The rest of the morning went by too fast.
Leon left for a meeting shortly after breakfast, and the house fell silent once again. Veronica tried to keep herself busy—replying to messages, making a quick call to her mother, even turning on the TV.
Nothing held her attention.
Her thoughts kept circling back to the same things.
The canceled contract.
Her conversation with Leon.
And Daniel.
She had known Daniel for years—long enough to understand one thing very clearly:
He didn't react well when things slipped out of his control.
And this situation?
It was completely out of his control.
Veronica stepped outside into the garden, needing fresh air. The sky was clear, and a soft breeze moved through the trees.
For a moment, it felt like an ordinary day.
But inside her…
Something felt off.
Like something was about to happen.
She was heading back inside when her phone rang again.
Unknown number.
She hesitated.
Then answered.
"Hello?"
For a few seconds, there was only silence.
Then a familiar voice came through.
"You seem well settled."
Veronica closed her eyes briefly.
"Daniel."
"I thought you'd recognize me."
"How did you get this number?"
"You forget—I know half the people who work with your family."
She exhaled slowly.
"What do you want?"
"To talk."
"On the phone?"
"No."
She already knew.
"Daniel…"
"Just a few minutes."
She looked around the garden.
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"I'm already here."
Her heart skipped.
"What?"
"Across the street."
Veronica quickly walked toward the side gate and glanced through the bars.
A black car was parked there.
Daniel leaned against it, looking straight at the house.
When he saw her, he lifted a hand slightly.
Her stomach tightened.
She opened the gate and stepped outside.
"You shouldn't be here."
Daniel looked more tired than the last time she had seen him.
But his eyes were still intense.
"You shouldn't be in that house either."
"Daniel…"
"You know this is insane."
Veronica crossed her arms.
"I didn't come here to have this argument again."
"Then let's talk about something else."
He stepped closer.
"Do you really trust him?"
"I barely know him."
"Exactly."
"But I also have no reason not to."
Daniel let out a humorless laugh.
"You have every reason to."
"Like what?"
He hesitated.
As if choosing his words carefully.
"Do you really think Leon Alighieri would help your family without wanting something in return?"
"We made a deal."
"I'm not talking about the marriage."
Veronica frowned.
"Then what are you talking about?"
Daniel glanced at the mansion behind her.
"Do you think your family was the only company destroyed in recent years?"
"What does that mean?"
"It means Leon has a talent for showing up when people are at their most vulnerable."
"That doesn't prove anything."
Daniel sighed.
"I knew you wouldn't believe me."
"Because you're not showing me any proof."
He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.
"I'm trying to keep you from getting hurt."
"You're trying to control something that isn't yours anymore."
The words came out harsher than she intended.
Daniel froze for a second.
"So that's how it is?"
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
Silence fell between them.
There had been a time when talking to Daniel was easy.
Now every word felt like it pushed them further apart.
"Daniel…" she said more gently.
"There's still time to get out of this."
"No."
"Veronica—"
"No."
She shook her head.
"My family needs this."
Daniel clenched his fists.
"I could help."
"How?"
"My family has resources."
"And you think your father would agree to that?"
He didn't answer.
That was answer enough.
"I thought," Daniel said finally, "that you trusted me."
"I do."
"Then listen to me."
Veronica hesitated.
"Leon is not who you think he is."
Before she could respond, the sound of a car approaching caught both of their attention.
She turned.
Leon's car was pulling through the main gate.
Daniel saw it too.
His expression hardened.
"Perfect," he muttered.
The car stopped a few meters away.
Leon stepped out.
His eyes went first to Veronica.
Then to Daniel.
The air shifted instantly.
He walked toward them, calm as ever.
"Mr. Armand."
Daniel crossed his arms.
"Alighieri."
Veronica felt the tension immediately.
Like two opposing forces colliding.
Leon stopped beside her.
"May I ask what you're doing on my property?"
Daniel didn't hesitate.
"Talking to her."
"Outside the gate."
"I thought it was polite."
Leon glanced at Veronica.
"Is everything alright?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
Daniel let out a quiet laugh.
"You really think you can protect her?"
Leon didn't answer right away.
"If necessary."
"Interesting."
Daniel stepped back.
"I just hope you can protect your business too."
Leon's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What does that mean?"
Daniel opened his car door.
"Ask your investors."
He got inside.
Before closing the door, he looked at Veronica one last time.
"I warned you."
The car drove off.
Veronica stood there, watching him disappear down the street.
When she turned back to Leon, he was still looking in the same direction.
"Looks like Mr. Armand has decided to start a war," Leon said calmly.
A chill ran down her spine.
"Do you think he canceled that contract?"
Leon took a moment before answering.
"I think… that was just the first move."
And in that moment—
For the first time since the marriage—
Veronica realized she might have stepped into something far bigger than she had imagined.