THE SECRET THAT FOLLOWED VERONICA

Three days later, Richard sat alone in his office, staring at the documents scattered across his desk without actually reading any of them. He had spent the last few days trying to convince himself that everything that had happened was already behind him. Veronica had left his house, Lynn was still beside him, and life was supposed to move forward.

Yet something felt strangely incomplete.

Richard leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forehead. There was a name he had been trying to remember, something important that had slipped from his mind. He closed his eyes, attempting to put the pieces together, but before he could remember, his phone suddenly rang.

He picked it up and looked at the screen.

It was Doctor Lucas.

Richard frowned before answering the call.

“Did Lynn visit the hospital?” he asked immediately.

“Good morning, Mr. Richard,” Doctor Lucas greeted politely.

“Please, go straight to the point. I am busy.”

Doctor Lucas paused for a moment. He was already used to Richard's impatient nature.

“You must have been celebrating after discovering that Veronica is expecting your baby.”

Richard's eyebrows immediately drew together.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean Veronica is pregnant. She is carrying your child.”

For several seconds, Richard remained completely silent.

The color slowly disappeared from his face.

“You mean Veronica is pregnant?”

“Yes,” Doctor Lucas replied. “I would have called you earlier, but I assumed she had already told you herself. I thought she would have shared the news with you.”

Richard did not wait for him to finish.

He ended the call and dropped the phone onto the table.

“My goodness…”

His voice came out barely above a whisper.

He stood abruptly and began pacing around the office.

Veronica was pregnant.

His wife was carrying his child.

The heir he had desperately wanted was already growing inside the woman he had allowed to walk out of his house.

“This cannot be happening,” Richard muttered, running both hands through his hair. “Not after I allowed her to leave.”

He stopped beside the window and stared outside.

For the first time, the reality of what he had done began to weigh heavily on him.

How could he have allowed Veronica to leave without knowing the truth?

How could he have pushed away the woman who was carrying the child he had always wanted?

The office door suddenly opened.

Lynn walked inside with a smile on her face. She approached Richard and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

“You look worried again,” she whispered.

Richard barely reacted.

“That's because Veronica left my house with my baby.”

Lynn's hands immediately dropped from his waist.

She stared at him.

“What did you just say?”

Richard turned around slowly.

“Veronica is pregnant.”

Lynn's lips parted.

For a moment, she could not speak.

“So she is carrying his child,” she whispered to herself.

The hand she had been resting against Richard's back slowly fell to her side.

“But… are you sure?” she asked, trying to hide the panic in her voice. “Don't you think she might have gotten pregnant by someone else?”

Richard's expression hardened.

“No. I trust Veronica. She has always been faithful to me. She is not like you.”

The words struck Lynn like a slap.

Richard did not even notice the pain that crossed her face.

“My God,” he continued, pacing again. “What have I done to myself? How am I going to explain this to the Williams family?”

“And what about my baby?”

Richard stopped.

Lynn stepped closer, her eyes beginning to fill with anger.

“Yes, Richard. What about my pregnancy? If you suddenly care so much about Veronica's baby, does that mean you never loved me? Does that mean you don't care about the child I am carrying?”

“Look, Lynn,” Richard said impatiently. “Veronica is my legal wife. If there is anyone I am supposed to present to my family with an heir, it is Veronica. You were only supposed to come second if she remained unable to give me a child. But now she is pregnant. She has everything my family expects from her.”

Before he could say another word, Lynn raised her hand and slapped him across the face.

The sound echoed through the office.

Richard froze.

Slowly, he placed his hand against his cheek and stared at her in disbelief.

“You slapped me, Lynn.”

“Yes, I did.”

Lynn's chest rose and fell rapidly.

“You cannot use me and then throw me away when you no longer need me. I am not Veronica. You may have broken her heart and expected her to quietly walk away, but you will not do that to me.”

Richard stared at her.

“My child must come first,” Lynn continued firmly. “And you are going to present me to your family at the Williams Charity Gala.”

Richard's eyes widened.

“The gala is in three months.”

“I know.”

“My parents will be there.”

“I know that too.”

“And what exactly do you expect me to do?”

Lynn stepped closer.

“You will introduce me as the woman carrying your child. Otherwise, I will make sure every secret your family has buried comes to light.”

Richard's jaw tightened.

The woman standing before him was no longer the Lynn he thought he knew.

The war between them had officially begun.

Meanwhile, Veronica was trying to rebuild her life in a small apartment she had rented with the little money she had left.

She had recently secured a job as a cleaner at a reputable company. The work was not easy, especially because she was pregnant, but she refused to complain.

She needed money.

She needed independence.

And most importantly, she needed to stay away from Richard.

That morning, she was busy cleaning one of the offices when another employee laughed.

“She is sweeping so well because she is expecting something great from the CEO,” the woman joked.

Veronica smiled faintly and continued working.

That day was special because the company's owner was finally returning.

Mr. Alex Thompson, a sixty-year-old billionaire businessman, had been away for nearly three years. He had spent most of the time overseas handling international investments, expanding his business empire, and allowing his son, Mikel, to manage the company.

The entire staff gathered outside to welcome him.

A convoy of expensive vehicles entered the compound.

Everyone stood in silence as Mr. Alex stepped out of the main car.

His presence alone was enough to command attention.

Mikel stood beside him, ready to introduce the staff.

But before he could say anything, Mr. Alex's eyes suddenly landed on Veronica.

He stared at her.

Something about her face seemed strangely familiar.

“Who is she?” he asked.

Mikel turned.

“That is Veronica. She is one of our new employees.”

Mr. Alex continued staring.

“I feel like I have seen her somewhere before.”

Veronica's heart began beating faster.

She also recognized him somehow.

But she could not remember where.

Mikel approached her.

“You look familiar,” he said. “You seem to be connected to the Williams family.”

Veronica immediately shook her head.

“No, sir. I am new in this town. I don't know that family.”

Mikel studied her for a moment but did not press further.

“Nevertheless, that is not why I called you. My mother wants you to start cleaning our residence. Your work here has been excellent, and this will give you an opportunity to earn more.”

“As long as it pays more, I don't mind,” Veronica replied.

Mikel nodded.

“Good. You can leave immediately after my father finishes welcoming the staff.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Veronica lowered her head and prepared to leave.

But before she could take more than a few steps, Mr. Alex's voice suddenly stopped her.

“Wait.”

Everyone became silent.

Mr. Alex stared at Veronica with a strange expression.

“Aren't you Mr. Thompson's daughter?”

Veronica froze.

Her heart nearly stopped.

“Yes, sir,” she answered with a trembling voice.

Mr. Alex's expression changed instantly.

“And what is she doing with that on her body?”

His voice suddenly rose, shocking everyone around him.

“Father, what is going on?” Mikel asked worriedly.

Mr. Alex did not answer.

“Both of you,” he ordered, pointing toward Veronica and Mikel. “Come to my office immediately.”

Veronica's hands began to tremble.

She followed them slowly, desperately trying to remember where she had met Mr. Alex and why he had reacted so strongly upon seeing her.

THE ACCIDENT THAT SHOOK THE WILLIAMS FAMILY

Veronica had finally received the fortune her late father had left behind, the fortune Mr. Alex had carefully kept in his possession before his death. For years, Veronica had known that her father had built something valuable, but she had never imagined that the inheritance would be enough to completely change her life. Now that everything had been transferred into her name, she was determined to rebuild her life from the ground up.

She had already started putting plans into motion. She was establishing new businesses, meeting with investors, purchasing properties, and quietly building an empire that would soon make her name known far beyond the Williams family.

She no longer wanted to depend on anyone.

She had spent too many years being treated as though she had no value, and she had finally decided that the best revenge was to become someone nobody could ever look down on again.

Meanwhile, preparations for the Williams Charity Gala were already underway. The event was scheduled to take place in a week's time, and the entire Williams family was expected to attend.

But while the Williams family was busy preparing for the grand occasion, another secret was growing inside Lynn's stomach.

Her stomach had begun to protrude, making everyone believe that she was pregnant. But the truth was completely different.

The pregnancy was artificial.

Lynn had arranged everything through a hospital, using a procedure that would make her body appear pregnant. She had gone to great lengths to make sure nobody discovered the truth before she received what she wanted from the Williams family.

She was determined to secure her position.

On the other hand, Veronica had just visited her doctor for a medical examination. She sat quietly on the examination bed while Doctor Norah carefully examined the results of her scan.

After a few moments, the doctor looked up at her with surprise.

“The scan shows that you are carrying four babies,” Doctor Norah announced.

Veronica's eyes widened.

“Four?” she exclaimed.

“Yes,” Doctor Norah replied with a smile. “You are carrying quadruplets.”

Veronica placed her hand over her stomach, staring at the scan results in disbelief.

“So I am carrying his four children,” she whispered.

Her mind immediately went to Richard.

For a moment, she imagined Richard's reaction if he ever discovered that she was carrying four of his children.

But the thought quickly disappeared.

“This is not something their father will ever know,” Veronica said quietly.

Doctor Norah looked at her.

“You mean you do not plan to tell him?”

Veronica shook her head.

“I lost him in a car accident,” she replied without hesitation. “The children do not have a father.”

Doctor Norah's expression changed.

“Oh, I am sorry to hear that.”

“Thank you.”

Veronica stepped down from the examination bed and collected the scan results. She held the paper tightly in her hand as she walked out of the hospital.

Once she entered her car, she looked at the results again.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

“The Williams family will never see their grandchildren,” she whispered. “Not in their entire lives. And Richard will never set his eyes on my babies.”

She started the engine and drove away.

But Veronica did not know that someone had already decided that she would never reach her destination.

As the hours passed, she noticed a black car following her.

At first, she ignored it.

Then she changed lanes.

The black car changed lanes too.

She slowed down.

The black car slowed down.

Veronica's hands tightened around the steering wheel.

“Why is this car following me?” she asked herself. “Maybe I should drive faster.”

Fear slowly began to creep into her heart.

She pressed down on the accelerator.

The car behind her immediately increased its speed.

Veronica's breathing became heavier.

“Why are they still following me?”

Inside the black car were three men dressed completely in black. Their faces were hidden, and their eyes remained fixed on Veronica's vehicle.

They had only one instruction.

Destroy Veronica.

Lynn had sent them.

“Don't let her escape,” one of the men ordered.

Veronica continued speeding, desperately trying to lose them.

Suddenly, the black car moved beside her.

“What are you doing?” Veronica screamed.

The men slammed their vehicle against hers.

Her car swerved violently.

“No!”

She tried to regain control, but the vehicle was already moving toward the edge of the road.

The black car struck her again.

With one final push, Veronica's car went off the road and plunged into a deep pit.

“Nooooo!”

Her scream echoed through the air.

The vehicle crashed heavily at the bottom.

Within moments, flames erupted from the car.

The men stopped their vehicle and watched from a distance.

One of them pulled out his phone.

“Finally,” he said coldly. “We have achieved our aim.”

He immediately called Lynn.

“The job is done. We need our balance.”

Lynn was still speaking to him when Richard suddenly rushed into the room.

“Lynn!”

She turned around.

“What happened?”

Richard's face was pale, and panic was written all over him.

“I just heard that Veronica has been involved in an accident.”

Lynn's heart skipped for a completely different reason.

“What?”

“The media captured everything. The victim is Veronica.”

Lynn stared at him.

Richard continued speaking rapidly.

“And the doctor who examined her said she had just left the hospital after a scan. He said she was carrying four babies.”

Lynn's eyes widened.

“Four babies?”

Richard nodded.

“You mean quadruplets?”

“Yes.”

Lynn slowly sat down.

Richard's voice trembled.

“She told the doctor that their father was dead.”

Within three hours, the news had spread everywhere.

Social media exploded with rumors.

Some anonymous accounts accused Richard of treating Veronica badly during their marriage, claiming that she had been pushed to the point of declaring him dead.

Others said Veronica had simply wanted nothing to do with him anymore.

But the majority of people condemned Richard.

They called him heartless and cruel, especially because Lynn had appeared in his life so quickly after Veronica left the Williams household.

“You sound as if those children were heaven to you,” Lynn said bitterly, her jealousy becoming impossible to hide.

“Lynn, this is not the time to be jealous,” Richard snapped.

“A time to mourn a dead pregnant woman?” Lynn asked sarcastically. “Or a time to celebrate the fact that she told everyone you were dead?”

Richard stared at her.

“At least I have you,” Lynn continued. “One child from you will be better than ten thousand children the Williams family could ever have with Veronica.”

Richard grabbed his car keys.

“I am going to the accident scene.”

Lynn immediately stood up.

“And where do you think you are going?”

“I am going to find her body.”

“Her body?” Lynn laughed coldly. “What makes you think there will be anything left? Did you not see the media reports? The car was completely burned.”

Richard's jaw tightened.

“No matter what happened, I must find something. A piece of her, anything I can bury properly. She was my wife, and those were my children.”

“Your wife?” Lynn repeated, her voice filled with bitterness.

Richard looked at her.

“Do not try to stop me this time.”

Lynn picked up a glass of wine from the table.

“You are such a funny man, Richard. You love making a fool of yourself.”

She took a slow sip.

“You did not regard her as anything when she was alive. Now that she is dead, you suddenly want to make everything right. What do you think the world will call you?”

Richard ignored her and walked toward the door.

Lynn watched him.

“Go,” she said calmly. “Go search for the dead while I prepare to welcome my mother-in-law.”

Richard left without another word.

The moment the door closed behind him, Lynn's expression completely changed.

A wide smile spread across her face.

“Finally,” she whispered.

She walked toward the window and watched Richard drive away.

“My plan has finally succeeded. Veronica cannot come back to fight me for the inheritance.”

She laughed softly.

“Once my adopted baby is handed over to me, Richard will have no choice but to forget Veronica forever.”

Lynn raised her glass toward the window.

“You will come back and meet me here, Richard.”

She smiled confidently, completely convinced that Veronica was dead.

But somewhere beneath the burning wreckage, the truth was waiting to be discovered.

THE WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO DIE

Three hours later, the search around the accident scene had become more intense than anyone had expected. Police officers moved through the area, checking every corner of the wreckage and searching through the ashes for any sign of Veronica. They searched beneath the damaged vehicle, around the rocks, and even down the slope where parts of the car had fallen.

But there was nothing.

Nobody.

No clear trace of her.

One of the police officers finally stepped away from the wreckage and removed his gloves. He stared at the burnt remains of the vehicle before slowly shaking his head.

“I think everything got burnt,” he said.

The words spread quickly.

Everyone had already feared the worst, but hearing it from an officer made the situation feel real.

Williams took the next available flight and joined the search, refusing to believe that Veronica could simply disappear without a trace. But after hours of searching, there was still nothing.

Jessica, however, pretended to be devastated.

She cried whenever people looked at her. She lowered her head, covered her face with her hands, and acted as though she had lost someone she loved deeply.

“She must have been inside when the car caught fire,” someone said.

“She probably could not escape.”

Soon, everyone accepted the terrible conclusion.

Veronica was dead.

The family eventually arranged her burial without a body. All they had was the small amount of sand and remains collected from the accident scene.

But while the Williams family mourned a woman they believed was dead, Veronica was very much alive.

Far away from the accident scene, in another country, she lay on a hospital bed with bandages wrapped around several parts of her body.

Her body was weak, but her eyes were open.

She remembered everything.

The crash.

The fire.

The pain.

And the stranger who had pulled her from the wreckage.

The man was a geologist who had been studying the rocks in the area when the accident happened. He had witnessed the crash and immediately rushed toward the vehicle. When Veronica pleaded for help, he risked his own safety and dragged her away before the flames completely consumed the car.

Later, with the help of Doctor Norah, Veronica had been secretly moved out of the country.

Mr. Alex sat beside her bed like a worried father. His face was filled with concern as he looked at the injuries covering her body.

“This was not an accident,” he finally said. “Someone wanted you dead.”

Veronica slowly turned her head toward him.

“I know.”

Alex frowned.

“You know?”

Veronica took a painful breath before answering.

“I know who did it.”

Alex leaned closer.

“Who?”

“It was Lynn.”

The room became silent.

Alex stared at her for several seconds before his expression hardened.

“Then we should have her arrested immediately.”

Veronica slowly shook her head.

“No, Mr. Alex. Not yet.”

“Not yet?” Alex asked, clearly surprised. “She tried to kill you.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you protecting her?”

“I am not protecting her.”

Veronica's fingers tightened around the blanket.

“If I deal with Lynn now, Richard will escape. I don't want only Lynn to suffer for what she has done. I want both of them to face the consequences together.”

Alex watched her carefully.

“You want them both in prison?”

“Yes.”

Her voice was weak, but there was determination behind every word.

“If I expose them now, they will find a way to defend themselves. They will hire lawyers, create stories, and pretend they are innocent. I want to gather enough evidence that neither of them can escape.”

Alex nodded slowly.

“Then you need protection. You cannot continue this alone.”

“I know.”

“I also heard that the Williams charity gala is happening soon,” Alex added. “I have been invited.”

Veronica's eyes narrowed.

“I wanted to attend that gala.”

“You still can.”

“No.”

She slowly looked toward the window.

“Lynn wants everything that belongs to the Williams family. She wants the wealth, the position, the respect, and Richard. She believes she has already won.”

A faint smile appeared on Veronica's lips.

“Let her believe it.”

Alex raised an eyebrow.

“I want to watch them celebrate while they think I am dead. And when the time comes, I will make sure they understand exactly what they have done.”

Meanwhile, the Williams family continued with the charity gala.

The hall was beautifully decorated. Cameras were everywhere, and journalists crowded around the entrance. Guests arrived in expensive clothes, while the media captured every important moment.

Then Lynn entered with Richard.

She walked beside him majestically, smiling at the cameras like a woman who had already secured her place in the Williams family.

“She looks beautiful,” one guest whispered.

“She does,” another replied. “But honestly, she is not as beautiful as Veronica.”

The comment made the woman beside her quickly place a finger against her lips.

“Keep your voice down.”

Inside the hall, the guests settled into their seats.

Mrs. Jessica eventually walked onto the podium. She looked perfectly dressed, smiling as the cameras focused on her.

“Quiet, please,” she announced.

The hall gradually became silent.

“Today is a very special day for the Williams family. We are not only celebrating our charity work and continuing a tradition that has existed for years. Today, we are also celebrating something even more precious.”

Lynn smiled.

Jessica looked toward her.

“We are celebrating the unborn heir of the Williams family.”

Applause filled the hall.

Lynn lowered her head modestly, pretending to be shy.

“Yes,” Jessica continued. “And although Veronica is no longer with us, may her soul rest in peace.”

Williams remained silent.

Suddenly, before Jessica could continue, a woman entered the hall.

She was dressed like an ordinary guest, but Lynn immediately recognized her.

It was Amanda.

The nurse.

Lynn's smile disappeared.

She immediately left Richard and hurried toward her.

“Lynn, what is wrong?” Richard asked.

“I need to speak with her,” Lynn replied quickly. “She is an old friend.”

She pulled Amanda away from the crowd.

“What are you doing here?” Lynn whispered angrily. “You were not invited.”

Amanda stared directly into her eyes.

“You are afraid because I know your secret.”

Lynn's breathing became heavier.

“You almost gave me a heart attack.”

“I could have done much worse,” Amanda replied coldly.

Lynn quickly changed her expression and forced a smile.

“Come. Sit with us.”

She led Amanda toward a VIP seat, hoping that keeping her close would prevent her from causing trouble.

Richard approached them.

“You almost distracted the entire gathering.”

Lynn smiled innocently.

“I was only welcoming an old friend.”

The celebration continued.

But Amanda had not come to celebrate.

She had come for revenge.

When the main event began, Amanda suddenly stood up.

Her voice cut through the hall.

“She is faking her pregnancy!”

The room fell silent.

Lynn's face went pale.

Amanda pointed directly at her.

“She is not pregnant. What she is carrying is not a baby.”

Williams immediately stood.

“What are you saying?”

Lynn stared at Amanda.

“Do you know what you are doing?”

“Yes,” Amanda replied. “And I am ready to tell everyone the truth.”

Mr. Williams stepped forward.

“Young lady, do you understand the consequences of accusing a member of this family? If you are lying, you will be arrested.”

Amanda did not move.

“I am not lying.”

Richard turned toward Lynn.

“Is it true?”

Lynn's eyes filled with tears.

“Truth about what? Are you really going to listen to this woman? She hates me. She is an enemy of this family.”

Amanda shook her head.

“I was the nurse who helped you obtain the artificial pregnancy. I know exactly what you are carrying.”

The hall erupted into whispers.

Jessica's eyes narrowed.

“Lynn,” she said, “take off the pregnancy padding.”

Richard looked shocked.

“Mother!”

Jessica did not look away from Lynn.

“If she is telling the truth, we need to know now.”

Lynn stepped backward.

“What kind of embarrassment is this? You want me to undress in front of everyone?”

“No,” Jessica replied firmly. “Then come with me and Richard to the bathroom.”

Lynn froze.

“If Amanda is lying, she will face the consequences. But if she is telling the truth, your judgment begins tonight.”

For five long seconds, Lynn stared at Amanda.

She had never expected the nurse to betray her.

But Amanda had her own reason.

Lynn had once unknowingly destroyed Amanda's relationship, causing Amanda's boyfriend to leave her.

Now Amanda had finally found a way to make Lynn pay.

And tonight, Lynn's carefully constructed lie was beginning to collapse.