Veronica's stomach twisted as the implications hit her. Cullen had seen right through Cook's scheme and hadn't touched the soup at all the previous evening.
She hadn't anticipated Cook would resort to such measures.
Before Veronica could process this fully, Cook released a heavy sigh of disappointment. "A clever grandson can be a burden sometimes. I was counting on expanding this family soon. Ver, dear, perhaps you could make more of an effort with Cullen when you find the time?"
The words left Veronica frozen in stunned silence.
Despite Cullen's agreement to assist her yesterday, she harbored no illusions about their relationship's future. If anything had transpired between them last night, it would have been catastrophic. As for producing another child, the very notion was absurd.
Her contemplation was interrupted by Sabrina's footsteps on the stairs.
The sight of Sabrina immediately shifted Veronica's mood, reminding her of the girl's obvious infatuation with Niall that she'd witnessed recently.
During breakfast, Cullen claimed the chair next to Veronica with practiced ease.
Neither made any attempt at conversation.
While Veronica had handled school transportation the day before, Sabrina directed her request toward Cullen this morning.
His response came without hesitation. "Of course."
Cook's eyes darted between them before making her suggestion. "Cullen, bring Ver along as well. Since you both report to the same office—"
Veronica cut her off swiftly. "That's unnecessary, Grandma. His schedule is packed with client meetings and he's rarely at headquarters anyway. Without my own transportation, it would create complications."
Cook waved off her objections dismissively. "Client meetings are irrelevant. When your shift ends and you need a ride, simply contact the driver in advance for pickup."
Before Veronica could mount a defense, Cook's tone turned final. "The matter is decided."
Veronica found herself trapped without recourse. Her gaze sought Cullen's, but his silence served as tacit agreement.
Following breakfast, Veronica resigned herself to joining Cullen and Sabrina for the commute.
Sabrina approached the vehicle with familiar confidence, her spirits elevated by having both parents accompany her.
Veronica, however, struggled to recall her last experience as a passenger in Cullen's car.
As Sabrina settled inside and Veronica moved to follow, Cullen's voice stopped her cold. "Use the opposite door."
The instruction left Veronica suspended mid-motion, embarrassment flooding her cheeks, but she redirected her path around the vehicle as the driver assisted her entry.
This arrangement positioned Sabrina as a buffer between the adults.
Cullen's attention remained fixed on his phone, fingers moving across the screen in response to incoming messages.
Veronica maintained forward focus, but Sabrina nestled against Cullen's side, attempting to glimpse his device. "You're texting Niall."
Cullen acknowledged this observation with a noncommittal sound, never lifting his eyes from the screen.
Seemingly remembering Veronica's presence, Sabrina cast several furtive glances in her direction before returning her attention to Cullen's phone, carefully avoiding any commentary about the conversation's content.
Eventually losing interest, Sabrina extracted herself from Cullen's proximity and began exploring the vehicle's storage compartments.
Though Veronica had no intention of prying, her peripheral vision inadvertently captured the contents within.
A lipstick tube gleamed alongside a delicate women's purse and one of Sabrina's small backpacks from previous outings.
The lipstick and purse required no explanation. They clearly belonged to Niall.
Understanding crashed over Veronica with brutal clarity regarding Cullen's seating directive when she'd attempted to enter the car.
That seat was Niall's territory, and Cullen refused to allow Veronica to occupy her space.
The realization settled in her chest like a stone, heavy and undeniable. Every gesture, every boundary Cullen established served as a reminder of where she stood in his priorities. Niall's possessions claimed permanent residence in his vehicle while Veronica remained a temporary inconvenience.
She forced herself to maintain composure, directing her gaze firmly ahead while her mind processed this latest confirmation of her position in Cullen's world. The lipstick caught morning light streaming through the window, its presence more eloquent than any verbal declaration could have been.
Sabrina continued her exploration of various compartments, blissfully unaware of the tension radiating from the adults flanking her. Cullen's fingers never paused in their movement across his phone screen, his conversation with Niall apparently requiring his complete attention.
The vehicle's interior felt suffocating despite its spacious design. Every breath Veronica drew seemed to carry the weight of unspoken truths and carefully maintained boundaries. She understood now that Cullen's world had room for only one woman's intimate belongings, and that woman wasn't her.
As they progressed through morning traffic, Veronica found herself cataloging these small humiliations, each one another brick in the wall separating her from any hope of genuine reconciliation with Cullen. The message was unmistakable: she might share his name and his child, but Niall held claim to his heart and his future.
The knowledge sat bitter on her tongue, but Veronica swallowed it down alongside her pride, maintaining her silence for the remainder of their journey.