The evening air carried the rich aroma of tonight's bonfire feast. Tender beef stew bubbled in cast iron pots while seasoned chicken sizzled over the open flames. A wooden table stretched alongside the fire, laden with premium cuts of meat and fresh vegetables, all meticulously prepared for grilling.
Orange flames danced against the darkening sky as Nate and the group settled into their chairs around the crackling bonfire.
Marco and Niall had just returned from their walk, with Niall sliding naturally into the empty seat next to Cullen without hesitation.
Nate couldn't contain his hunger any longer and reached for a piece of the herb-crusted grilled chicken, taking an enthusiastic bite.
Scanning the faces illuminated by firelight, he realized everyone had gathered except for one person. The thought struck him suddenly, and he turned toward Sabrina with purpose.
"Sa, would you mind going upstairs to get your mother? Tell her we've got quite a spread here and she should join us for dinner."
Though Nate suspected Veronica would decline just as she had at lunch, proper courtesy demanded the invitation be extended.
Niall caught his meaning immediately. They would fulfill their obligations as hosts. Whether Veronica chose to participate was entirely her decision.
Nodding in agreement, she encouraged Sabrina as well, "Yes, go ahead and ask her."
Sabrina's expression tightened with visible reluctance. The truth was, she desperately hoped her mother would stay upstairs and avoid joining their intimate gathering. But with multiple adults watching her expectantly, refusing their request seemed impossible.
She reached for her drink, preparing to set it down and trudge upstairs, when Cullen's voice cut through the moment.
The casual chatter around the bonfire ceased abruptly. Cullen rose from his chair and walked away without further explanation.
Nate recovered from his surprise first, letting out a knowing chuckle. "Well, that makes more sense. Having Cullen extend the invitation shows much better manners."
Continuously sending a child to summon Veronica had been rather thoughtless on their part.
Niall found herself agreeing with this logic.
Cullen was simply making an effort to satisfy Cook's expectations. His decision to personally invite Veronica held no deeper significance whatsoever.
After all, he had never harbored romantic feelings for Veronica throughout their entire relationship. Nothing had changed to alter that fundamental reality now.
However, Sabrina pressed her lips into a thin, anxious line. She worried that if her father personally requested her mother's presence, Veronica might actually agree to come downstairs.
Her mother had always been unable to deny her father anything. Veronica consistently yielded to his wishes, never finding the strength to refuse his requests.
Upstairs in her room, Veronica had just finished placing a delivery order and opened her laptop computer.
She had barely begun concentrating on her work when the distinctive sound of the door opening reached her ears.
Freezing momentarily, she glanced over her shoulder to see Cullen entering with a key card still in his grasp.
Assuming he had returned to retrieve something he'd forgotten, she offered only a brief look before turning back to her screen, ready to resume working.
Then his voice broke the silence. "We're having a bonfire gathering downstairs. Everyone's having a good time. Why don't you come down and join us?"
Her fingers stilled on the keyboard. Like Nate and the others, Veronica understood that Cullen's personal invitation was merely a performance for Cook's benefit.
The gesture carried no genuine meaning behind it. And even if it did, she no longer possessed the emotional investment to care about his motivations.
Her response came without hesitation. "I have several projects that need my attention, so I'll be staying here." She turned slightly to meet his gaze, adding, "Don't be concerned about appearances. If your grandmother asks about this later, I'll support whatever explanation you give her."
Cullen's low laughter filled the room, his dark eyes studying her face with an intensity that seemed to pierce straight through her.
Under his scrutiny, Veronica felt her fingers grow tense against the laptop keys.
Despite knowing him for countless years and sharing a marriage that had lasted far too long, she often felt as though Cullen remained a complete mystery to her.
The thoughts and emotions running through his mind were territories she had never successfully navigated.
In the past, she might have dedicated considerable energy to deciphering the feelings hidden behind his penetrating stares and cryptic expressions. But those days were behind her now.
Veronica pressed her lips together firmly and maintained her position. "I appreciate you taking the time to ask me personally, but my answer remains unchanged. I have no interest in going downstairs."
The laptop screen glowed between them as silence stretched through the room, punctuated only by the distant sound of laughter drifting up from the bonfire below.