<b>Chapter </b>12
After everything that happened, Calvin had grown utterly disillusioned. He chose to leave the country for
school.
Later, when Veronica’s parents died unexpectedly, it was Stewart who stepped in and took her in
immediately.
At the time, she had thought it was out of familial duty. She never imagined he had ulterior motives.
Veronica’s father, Sigmund Dolton, had been a highly respected professor at Northvale College–one of the most prestigious schools in the country. His passing had been so sudden that the administration didn’t have time to find a recement for his lectures.
Stewart, who had remained a low–profile associate professor for years, took over Sigmund’s position right
after his funeral.
And the fashionbel her mother, Mnie Rowse, left behind was quickly taken over by Tabitha under the
excuse of “managing it temporarily“.
During that same period, Veronica had worked on a painting alongside her grandfather, Malcolm. It was submitted to a national artpetition through her school, where it won a major prize.
Soon after, she received an eptance letter from the Royal Academy of Design–a dream school for any aspiring designer.
Veronica still remembered how excited she had been when she got the eptance letter.
But the only schrship spot had been lost when Tabitha “identally” booked her flight for the wrong date. She ended up missing the reporting deadline.
The next day, she could only watch as Kate posted her “First Day at the Royal Academy” on Instagram.
<b>t </b><b>was </b>the moment everything became crystal clear.
Dawsons were like leeches, draining everyst thing her parents had left behind–including her future.
Veronica ignored Stewart and Tabitha’s hollow pleas for her to stay. She packed up and moved out that very night.
Eventually, she earned her ce <b>in </b>the Fine Arts program at Cresthill College. It wasn’t the Royal Academy of Design, but it was enough to keep her dream alive.
239
“Hey! I’m talking to you–<b>are </b>you deaf <b>or </b>something<b>?</b><b>” </b>Kate’s <b>voice </b>snapped Veronica out of her thoughts. She stood in her <b>path </b>with her <b>arms </b>crossed<b>, </b>radiating smug defiance.
Veronica didn’t bother hiding her disgust. She brushed past her with a cold nce. <b>“</b>Get out of the way.
Mutts should <b>learn </b>not to <b>block </b><b>the </b><b>road</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Kate followed after her, voice dripping with mockery. “Oh, please. Acting all high and mighty just because
you married into the Tate family, huh? Your husband doesn’t even want you. He’s trending every other day
with some actress, and you still have the nerve to act smug?”
Veronica ignored the jab and walked straight toward the VIP hospital room.
Kate’s eyes narrowed when she noticed the food container Veronica was holding and the direction she
was heading.
There was only one patient in that room.
Word around was that things between Veronica and Heath had soured. Kate figured Veronica had to be
trying to cozy up to someone influential now that her marriage was on the rocks.
Kate’s expression shifted. Her heels clicked rapidly as she caught up to Veronica and grabbed her wrist
before she could knock.
She said, “Let me guess. You got your hands on some backchannel gossip about Mr. Fletcher and threw together a pot of homemade soup, thinking a little ttery might win your husband a new deal?”
Kate took Veronica’s silence as confirmation. Her tone turned sharp, almost threatening. “Don’t get
delusional, Veronica. Let me give you a tip for free. Even if you strip naked and crawl into his bed,
someone like Mr. Fletcher wouldn’t even look at you.”
Veronica suddenly let out a quietugh.
Kate’s face twisted in anger. She shoved Veronica’s arm away. “What the hell are youughing at? Get
lost! He’s way out of your league.”
Veronica tilted her head and smiled. “Oh? Then is he within yours? I think you’ve misunderstood. I don’t
have the same talent as your… dear mother, Tabitha.”
t her words deliberately, each syble sharp with intent. She didn’t even bother to call Tabitha
knew exactly how Tabitha and Kate wed their way into the family. The whole thing was an
cret.
<b>ate’s </bplexion turned from pale to crimson, and her voice went shrill. “How dare you talk about my
mom that way? As if you’ve never used dirty tricks yourself! Just because you married Heath doesn’t
mean you’ve won. Forced things never end well. The moment he leaves you, you’re nothing.”
“That’s right,” Veronica said with a nod, her lips curling into a smirk. “Just like how you stole my
eptance letter to the Royal Academy of Design, only to get yourself expelled in under three months.”
She took a step closer<b>, </b>voice cool. “Anything forced never ends well.”
Back then<b>, </b>even though Kate had managed to snatch her spot, the Royal Academy of Design wasn’t a ce someone could just coast through. It was a ce filled with true talent.
Even the worst of them could crush Kate’s amateur work without lifting a finger.
Kate’s drawing skills were so embarrassingly poor that she couldn’t even tell the difference between a sketch and a line draft. Her work quickly became infamous among her ssmates that year, passed around more as a joke than art.
Within just three months, she was officially expelled without the opportunity to appeal.
The memory struck a nerve, as that incident had been a festering wound in Kate’s pride ever since.
Kate’s face twisted in fury. “You bitch! It was you! You sabotaged me! You couldn’t stand seeing me seed, so you made sure I got expelled! I should teach you a lesson for your parents‘ sake.”
Her hand flew up, ready to p Veronica.
Veronica didn’t flinch. She was about to dodge when the door behind her suddenly opened. A warm, familiar hand gripped her wrist and pulled her gently inside.
<b>Chapter </b><b>13 </b>