Filed to story: Billionaire Bride’s Revenge (Vera & Howard)
She reflected on Howard’s betrayal, not just personally, but throughout their relationship.
Forgiveness was not an option she entertained.
Victor observed her reaction, a mix of surprise and relief coloring his features.
“I half expected you to become bitter and vengeful towards everyone, given your ordeal,” he commented lightly.
Vera, maintaining her composure, sat upright on the bed, steadying her breathing.
“I’m stronger than I appear. The anxiety earlier was just a momentary weakness. Soon, I’ll get back to my life, including searching for my biological parents.”
Victor nodded appreciatively, impressed by her resilience.
Addressing the practicalities, Vera focused on what was immediately important, brushing aside any negativity.
“You’re my business partner now. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you need any help,” Victor said.
Her face brightened with a faint smile-the first since the upheaval began-bringing a slight glow to her otherwise weary features.
“Understood,” she replied.
“I must leave now, but take care and recover soon.”
With that, he exited, leaving Vera to gather her strength and plan her next steps.
Vera was left alone in the expansive room, enveloped by a silence so profound it filled the entire space. The quieter the surroundings, the more serene she felt. With a slow closing of her eyes, Vera reflected on how much she had transformed after recent events. From that moment forward, she emerged anew, impervious to further disturbances.
Aimee, unaware of the recent upheaval, only learned of the situation upon seeing the Montgomery family’s announcement on social media. She rushed to the hospital to see Vera.
As she approached the bed, Aimee quickened her steps, feeling deep sorrow for the fragile figure before her.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this? I wouldn’t have known if it weren’t for the Montgomery family’s public announcement,” Aimee expressed her concern.
Vera, leaning back against the headboard, responded without surprise.
“Sharon had already revealed plans to publicly recognize Lily as her true daughter with a lavish banquet.”
“What exactly did the announcement say?” Vera inquired, coughing slightly.
Aimee replied, “It was quite harsh. They blamed you for the years their daughter suffered and… blah, blah, blah.” As Aimee spoke, she retrieved her phone to show Vera Sharon’s post.
She hesitated and suggested, “Maybe it’s best if you don’t read it-it might upset you.”
Vera offered a wry smile, dismissing the concern with a wave of her hand. “It’s fine. Ultimately, I gained much from being raised as part of their family.”
Reluctantly, Aimee handed over the phone to Vera. Sharon’s Twitter update was extensive. Initially, she shared her joy at reconnecting with her biological daughter, Lily. Subsequently, she subtly blamed Vera for hindering their family reunion.
Ultimately, Sharon aired her grievances about the shock of discovering that the girl she had nurtured for twenty years was not her own, accusing Vera of causing past conflicts between her and her daughter.
Sharon concluded her post with a firm declaration that no one would harm Lily as long as she lived, a clear caution aimed at Vera.
Vera skimmed through the announcement and handed the phone back to Aimee.
Despite the heavy words, Vera maintained her composure. Aimee, however, couldn’t contain her frustration and said, “The Montgomery family has crossed a line. You’re innocent in this. They lost their daughter, but you’ve also lost the only parents you knew. Had it not been for their mistake, you wouldn’t be in this hospital. What if your real parents have influence? You might have been deprived of a far better life because of the Montgomerys.”
Vera responded with a resigned chuckle, suggesting, “Perhaps this is just how it was meant to be.”
Relieved that Sharon had at least rediscovered her daughter, Vera was about to comment further when a loud bang interrupted her. The door burst open with a startling noise.
Both Vera and Aimee turned their attention toward the door as it swung open. Sharon stormed in, her finger jabbing toward Aimee as she launched into a tirade.
“What the hell is wrong with you, talking about others with no respect? How dare you accuse us of ruining Vera’s chances for a better life? Do you know the time, effort, and energy I poured into raising her, when it was meant for my real daughter?”
Vera’s eyelashes betrayed the storm of emotions she struggled to contain.
Unaccustomed to such hostility, Aimee’s temper flared instantly, her composure shattering.
“The real mistake here is yours! How could you fail to recognize your own daughter? Wasn’t Vera innocent, just a child? What could she have known? You are blaming her for your own negligence and failure!”
Sharon, seething with fury at the blunt exposure of her failings, shot back, “This is a family matter, none of your business! Keep out of it!”
As Vera watched the heated exchange, her lips parted to speak, but before she could utter a word, Lily entered, gently touching Sharon’s arm, attempting to mediate.
“Mom, calm down. Maybe Vera is struggling to accept the sudden changes and is acting out. I understand she is upset. Let her take it out on me-I won’t hold it against her.”
Throughout her words, Lily avoided blaming Aimee, deftly redirecting the focus-and the blame-onto Vera. Lily cast a glance at Vera, a thin veneer of apology clouding her eyes. Her sigh carried the weight of unspoken judgment.
“Vera, who could have predicted that fate would be so cruel to both of us? But now that things have turned out this way, we must accept what life has dealt us. The Montgomery family has cared for you all these years. Do not repay them with pain just because you are feeling temporarily let down.”
Lily always kept to the moral high ground, her tone brimming with empathy, yet her words cloaked in subtle barbs directed at Vera. This was her tried-and-true strategy.
Hearing this, Vera could not help but find it all terribly amusing, her clear eyes brimming with unspoken sarcasm.
“When have I ever done anything to hurt them?” she asked.
Lily pressed on, “If you did those things, then why let your friend say such harsh things? Do you have any idea how-“
Lily’s stance brought clear satisfaction to both Sharon and Jeff. Sharon reached out, took Lily’s hand, and patted it tenderly, her heart swelling with emotion.
“It is true. Only our real baby girl knows how to look out for us. As for the imposter, no matter how much we do for her, she will never truly belong.”
Sharon’s praise for Lily was also a thinly veiled condemnation of Vera. In Sharon’s eyes, Lily was now the perfect daughter-the one she had always longed for. Next to her, Vera was nothing.
Vera sat in stony silence, her hands gripping the blanket with white-knuckled intensity. Her eyes were shadowed with profound disappointment, tinged with a deep, unspoken pain. Sharon’s words were like salt searing into her already festering wounds.
Aimee’s fury was palpable. Lily’s scheming demeanor, her ability to manipulate the situation with such ease, was truly infuriating.
“From start to finish, all those words were mine alone,” Aimee snapped. “Vera has never uttered a word against your family. If you have a problem, address it with me directly. Stop hiding behind your bullying of Vera!”
Lily let out another weary sigh, her gaze filled with feigned wisdom. “I know Vera’s game. She’s always used others to fight her battles, all the while maintaining a facade of innocence.”
Vera’s eyes grew even sharper, their sarcasm cutting through the air. Her voice was icy, each word laced with frustration. “Lily, spare me your deceitful games. I see through them clearly.”
Lily was momentarily stunned into silence by the remark, her teeth grinding as she struggled to contain her rising anger. Why hadn’t Vera lost her composure and exploded in a fit of rage by now?
Vera’s anger, when unleashed, would paint Lily as more delicate, pitiful, and ironically, more dignified. Yet, despite the biting nature of Lily’s words, Vera’s calm demeanor made her appear absurd-almost like a puppet in a farcical play.