Veronica's POV
Today the house was extremely quiet. And extremely calm.
I almost felt like I was in a stranger's house.
Janet was busy sketching away as Jonathan was busy guiding her. Overall I should be happy Janet was calling Jonathan 'Daddy', and he was also happy.
Matter of fact, now that I'm seeing him, I don't recall seeing him so happy.
Just then I ended up cutting my finger, and saw I was chopping potatoes. Then my eyes fell on the calendar. Today was day seven.
Janet laughed at something that Jonathan said.
From where I was standing, anyone would say, 'what a lovely family.
But no one knew better than me, ours was the last family one could call a family.
I had made that mistake before and now I would never as that mistake almost cost me my daughter's life.
I took a sigh and went back to my cooking. The decision I took, I won't back out. As this time my decision isn't only for me, but for Janet.
Even though Janet was only seven, because of our drama, she had to witness a lot. And Adrian, the insults he made her suffer I could forgive, but not what he made her eat, knowing it could kill her.
In a way, I was thankful Jonathan came as this gave Janet a chance to get to spend a night with her father, and at least this would leave her a sweet memory instead of what she's been through thanks to Adrian.
I also wanted to absorb this night as it would be my last as Miss Smith, the secret wife of Jonathan Rollings.
Jonathan left as he had a late night meeting.
Tonight was the first time he left for a real meeting that had no connection with Imelda. But tonight it didn't matter who he was meeting or where he was going.
As I wasn't the same Veronica any more.
After I finished cleaning the dishes, I went over and sat beside Janet. Seeing her painting, I held her hand and corrected her strokes.
"Wow!" Janet said with bright eyes. "Mommy, you know painting? Even my teacher can't swirl the brush like that."
I smiled at her as inside of me a small laugh escaped.
I myself was surprised to see how my fingers moved instinctively, even after I made myself forget them.
"Yes," I replied. "That's why I got a job as a painter."
"Mommy," she asked. "Will you stay with me forever, like forever?"
"Of course baby," I said. "You don't have to worry about that."
"And…" she trailed off.
I knew this was going to be about Jonathan.
"And…why does daddy treat us differently from them?"
Now how do I tell a seven year old her father is going to get engaged to Imelda because she has money and for this he is also willing to let another man's child call him 'dad' in public and not his own biological daughter.
But I had enough lies.
I didn't want, tomorrow when she grows up, and finds the truth, to think I hid things from her.
"Janet," I said, holding her hands in mine. "I don't want to lie to you, and I won't say, 'he doesn't care about you. He does, only for him…at times he can't make the right choice. Now, you're small, but when you'll be older, you will understand it yourself."
"Mommy," Janet said, cupping my face. "You can cry. I will wipe them."
I let out a laugh as some tears rolled down my cheeks.
"I know baby," I said, kissing on her forehead. "I know. You're all that I have."
I brushed some hairs from her face.
"Okay," I said softly. "Now go and pack if there's anything else you want. But make sure you pack what's important, okay."
Janet got up and was going towards her room, but turned back.
"Did you forget something?" I was concerned.
"My painting kit."
I smiled as Janet was as fond of painting as I was when I was her age.
After packing both bags, I went to Janet's room.
"Mommy, can you tell me a story?"
"A story?" I said. "Okay, which one, Cinderella? Sleeping Beauty, or Snow—"
"No mommy," she said. "A new one, a real one."
"Real, and new…" My mind trailed off for a few seconds.
Then I held her close to my chest and began.
"Once upon a time there was a princess who was trapped in a castle of lies. She was married to the prince, but all she got was humiliation and the duty to serve people she shouldn't have to. One day she was blessed with a beautiful child. But those people wanted to take her child away from her. Now the princess had two choices. One stay with the prince and endure all, and maybe end up losing her child. Or she could run away with her child and live a new secret life far far away."
"Mommy," Janet asked. "What did the princess do?"
"What do you think the princess should do?" I asked her softly.
"I think the princess should leave."
Just then she hugged me tighter.
I hugged her back as I knew she understood the story. She also understood, if the princess doesn't think about the child, she can live a carefree life.
But, I would never abandon her. But I didn't want to say I was the princess either.
"Janet," I said. "If I was the princess, I would take you along. And didn't I tell you before at the school. No matter which school you go to, I'll always pick you up?"
"Yes mommy," she said with a big smile.
"Now go to sleep."
I kissed her softly on her forehead and looked around her room.
Tonight would be her last night here.
I was patting Janet when the doorbell rang.
On opening the door, I was surprised to see Jonathan.
"You're back," It was more of a question than a normal welcome as I wasn't expecting him to come back.
"Yes," he said, looking tired. "The Blue Heart Project is almost finalized and once it's done—"
"I was putting Janet to sleep." I cut his words. "Why don't you sit down? I'll come and serve."
I saw Jonathan's smile fade as I said the word serve and left him alone.
I felt a pang in my heart and laughed as I realized even now my heart could feel hurt on seeing him sad.
Jonathan's POV
As she went towards the kitchen, the word 'serve' lingered in my mind
Not that it was a wrong word. A wife just said she'd come and serve dinner after putting their daughter to sleep.
But I knew she meant because I made her serve at the parties. For not only me, but every stranger at the party.
As I sat, I noticed all the dishes were Janet's favorite. Not that it's a wrong thing, but Veronica only did this when she just got better. And, now…
Janet was totally fine, then why?
After putting Janet to sleep, Veronica came back and served food.
Then she suddenly got up and went to the kitchen.
She came back with the soup.
Whenever my stomach was upset, she would make this soup for me, and after drinking it, I always felt better.
"Thanks," I said.
She didn't reply, and just smiled.
My heart hurt as her smile was so empty of emotions.
"What happened to your smile?" I said in my mind on seeing her.
After packing the kitchen, Veronica came back to bed.
She was going to lay down, but I held her, and wrapped my arms around her waist.
"Nicky?" I said. "You're…so thin. When did you lose so much weight?"
Then I saw the scar on her back from the beating she got from Sanders.
I kissed softly on it.
"Sorry!" I said as a tear left my eye. "I don't deserve you."
I was reluctant as I was afraid she'd push me away, but she didn't, which shocked me.
That meant she didn't care what I thought anymore.
I was almost going to leave her, but then I took the chance and turned her towards me, and kissed her on the lips.
"Nicky," I said. "There's something I have to tell you. And, I should have told you this earlier…"
I trailed off as I couldn't find the right words.
"There are things you don't know…" I trailed off again. "But before you find out…"
She was calm and didn't react.
I was wondering if she knew about me getting engaged to Imelda, then I brushed the thought out as it was impossible for her to know.
I was going to kiss her again, but my phone buzzed.
"Who the hell's calling at this time?"
I froze as I saw it was Imelda.
"Imelda?" The moment I took her name, Veronica froze.
I covered the speaker, and said. "Nicky, can you.."
She didn't even take a second and left me in the room
I ran my hand in my hair in frustration. I should have held her hand and stopped her.
I should have told Imelda, 'I'm with my wife and to not disturb me.
But here I was telling my wife to leave the room and talking to Imelda.
Veronica's POV
As I came out, I could hear him stuttering as she wasn't allowing him to speak.
A laughed escaped from my lips, but it was anything but a laugh.
Once again Jonathan proved his imbalance with me when it comes to Imelda.
I sighed as it made me realize, my step isn't wrong.
I went to Janet's room and slid into her bed. I held her in my arms and kissed her softly.
"It's just us two." I said softly to her.
Jonathan's POV
After disconnecting the call, I went out to call Nicky back, but when I saw she was lying along with Janet, I backed out.
I went and sat on the sofa alone.
I picked up my phone and played a random video.
It turned out to be a news clip of me with Imelda and Adrian.
Nothing much, but then my eyes pinched a bit as I noticed something, and recalled what others had told me about him.
I sat upright and played the CCTV video, and was shocked by what I saw.
I became more frustrated than I was when her phone came.
"It can't be…" I said as a thought just crept in my mind.
"Imelda…" I said trailing off. "I hope this isn't the truth. But if it is, I swear I'll make you pay."
Veronica's POV
Tonight again he made me leave and spoke to her.
Again I was the one left out.
"Tomorrow morning…he won't know what happened."