221 Chapter 221 – Fireworks Reimed

    221 Chapter 221 – Fireworks Reimed

    The first rocket shot into the sky with a whistle, exploding in a shower of gold and red. The crowd cheered.

    As the smoke cleared and people began gathering their things, Veronica felt something shift inside her chest. Not healing, exactly, but a small crack in the wall she had built

    around her heart.

    “Want to walk around for a bit?”

    They started walking toward the za. The crowd was thick here, families iming spots on the grass with nkets and folding chairs. Children ran between the groups while parents called after them.

    A voice called her name.

    When the holiday arrived, they would walk downtown together, watching the lights

    twinkle in storefront windows while the snow crunched beneath their boots.

    “First time, actually. I usually spend the holidays working.”

    Cullen emerged from between two food trucks, Niall beside him. Sabrina walked between them, her small hand in Niall’s.

    Christmas had always meant decorating the tree with Sabrina. Every December, Veronica would pull out the ornaments, and they would spend hours cing each one carefully on the branches.

    They found a spot near the fountain where they could see the sky clearly. Around them, couples leaned against each other while kids counted down the minutes until the show started.

    All of that ended when Sabrina left for Europe with Cullen. Since then, Veronica had avoided Christmas entirely. The decorations stayed boxed up in the closet. The tree lot went unvisited.

    Most people dismissed the talk as gossip. Edric had assumed the same.

    Letting Cullen and Niall chase her away would aplish nothing except handing them another victory.

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    221 Chapter 221- Fireworks Reimed

    Besides, Niall was young and had supposedly been focused on her education abroad. Having a child while pursuing graduate degrees seemed unlikely.

    “Youe to these things often?” Veronica asked.

    “Actually, yes. I think I would.”

    Veronica forced the sadness from her expression and managed a smile. “Just picking up some things for the house. Holiday decorations.”

    Edric had noticed her from across the street. She had been standing perfectly still while the crowd moved around her, and something about her posture had caught his attention. The way she held herself suggested someone carrying a heavy burden.

    “Thank you,” she said to Edric.

    Just to watch fireworks on Christmas night like a normal person.

    “You’re out here by yourself?”

    “For what?”

    Another firework burst overhead, this one silver and blue. Then another. The disy built in intensity, each explosion bigger and brighter than thest.

    Veronica’s smile became more genuine. “That exins all the people.”

    “That makes two of us.”

    When the finale arrived, a dozen rocketsunched simultaneously, filling the entire sky with ovepping bursts of color. The crowd erupted in apuse.

    “Want to get some coffee? There’s a ce around the corner.”

    He had heard whisperstely about Cullen having a child. For years, people had spected about whether the man was secretly married. The rumors came and went without confirmation.

    Veronica turned to find Edric walking toward her, his coat cor turned up against the December wind,

    By the time these thoughts finished running through his head, the three figures had disappeared into the crowd.

    221 Chapter 221 – Fireworks Reimed

    This was her daughter. The child she had carried for nine months and raised with her own two hands for years.

    He wasn’t making a move on her. Just offering information.

    “I should really just get what I came for and head home.” She tilted her head. “What brings you downtown?”

    She nodded politely. “Mr. Patterson.”

    “Dinner with a colleague. He had to take off early for a family thing.”

    Veronica found herself smiling without thinking about it. The colors were beautiful against the dark sky, and the collective joy of the crowd was infectious.

    Edric gestured toward the za behind them. “They’re doing a big fireworks disy in about an hour. Thought you might want to stick around for it.”

    He knew she and Niall had history. Bad blood between them. But her reaction just now had been more than simple dislike.

    Edric followed her gaze and spotted the trio. His eyebrows lifted slightly.

    Veronica had spent three years avoiding Christmas. Tonight, she had remembered why she used to love it.

    Veronica considered this. She had been looking forward to the fireworks. Seeing them had been part of her n to reim Christmas for herself.

    He didn’t know the details of Veronica’s personal life, but whatever was weighing on her ran deep.

    Edric looked back at Veronica. She had already turned away, but not before he caught somethingplicated in her expression.

    They were heading toward the za, clearly nning to watch the fireworks.

    This was what she had been missing. Not just the fireworks, but the simple pleasure of being part of somethingrger than her own problems.

    She barely knew Edric beyond their professional interactions. She was about to make an excuse to leave when movement in the crowd caught her eye.

    Edric nced at Veronica. Her face was tilted upward, reflected light dancing across

    221 Chapter 221 – Fireworks Reimed

    her features. For the first time since he had found her, she looked peaceful.

    She told herself she had moved forward. But standing here now, surrounded by families carrying shopping bags and children pointing at window disys, the memories crashed over her like a cold wave.

    They walked back toward the street together, moving with the flow of families heading home. The evening felt different now. Lighter somehow.

    “For asking me to stay.”

    But seeing Cullen and Niall with a little girl on Christmas night was enough to make him reconsider. Though that didn’t necessarily prove anything. The child could be a niece or family friend.

    Veronica tried to focus on the anticipation in the air rather than scanning the crowd for familiar faces. She was here for herself. Not to avoid anyone or prove anything.

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