Leon paused, his expression puzzled. "You don't want anything? Are you absolutely certain about this?"

Cullen had been extraordinarily generous in the settlement, allocating Veronica enough assets to live in luxury for several lifetimes. The amount was staggering by any standard.

"I can't understand why you'd walk away from this," Leon continued, studying her face for any sign of doubt.

Veronica met his gaze with unwavering determination. "I'm completely sure. But I do have one condition."

She had never intended to take Cullen's money. Even refusing the entirety of what he'd offered wouldn't cause her a moment's regret. The wealth had never been her motivation for anything in their relationship.

However, during Cook's hospitalization after her fall, Cullen had wanted to express gratitude for Veronica's visits to his grandmother. As a gesture of thanks, he had not only given her two billion dollars but also transferred ownership of three villas located in Mary's neighborhood.

These three properties, though transferred to her name later in their marriage, had been included in the marital assets division. Despite having the property deeds in her possession, legally speaking, the villas wouldn't truly belong to her until the divorce was finalized.

If she walked away with nothing as she planned, those villas would slip from her grasp. And once they were back in Cullen's possession after the divorce, she knew there was a significant probability that he would transfer them to either the Crystal or the Mack.

The thought of the Mack family moving into Mary's neighborhood made her stomach turn. Given their history and nature, they would undoubtedly use the proximity to harass Mary daily, making her life miserable out of spite.

With this concern weighing on her mind, she clarified to Leon, "Those three villas are all I want. He doesn't need to give them to me as a gift—I'll purchase them from him outright."

Her earnings over the past two months had been substantial enough that she could now afford to buy the properties herself.

Leon nodded, immediately grasping her reasoning. While he considered this a tremendous financial loss for Veronica, her determination was clear, and he knew better than to try changing her mind.

With this new direction, Leon promptly contacted Cullen's lawyer to communicate Veronica's decision.

Approximately thirty minutes later, just as Veronica was preparing to leave for dinner, her phone rang with Cullen's name flashing on the screen.

Recognizing that the call was likely regarding their divorce terms, she answered, "Hello?"

"Have you had dinner yet?" Cullen's voice came through, oddly casual.

"No," she replied curtly, not interested in pleasantries. "I assume your lawyer has already informed you of my terms."

"He has," Cullen confirmed. "I'll accept your conditions. However, there's a complication. My grandmother reviewed our divorce agreement after learning about our separation. If you want to change any terms, you'll need to discuss it with her personally. I can only proceed once she agrees."

Veronica had anticipated Cook's involvement. The elderly woman cared for her deeply and would naturally want to ensure she was treated fairly in the divorce.

"Let's not tell her for now," Veronica suggested pragmatically. "We should finalize the divorce first, then handle everything else afterward."

Cullen's soft laugh carried through the phone. "Quite the strategic thinker you've become. I'm impressed."

Veronica pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache forming. She had no patience for his commentary. "Tomorrow's the weekend. Let's proceed with everything on Monday."

"That won't work," Cullen replied, a hint of resignation in his voice. "Grandmother has grown exceedingly fond of you. She's concerned I might treat you unfairly. When she learned about our divorce, she forced me to sign a binding agreement. If I modify the divorce terms without her knowledge, she has the legal right to seize over half of my assets."

Veronica stopped in her tracks, stunned by this revelation. "When exactly did this happen?"

"During New Year's," he answered simply.

"And you never thought to mention this until now?" she asked, incredulous.

His laughter came through the line again. "I never expected you'd want to change the agreement."