Veronica felt a familiar tightness in her chest as she processed the situation. "Understood. I'll head back shortly."
That evening, Veronica prepared honey-glazed pork ribs with garlic for Sabrina, accompanying the meal with a rich bone broth. She remained at Sabrina's side for the following forty-eight hours, unwilling to leave her daughter alone.
Friday arrived with Mary's phone call, her voice warm with invitation as she requested Veronica's presence for dinner. Without hesitation, Veronica gathered Sabrina and made their way to the Murray family estate.
The sprawling house felt unusually quiet with only Mary present. The other family members had scattered to various social obligations or were still attending classes, leaving the two women and child in peaceful solitude.
Mary's eyes widened with genuine delight when she discovered Sabrina's return to the country. The surprise of seeing her granddaughter brought an immediate sparkle to her aging features.
Sabrina possessed an innate ability to charm Mary, effortlessly drawing the older woman into animated conversations that left her beaming with joy. The bond between grandmother and granddaughter had always been remarkably strong.
Both Veronica and Sabrina settled into the familiar comfort of the Murray home for the night, finding solace in the unchanged environment of Veronica's childhood.
Dawn found Veronica in the kitchen, her hands working methodically as she prepared fresh pancakes from scratch. The rhythmic motions of mixing batter and heating the griddle provided her with a meditative calm.
Mary observed from the doorway, her expression tinged with melancholy as memories surfaced. The transformation in Veronica struck her profoundly—this was the same woman who had once refused to so much as boil water for herself before marriage.
Sensing Mary's contemplative mood, Veronica offered a gentle smile. "There's something therapeutic about cooking. The process actually brings me peace."
The physical changes in Veronica hadn't escaped Mary's notice either. Her daughter-in-law had gained some much-needed weight since her last visit, no longer appearing gaunt and fragile. This small improvement provided Mary with a measure of comfort regarding Veronica's wellbeing.
After completing the pancakes and engaging in comfortable conversation with Mary, Veronica ascended the stairs to check on Sabrina. The sound of running water indicated her daughter was already awake and tending to her morning routine.
Veronica began collecting Sabrina's discarded sleepwear to add to the laundry load when the tablet's screen illuminated with an incoming message. Niall's name appeared prominently at the top.
"Sa, are you up yet? My flight lands this afternoon. How about dinner together tonight? Tomorrow I can take you somewhere fun, just the two of us."
The message remained visible for only a brief moment before Veronica deliberately averted her gaze, focusing instead on loading the washing machine with the gathered clothes.
Upon her return to the bedroom, she discovered Sabrina clutching the tablet protectively, attempting to conceal the device behind her small frame. The guilty expression on her daughter's face revealed everything Veronica needed to know about the communication with Niall.
Rather than confront the obvious deception, Veronica chose diplomacy. "Breakfast is waiting downstairs. The pancakes are still warm."
Sabrina's face transformed with excitement as she bounced from the bed. "I've missed your pancakes so much! This is the best surprise!"
The breakfast table buzzed with Mary's enthusiasm as she addressed her granddaughter. "What sounds appealing for tonight's dinner, sweetheart? Granny will arrange for the kitchen staff to prepare whatever you desire."
Sabrina's mind raced as she considered her predicament. Mary's well-known disapproval of Niall complicated matters significantly.
Her dark eyes shifted nervously before she spoke in barely above a whisper. "Actually, Granny, Dad's returning home tonight. I should probably go back for dinner with him."
Mary's face fell with disappointment at the prospect of losing time with Sabrina after such a long separation. However, she had witnessed the growing attachment between Sabrina and Cullen over the past two years, making the request seem reasonable rather than suspicious.
Veronica recognized the fabrication immediately but maintained her composure, choosing not to challenge her daughter's lie. Instead, she served Mary a generous portion of food while speaking casually. "That's perfectly fine. I'll remain here and keep you company."
The arrangement appeared unconventional—a wife choosing to stay with her family while her husband returned from business travel. Yet Mary felt no concern about Cullen's feelings, given his consistent mistreatment of Veronica. If anything, she would celebrate a divorce between them.
Mary's smile broadened with approval. "Wonderful. Your thoughtfulness has always been one of your finest qualities."
Relief flooded through Sabrina as her plan fell into place. She had been desperately searching for a way to meet Niall without arousing Veronica's suspicions. Her mother's decision to remain at the Murray house solved her problem perfectly.
As departure time approached, Mary bustled around the kitchen, assembling an impressive collection of Sabrina's favorite treats and snacks for the journey home.
Veronica intervened gently, redirecting Mary's generosity. "Save those goodies for Phillip's children when they visit. They'll appreciate them more."
When the moment came for Sabrina's departure, Veronica notably remained inside rather than accompanying her daughter to the car. Instead, she contacted Cullen's household staff directly, requesting they send a driver to collect Sabrina safely.
Mary observed this unusual behavior with growing curiosity, though she chose not to voice her questions. Something felt different about Veronica's demeanor, but she couldn't quite identify what had changed.
The black sedan disappeared down the winding driveway, carrying Sabrina toward her secret meeting with Niall. Veronica watched from the window, her reflection ghostlike in the glass as she contemplated the web of deception surrounding her family.
Mary joined her at the window, placing a comforting hand on Veronica's shoulder. Neither woman spoke, but both sensed the undercurrents of tension that seemed to follow Sabrina wherever she went.
The afternoon stretched ahead of them, filled with unspoken concerns and the growing realization that some truths were becoming impossible to ignore.