Chapter 124
Veronica’s POV
Apartment – The next day – morning
I woke up early as I wanted to make donuts for breakfast.
As I got up, I saw Jonathan was already up.
He was seated on the edge of the bed reviewing another file.
I saw dark circles had formed beneath his eyes.
His coffee, still there untouched from last night.
“Jonathan,” I quietly asked. “Did you even sleep last night p>
“A little.” he smiled back.
He blinked his eyes as he smiled,
Meaning p>
He was lying.
Then he got up and went to the bathroom so I got up and removed his clothes and kept them on the bed.
“I’m making breakfast, come down p>
But instead of eating, he came over, kissed me on my forehead and left for another meeting.
“Sorry, I’m late, take care p>
I shook my head in disbelief.
“Again he missed his breakfast p>
That’s when I realized he had stopped caring about his body.
I stood near the sofa as I watched him close the door softly behind him.
Even though he smiled before leaving, an uneasy feeling was settling within me.
Several days passed since that day.
He barely came home and when he did p>
He would come after midnight.
Even if he was home on weekends,
His phone would keep on ringing.
Sometimes John,
Sometimes Vance.
Sometimes a federal investigator,
Whoever it was, he never missed the call.
Even while eating if a call came, he would leave his food to receive the call.
I was setting the dinner table, as the kids came over.
“Mommy,” Joshua asked. “Is Daddy working again tonight p>
“Daddy’s busy,” Janet said without looking up. “He’ll come when he has the time p>
Her tone was the same as the one I used to use back then when Janet was seven and would ask for him.
Was Joshua going to see what Janet saw back then?
“But isn’t Daddy p>
“Joshua,”Janet said, cutting his words. “What about your homework, is it done p>
I exhaled as Janet was doing what I used to…change the topic.
I also pretended nothing was wrong though I had noticed he had been exhausted whenever he came home.
The house was warm but still without Jonathan, there was still emptiness.
Even though he was part of the family,
All of a sudden it felt like he wasn’t.
“Mommy p>
Janet asked, worried.
I knew she was worried.
I forced a smile,
“It’s fine baby p>
I swore silently I would find out what was happening.
Apartment – Afternoon
It had been days since Jonathan was at home in the afternoon.
“Nicky,” he called out from the study. “Could you get me a coffee p>
“Sure honey,” I replied.
I walked in and kept the cup beside him.
Then I began to massage his shoulders.
“So, how’s the investigation going on p>
“Huh?” he said, surprised. “We have a few orders. You know the staff is capable, they’ll dispatch them on time p>
I exhaled as he changed the topic.
“Of course I know the staff is capable,” I said in a slow voice.
“I was asking about the investigation, I mean ever since Charles case p>
“Nicky,” he said. “It’s safer as long as you don’t know p>
Meaning if I knew, it would be danger,
Now the meaning of those words really hurt.
Not that it meant he didn’t trust me,
But knowing he is carrying a burden that’s far too heavy all alone.
After drinking his coffee he left again yet for another meeting.
I realized he was building a wall around himself.
But this time, I would not allow him to keep it up.
I don’t know why, but I began to take a look at what things Jonathan did over the past week.
“At the beginning of the week, he made me close the gallery p>
“He hired extra security for the kids p>
“He keeps checking the door every few minutes p>
“He’s been watching every unfamiliar car that parks p>
“Always looking over his shoulder, whenever we were outside p>
All of this made me reach one conclusion.
He wasn’t hiding something from me because he didn’t trust me.
He was afraid of hurting me,
Or maybe he was hiding me.
One thing I knew for certain was p>
He was afraid of someone or something.
And, I just didn’t know what or who.
This realization frightened me more than not knowing.
And I think I know exactly whom I should ask.
“John,” I took his name in a low whisper.
Rollings Designs – John’s Cabin – The next day
“Oh, Veronica?!” John welcomed me with a warm smile.
“What brings you here, and so early in the morning p>
“Did you come to the wrong office,” he teased, pointing towards Joanthan’s office.
Seeing me not reacting, he immediately became uncomfortable.
He glanced through the window towards Jonathan’s empty office.
It was clear he was debating what he should tell and what he shouldn’t.
I realized maybe Jonathan told him also to refrain from telling me anything.
Just then John took a sigh.
“Veronica,” John said. “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you a thing p>
“Jonathan has strictly told us to not involve you in all this p>
The before me,
Would have been angry on hearing this,
But now p>
I smiled with a heavy heart.
“He wasn’t to protect me p>
John nodded.
“Veronica,” he said. “He blames himself for what you had to suffer seven years back p>
“He refuses to let history repeat itself p>
“One that can force you to leave him again for the safety of the kids p>
Yes p>
I left him back then partly because I was afraid Imelda would harm Janet.
John’s words stayed with me, as for the first time I began to understand how hard it was for him to carry the burden all alone.
I quietly thanked John and left before Jonathan came back and saw I came.
Apartment – Late at night
Later at night, I woke up only to find Jonathan wasn’t beside me.
I quietly got up, draped my gown on and came out of our room.
I saw the light in the study.
I sighed as I realized he was there.
I quietly walked over to the study and saw the door was slightly open.
I opened the door slowly and saw the lights were on.
On walking inside,
I saw the table was covered with files and folders.
Evidence was pinned to the board on the wall.
Photographs were labeled.
Financial statements were set by date.
Adrian and Joshua’s DNA reports were on the side.
A mind map was on a white board connecting everything.
Jonathan was fast asleep on a document as his hand rested on a file, and seemed like he was about to open the file.
I signed as I realized he didn’t stop working,
His body gave up and fell asleep.
I quietly walked over and removed his glasses, and placed a blanket over his shoulders.
I began to organize the scattered papers so it would be easy for him to get back to his work.
That’s when I noticed how enormous the investigation was becoming.
Just then a file fell, so I accidentally ended up seeing the content.
It was another crime file in Fredrick’s name, and another witness stating I was in danger.
My heart ached as I saw the man I love was slowly exhausting himself.
As I moved closer to kiss him, a photo fell as the edge of my dress brushed the desk.
I bent down to pick the photo.
At first it looked like a normal gathering photo.
Charles, Fredrick, and some businessmen.
They were posing together, probably at some party.
I was about to place it back on the desk,
Something got my attention.
It wasn’t the handwriting, but the date.
My heartbeat began to accelerate as I looked at the date again.
This time I was certain I wasn’t mistaken.
This was one date, I could never forget.
It was taken on the same date as I married Jonathan.
To me the date was the beginning of my happiness with Jonathan.
Fredrick, Charles, and these businessmen were already planning their illegal moves.
That means sixteen years back, everything was already moving and ready to take on the shape of the things we know today.
I looked around and saw suddenly everything was connected.
One thing was clear, all of this had begun years ago.
Tears silently filled my eyes.
I slowly walked over to the whiteboard.
I studied the photographs, timelines, financial records, DNA reports,
All connecting to Fredrick and Charles.
And the fertility clinic.
It also linked the fake reports,
Lori’s investigation, Adrian, Joshua,
Every tragedy our family suffered.
Every manipulation Imelda made us face.
Every year they stole from us.
I exhaled as I realized he wasn’t obsessed over revenge.
He just wanted to uncover the truth that stole seven long years from us.
Those seven years, no one knew we were victims suffering under the Harmon’s.
My heart broke as I realized how hard it must have been for him to keep all this a secret,
Not because he wanted to,
But he believed he had to.
I quietly looked back and saw Jonathan sleeping.
I kneeled beside him and gently brushed his hair away from his face.
He looked the most peaceful now then I saw him in weeks.
I softly kissed his forehead, as a tear rolled down my cheek.
“You’ve carried this weight alone seven years ago p>
I paused.
I smiled softly.
“This time, I won’t allow you p>
I quietly came out, went to my room, and picked my phone.
I dialed John’s number.
“John,” I said on the phone.
A brief silence followed.
My voice carried a quiet determination.
“From tomorrow onwards p>
“I’ll be joining your team p>
I ended the call before he could react.
I went back to the study room.
I returned back to the study and saw the man I loved.
Now the battle was going to have me standing beside him.
Not just Jonathan, but with his wife Veronica.
For the first time in weeks since Jonathan began pushing me away, I chose to not wait for his reply.
This time no matter what, I will stand beside my husband.
This time…we’ll face our enemies together.