspect the photos, searching for one of her family but it was mostly her and Liam along with other faces that showed up regularly. 

A knock at the door disturbed her. 

Veronica closed the laptop and set it to the side. Was it Liam? Did he think she had found a way to get on the internet? 

Veronica stood up from her bed and walked to the door to open it. "I didn't get on the web."

Liam rested his hands in his pockets. "I know you didn't. I came here to talk."

Veronica's brow knitted together, confused by why he suddenly wanted to talk. "I have been trying to get you to speak about my life but you kept shutting that conversation down. Now you want to talk? Can we only talk on your terms?"

Veronica gripped the door handle, her anger growing as she didn't like moving to the beat of Liam's drums. 

"I started wrong with you. I'm sorry," Liam apologised, knowing his actions were wrong. "I knew you would wake and when you did, I would find the person responsible. We would continue with our life. I don't regret not telling you anything then."

Liam didn't want her to go searching for whatever had caught her attention before again. Not when he didn't know how dangerous it was to lead to Veronica almost dying.

There were too many questionable people for him to tell her about anyone, building her curiosity in them and then whoever had harmed her got the chance to do it again.

"I am trying to trace your steps for the last few weeks. It is surprising how many secrets you kept from me. I am stuck trying to find the reason why you didn't tell me. I have always been willing to help you. You are my wife," Liam said, fighting back the urge to embrace her.

Veronica was alive and well before him yet he didn't get the chance to embrace her. Her gaze bothered him. She looked as though she was disgusted by the sight of him. He was once the only person she could lean on.

"Maybe our marriage wasn't like you thought in my eyes. When I wanted to speak, you didn't want to answer and right now, you aren't providing me much insight about my past. So," Veronica pushed the door forward. "I don't want to speak to you now."

Though she wanted to hear about her life, Veronica did not want to encourage Liam only speaking when he felt like it. If she allowed it now, this would continue leaving her to have to plead to know more.