Chapter 209
Veronica’s POV
Grand Del Hotel – An auction event
I was attending an auction along with Jonathan.
We met Daniel and Isabella as they were also invited.
There were other jewelry house representatives, and I knew she would also come.
To highlight the jewelry extra chandelier’s were added to the lighting.
I did notice some of them seemed extra, but I didn’t take much into it.
As I expected…she appeared.
She entered with the same confidence she has been showing us lately and began introducing herself as Mrs. Rollings.
I became attentive as I knew she would never be up to any good.
I noticed she was coming over, and greeting everyone along the way.
Just then one of the representatives met her.
“And you are p>
“Oh,” she said.
“I’m Imelda Rollings p>
“Jonathan Rollings wife p>
Again she managed to cause an uncomfort air around everyone.
Jonathan didn’t react, which I was glad as I didn’t want him to.
The more he opposes, the more at fault he looks.
Imelda did notice his ragged eyes, but she only kept her distance and continued.
I kept a close eye on her.
I refused to let her ruin our reason for coming here.
For some reason, Imelda had been keeping her distance from us, and kept conversing with others around us.
Eventually the event became busier as the auction began.
The guests began to look at the jewelry before the official auction began.
I was standing beside Jonathan, as Daniel and Isabella came along.
“Didn’t you guys arrive late?” Jonathan asked.
“I know,” Daniel said.
“But you know how they are,” he teased Isabella and me for taking time to get ready.
After casual chatting, they went over to look at the jewelry.
I noticed the extra chandeliers seemed to be swinging a bit too much especially since it was an indoor event.
And thought maybe the air-conditioning was moving them as I was feeling a bit chilly.
Just then a sharp metallic sound erupted across the hall.
Everyone gazed upwards and saw one of the extra chandeliers was lost.
It seemed one side had gotten loose and was dangling above the reception area.
The event manager quickly called for help to deal with it before it fell and caused havoc.
Suddenly one more side got lost as the ladies began to scream and men began to run or pull their ladies away from the reception area.
Daniel was already standing on the other side with Isabella.
But we were near the reception area so Jonathan was about to pull me away, but Imelda came in the way and ended up pushing me along with her towards the reception area, and Jonathan got pushed backwards away from the area.
The next moment the decorative glass structure fell onto the ground scattering glass across the floor.
The glass struck me across my arm as Imelda lost her balance causing her hand to fall on the glass pieces, cutting her hand a bit.
Pain shot through my arm as I cried out in pain.
As Imelda hissed Jonathan quickly got up and was coming towards me.
“Jonathan!” she called out, making him stop midway.
“Help me!” her voice was desperate.
“I’m your wife p>
“How can you leave me for another woman p>
I saw Jonathan frozen as old memories dragged into my mind.
The times when he chose her over me.
The accident, the kidnappings, when we were hanging from the cliff.
Seven years of me believing he always chose her over me.
But Jonathan didn’t stop and ran over towards me.
He knelt beside me and held me in his arms.
“Where’s the doctor?” he yelled as he saw the cut on my arm.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you p>
His voice was full of emotions.
I knew if I fainted he would burst crying out.
“I’m fine,” I said, gathering some strength.
“Fine?” he said.
“Okay,” I said, smiling.
“My arm hurts, but not as much as it was when I was on the ground p>
“Mr. Rollings p>
“We’ve done for now, but we should take Mrs. Rollings to the hospital p>
“And the wound might leave a scar as it’s deep p>
“I don’t care,” he yelled.
“I just want her fine, and she’s a painter, she needs her hands p>
“Don’t worry Mr. Rollings p>
“There’s no nerve damage p>
“Mrs Rollings will be absolutely fine p>
I looked over at her and saw a staff employee was applying disinfectant on her cut.
I smiled as I realized Jonathan was no longer the old Jonathan who was manipulated by her.
Now he was my husband and no one else.
Daniel reached us.
“The ambulance is ready p>
“Jonathan?” Imelda called out annoyed.
“How could you leave me p>
“I’m also a designer p>
“Look,” she said, showing her hand.
“My hand is hurt, what about me…your wife p>
“My wife is in my arms and she’s badly hurt p>
“I don’t have time to bother with you p>
“Doctor?” he looked anxiously at him.
“Let’s take Mrs Rollings to the hospital first p>
Jonathan nodded.
As Jonathan placed me on the stretcher, my gaze fell on Imelda.
She was no longer the woman who could control Jonathan with one word.
Then my gaze fell on the chandelier metal frame, and something felt odd about it.
I noticed the support point wasn’t simply bent p>
It seemed one of the points was damaged.
Jonathan and Daniel followed my gaze.
Just then Daniel pointed to the other side.
It was the same.
“Daniel,” Jonathan said as he got up.
“Make sure this area is sealed p>
“I won’t let this matter off so easily p>
Security had already come over to inspect.
“My name is Daniel Staf,” he told the event manager.
“CEO of Staf Studio p>
“I want a full report p>
“Veronica is my sister p>
“Yes sir, definitely,” the event manager said.
The security began checking the video footage to see if anyone tempered with the chandelier.
“Sir,” the repairman said.
“The camera covering the reception area is missing several minutes of footage p>
“This one’s connection is cut,” the other repairman said.
“Did anyone report a technical fault with the cameras p>
No one answered.
Jonathan exchanged a glance with me.
Now this was no longer an accident.
“John,” Jonathan said on the phone.
“Come over p>
I noticed Imelda’s expression had changed.
Especially since he held me in his arms.
“Jonathan, I’m hurt too.” Her voice sounded fragile.
“Isn’t a medic attending you?” Jonathan said sarcastically.
“Mr Rollings, it’s just a small cut,” the waiter said.
“I’ve applied the disinfectant and a bandage p>
I could see she was frustrated as Jonathan wasn’t leaving my side.
To others, I should feel proud, my husband didn’t leave my side.
But all I felt was…calm.
As there was no reason he would not be beside me.
“You always came when I called,” she said.
“Even when we were kidnapped p>
“You chose p>
Jonathan cut her words midway as his expression hardened.
“Imelda,” he said.
“Why the past happened, you very well know why p>
“Don’t try to pretend who you aren’t p>
I kept quiet as I knew it wasn’t my place to comment.
I knew she was trying to make Jonathan look bad for neglecting her.
“Are you okay?” Jonathan looked back at me with soft eyes.
I smiled as I realized now her words didn’t affect him anymore.
After that I was taken to the hospital, and discharged soon after getting treated.
Rollings Designs – Office
The next day after dropping the kids off at school, Jonathan refused to leave me at work and brought me over to his office.
Daniel and Isabella also arrived.
“I came regarding yesterday’s so-called accident?” Daniel said as they sat down.
John also arrived.
“I checked the maintenance records p>
“There’s no inspection report p>
“But someone did access the CCTV footage for a brief time p>
“And John trailed off.
We all looked up.
“The two damaged points Daniel told me about p>
“They weren’t normal tear-wear points p>
“They were tempered p>
“Are you saying the structure was made to fall in a way it would look like a random fall?” Isabella questioned.
My gaze met with Jonathan’s as neither one had to say the name, but it came to our minds.
Imelda.