When Veronica emerged from the kitchen, she spotted Cullen stretched across the living room sofa, his attention buried deep in the evening paper. His eyes lifted briefly to acknowledge her presence before returning to the printed pages.

She hesitated in the doorway. Once upon a time, she would have settled beside him without a word, content to share the quiet evening hours in comfortable companionship. Now, an invisible wall stood between them, leaving her with nothing meaningful to offer.

The realization stung more than she cared to admit. She pivoted toward the staircase, her footsteps deliberately measured. Cullen never looked up from his paper, never called her name. The silence felt heavier than any argument they might have had.

Veronica had braced herself for his anger. She'd expected him to unleash his fury about how she and Dario had supposedly mistreated Niall. Yet he offered nothing but cold indifference.

Halfway up the stairs, Sabrina's voice drifted from her bedroom. The little girl appeared in her doorway, looking fragile and drowsy from her illness.

"Mom, I'm really hungry now. Did you finish making the chicken soup?"

Veronica's maternal instincts kicked in immediately. "Almost ready, sweetheart. How are you feeling? Is your fever gone?"

A genuine smile broke across Sabrina's pale face. "Much better now."

Relief flooded through Veronica as she hurried back to the kitchen. The rich aroma of simmering chicken and herbs filled the air, promising comfort and healing. After a few more minutes of careful preparation, she called out cheerfully, "Sa, dinner's ready!"

She ladled the golden soup into a ceramic bowl, steam rising like a warm embrace. Movement near the dining room entrance caught her attention. Cullen stood there, having abandoned his newspaper for reasons she couldn't fathom.

"Mom, you only brought one bowl," Sabrina pointed out with innocent curiosity. "Isn't Dad eating with us?"

The question caught Veronica off guard. She hadn't realized Cullen intended to join them for this simple meal. Before she could formulate a response, Chelsea bustled in with her characteristic helpfulness.

"Don't worry, dear. I'll fetch another bowl right away."

Veronica had prepared extra soup out of habit, knowing Sabrina's appetite remained small during recovery. There was certainly enough for three people, though she hadn't planned on making it a family affair.

Once everyone was served, Veronica took her seat and focused on her meal. Across the table, Cullen handled his spoon with the same refined precision he brought to everything else. Even something as simple as soup became elegant under his careful attention.

Sabrina took her first spoonful and her face lit up with pure joy. "This tastes incredible! I forgot how much I missed your cooking, Mom."

Chelsea beamed with pride. "You should ask for it more often, little one."

"I definitely will."

The exchange made Veronica's chest tighten with complex emotions she couldn't quite name. Cullen remained as silent as stone throughout the conversation, his expression unreadable.

After finishing her portion, Sabrina's eyes sparkled with a new request. "Mom, would you mind sleeping in my room tonight? Please?"

Veronica's first instinct was to decline. The master bedroom awaited her return, and she needed to reclaim her space. But one look at Sabrina's wan complexion and hopeful expression melted her resolve.

"Of course, baby. I'd love to."

Neither Sabrina nor Cullen finished much of their soup, leaving the pot still half full when they dispersed from the dining room. The waste bothered Veronica more than it should have.

Despite her recent fever, Sabrina insisted on her nightly shower routine. Veronica fretted about the possibility of relapse and hovered nearby to ensure her daughter stayed warm and safe.

While Sabrina finished her bathroom routine, Veronica steeled herself for a visit to the master bedroom. She expected to find her belongings packed away or donated, clear evidence that Cullen had written her off completely.

Instead, she discovered everything exactly as she'd left it weeks ago. Her jewelry box sat undisturbed on the dresser. Her books remained stacked on the nightstand. Even her reading glasses lay folded in their usual spot.

The walk-in closet revealed the same unchanged landscape. Her dresses hung in perfect rows, her shoes lined up with military precision. It was as if time had frozen the moment she walked out.

Perhaps Cullen was simply avoiding the awkwardness of explaining her absence to Cook and the household staff. After all, they weren't officially divorced yet, and appearances mattered in his world.

She pushed aside these troubling thoughts and gathered her sleepwear and toiletries. Sabrina's room would provide a welcome refuge from the emotional minefield of the master suite.

When she returned, Sabrina was propped up in bed with her tablet, scrolling through videos with renewed energy. The sight of Veronica's overnight items puzzled her.

"Are you planning to shower in here, Mom? My bathroom is kind of small."

"It'll be fine," Veronica assured her, heading toward the en-suite bathroom.

The hot water felt like a blessing against her tense shoulders. She let herself linger under the spray, washing away the day's accumulated stress and uncertainty. Through the frosted glass, she could hear Sabrina chatting with someone who had entered the room.

The voice that responded made her blood run cold. Cullen had come to say goodnight to their daughter, his tone warmer and more animated than anything he'd offered Veronica all evening.

She turned off the water and reached for her towel, her heart hammering against her ribs. The conversation in the bedroom continued, filled with the easy affection between father and daughter that she'd once taken for granted.

Now she was the outsider, listening through a bathroom door to the family dynamic that no longer included her.

The realization hit her like a physical blow. She'd lost more than just her marriage. She'd lost her place in the small, precious unit they'd built together over the years.

Wrapping the towel tightly around herself, Veronica took a shuddering breath and tried to prepare for whatever waited on the other side of the door.