Chapter 23


    Shaking her head, Rachel let out a sigh.


    Then, she looked up at Floch and listened to him as he analyzed the situation. “No matter what, the most


    important thing now is to let our daughter be engaged to Matthew first.”


    “What about the child Veronica conceived:” Tiffany asked.


    The child in Veronica’s womb was Tiffany’s main concern as she feared that the existence of that child


    would be her greatest threat.


    “Oh, my silly daughter,” Rachel said as a conspiratorial thought came across her mind. Then, she smiled.


    “Veronica is a person filled with pride and arrogance. If she finds out by then that you’re getting engaged


    to Matthew, do you still think she’ll be willing to give birth to the child? And besides, once you’re engaged


    to Matthew, it’s your decision whether the child could live past infancy even if she gives birth to the child.”


    As she listened to Rachel’s words and analysis of the situation, Tiffany felt enlightened. The gloomy look


    on Tiffany’s face eventually disappeared, and she gave out a smile. “Mom, you’re the best!”


    Once again, Tiffany hugged Rachel tightly, expressing the profound endearment in their mother-daughter


    bonding.


    Ring…


    The next day, the sun was bright, and the breeze was gentle. It was a lovely day to stay in bed. However,


    Veronica was woken up by the ringing sound of her mobile phone early in the morning. She grabbed her


    phone and saw that it was her adoptive mother calling. Then, she checked the time, only to realize it was


    already 8.30AM.


    “Oh, sh*t! It’s already 8.30AM? How on earth did I oversleep?” She smacked her forehead and


    immediately answered the call. “Hi, Mom. Sorry I overslept and forgot to prepare a meal for you.”


    Veronica yawned, her hand rubbing her sleepy eyes as she said that.


    At the same time, Danie stated her request over the phone. “It’s okay. I have already eaten something.


    Anyway, the reason I’m calling is that I want you to bring


    Xavier along with you when youe overter today.”


    Upon hearing that, Veronica, who was still feeling slightly sleepy a while ago, instantly jolted awake. She


    immediately sat up. “Mom, Xavier needs to go to work. Besides, didn’t he pay a visit to the hospital


    yesterday? So, why would you want him to go over again today?”


    “Don’t try to clown me. Xavier mentioned yesterday that he is rtively free these few days as he took


    these few days off.”


    “But, Mom,”


    “Don’t you but, Mom me. I’m not listening to any of your bluffs. If Xavier doesn’te over today, then it


    means that you two were merely pretending yesterday.”


    “Mom! You—”


    Beep… Veronica was cut off because Danie hung up the phone before she could say anything more.


    Too deep for tears, Veronica held her phone in one hand while resting her other hand on her forehead.


    Seriously, Mom? I just met with Xavier yesterday. How could I have the nerve to ask him out again


    today?


    Powerless against Danie’s request, Veronica fell onto her bed. Shey down for a while and stared as


    the time passed little by little. Eventually, she took out her phone and called Xavier


    The call went through. “Hmm… Hello…” a man greeted sleepily. His drowsy voice was heard over the


    phone, sounding as if he had not woken up yet.


    “Hehehe… W-What are you up to?” Veronica asked as she gave out a tteringugh, feeling


    embarrassed. Her hands touched the thin nket anxiously, and her pair of pupils were full of unease.


    Although her rtionship with Xavier was good, she was slightly apologetic for troubling him twice within


    two days.


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    “Speak. What is it?” Xavier seemed to have guessed Veronica’s intention behind this ‘phone call. “You


    won’t give me a call if you don’t need my help with something


    Could it be that your mom misses me?”


    “Hahaha… Young Master Xavier, you’re high and mighty indeed-and not to mention, diabolically clever


    too!”


    Raising her eyebrows, Veronica looked up and rubbed her hair. Then, she chuckled in a ttering yet


    embarrassed manner and asked, “S-So, are you free?”


    “Got it.” With that, Xavier hung up the phone.


    Staring at the call log on her phone screen, Veronica was rather baffled. Huh? What does he mean by


    that?


    However, she was too embarrassed to call Xavier again. So, shey back down on her bed, feeling


    sleepy. Initially, Veronica wanted to lie down for a while before getting up to get ready, but she ended up


    falling asleep again.


    Little did she know, Xavier had driven to and arrived at the hospital after he was done washing up


    At around 9.00AM, Xavier directly made his way toward the inpatient department after he had arrived at


    the hospital. He thought Veronica was already there in the ward. When he arrived at the ward, Xavier


    knocked on the door, pushed it open, and


    entered.


    Besides Tony, who was lying on the hospital bed, there was no one in the ward when Xavier walked in.


    So, he put the items in his hand aside and took out his mobile phone. Just as he was about to give


    Veronica a call, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a photo on the table.


    In the photo, both Danie and Tony were standing in the front, and behind them stood a youngdy. The


    smile on thedy’s face was bright and innocent-looking as she spread her arms around Danie and


    Tony’s shoulders. Although it was only an inadvertent nce, Xavier was surprised after he discovered


    that the youngdy in the photo was actually Tiffany!


    It‘s Tiffany!? Xavier was very puzzled. Then, he picked up the photo and took a closer look. 10th


    February 2021 was the date shown at the bottom right corner of the photo. This photo was taken a few


    months ago! But, how did Mr. and Mrs. Murphy know Tiffany?


    Upon realizing that, Xavier frowned. Then, he flipped the photo over and saw the words ‘Family Photo’


    written on the back of the photo. Family photo? Isn‘t Tiffany the Larsons‘ daughter? Why would she take


    a family photo with Veronica‘s parents?


    “Oh, Xavier, you’re here?”


    At that moment, Danie came in from outside and greeted Xavier after she saw him in the ward.


    However, the smile on her face instantly disappeared once she noticed the photo in his hand.


    Upon hearing Danie’s voice, Xavier turned back and looked at her. Then, he immediately asked, “Mrs.


    Murphy, why is there a family photo of you, Mr. Murphy, and Tiffany Larson? Do you two mean to tell me


    that Tiffany is your biological daughter instead of Roni?”


    Taken aback by Xavier’s sudden confrontation, Danie secretly scolded herself for being clumsy. She


    had forgotten to keep the photo as she was suddenly called to the doctor’s office in a rush.


    “Why are you here by yourself? Where’s Veronica?” Danie asked, avoiding answering Xavier’s


    question. Then, she took the photo from Xavier’s hand, wiped it dearly, and put it into her bag.


    Despite trying to make herself sound calm, Danie slightly showed signs of panic, and her peculiar


    reaction puzzled Xavier even more. If it was someone else, he would never press on this matter.


    However, they were Veronica’s parents. In order to pay for their medical expenses, Veronica worked all


    day and all night. She worked as a part timer during the day and worked at the club during the night. But,


    they did not even leave a spot for her in the family photo!


    All of a sudden, Xavier was indignant at the injustice done toward Veronica.


    “Mrs. Murphy, I’m Roni’s ‘boyfriend’. If you don’t shed light on this matter, I’ll call her right now and seek


    her rification!” Xavier abruptly became assertive. With a displeasing tone, he then added, “If Tiffany is


    indeed your child, and if you think Roni is no longer worthy to even take a family photo with you two, then


    you shouldn’t let her work hard and pay for the medical treatments with her hard-earned money!”


    For some reason, Xavier suddenly felt sorry for Veronica. A young girl who works two jobs a day and is


    responsible for cooking and delivering food for them isn‘t even qualified to have a spot in their family


    photo! Xavier was extremely annoyed by this new finding.


    While stuffing the photo into her bag, Danie could sense Xavier’s anger yet noticed the care he had


    toward Veronica at the same time. In that instant, she felt that Xavier was not bad after all. At least he


    treated her daughter nicely.


    After hesitating for a while, she asked Xavier again, “Where’s Veronica?”


    “Something’s holding her up, so she’ll bete.” Xavier simply came up with a reason,


    fearing Danie would not tell him the truth if she knew Veronica would arrive soon.


    As she listened to Xavier speak, Danie turned around and walked over to the door. Then, she locked it


    and made her way toward the sofa. With her hand still holding the photo, she sat down andter heaved


    a sigh.


    “Sigh…”


    While holding the photo in one hand, Danie gently caressed the person in the photo with another hand.


    Later, she let out a meaningful sigh and said, “I can see that you’re very fond of our Roni