third person's POV
Veronica heard this and was obviously calmer.
When she looked back at Vanya, she wasn't as overbearing as before and her tone softened, "Vanya, since things haven't been easy lately, you should help Cliff more. That's what a partner's supposed to do, you understand?"
Vanya lowered her eyes, "These days I went back to the Dalton family just to help Cliff."
Veronica nodded with satisfaction, "Good kid, I knew I was right about you."
Vanya didn't say anything.
Veronica said again, "Seeing you two work so well together, I also hope to enjoy some family happiness. From today on, I'll live here and help you manage the wolf pack stuff. Cliff, what do you think?"
Cliff frowned, "Grandma..."
Before he could finish, Veronika turned to Vanya and asked with a hint of meaning, "Vanya, what do you think?"
"You wanted to stay, of course I welcomed it. It's just that Cliff and I weren't home a lot lately, and I was afraid we couldn't take good care of you."
"It's okay, I have Omega. Your villa was too quiet, usually only Jenny was running around doing everything. I brought a smart maid to take care of me, so you guys could do your own thing."
Vanya got it—Veronica saw that she hadn't been home much lately because of work, so she purposely left a maid to keep an eye on her, wanting to make her feel a bit of pressure.
If it were in her past life, she definitely would've been anxious, but now, she just didn't care whether Cliff would get involved with someone else.
She smiled and said, "If you've made up your mind, then just move in."
Cliff frowned at her, obviously not expecting her to agree right away.
Veronica was happy: "Then I'll have Jenny pack my things. From today on, you guys just focus on your work, I just want you to feel comfortable."
Vanya didn't say anything, just turned around and went upstairs.
Her stuff here had been moved out a long time ago, only some daily necessities were left to make it look like she still lived here.
Cliff followed into what used to be their bedroom and asked in a low voice, "Why did you agree?"
"She insisted on staying, what could I say?"
Vanya said, "If I refused, she would just get more suspicious about us and it would only cause more trouble."
Cliff was silent for a moment: "Grandma was just afraid you wouldn't come home, that you'd have something else on your mind out there."
"Of course I knew she did it for you. After all, the relationship between the Todd family and the Dalton family couldn't go wrong these days."
Vanya said, "With our relationship, our two families had a lot of key cooperation. If one did well, the other did too. If one suffered, so did the other. Having a conflict at this point didn't do anyone any good."
Veronica saw this and believed she definitely wouldn't make trouble at this critical moment.
Cliff stared at Vanya for a long time, then finally just said, "I'll have someone move your stuff back tomorrow. Grandma's moved in, it's not good for you to keep staying out."
"No need, I won't be here much longer." Vanya dropped this line. She was tired and just wanted to rest.
Cliff instinctively grabbed her arm. "What do you mean by that?"
"Cliff, did it still make sense to ask this now? You knew it in your heart."
"Did it have to be like this?"
Vanya replied coldly, "What do you think?"
Cliff didn't say anything.
Vanya went on, "I'm not blaming you, but you cheated and betrayed our relationship, and that's enough reason for us to end our partnership. Even if we went to court, I'd have something to say."
Cliff probably didn't expect her to bring up ending the relationship before, and he didn't transfer the property.
Once it really got to that point, he was the one at fault, and she could get a big compensation.
"Believe it or not, that was an accident, and after that I lost touch with Melinda..."
"That time with the Thompson family business, you covered for her, was I blind?"
Cliff wanted to explain that he just wanted to piss her off that day, but the words were on the tip of his tongue and he didn't say them.
Vanya said, "Cliff, forget it. Your preference for Melinda never changed. No matter what excuse you found, I was going to break up with you."
"Give me three months."
"What?"
"Give me three months, I'll prove that you've always been the only one in my heart."
"Cliff, no need."
"If three months later I didn't make it, or didn't impress you, I'd willingly give you everything from the Todd family."
Vanya paused.
Cliff held her shoulders, his voice low and serious, "I'm willing to bet everything, just give me these three months. If you still don't want to in the end, I'll agree to break up and give you all the Todd family's business and money."
Vanya had never seen him this serious before, he wasn't joking.
"Cliff, you were crazy."
Even three months later, she still wouldn't accept him. He was bound to lose this bet.
"I knew it was my fault before, and I made you misunderstand. Give me a chance, I would try to be a good husband. I really loved you."
In that moment, Vanya saw the shadow of the boy he used to be in his eyes.
Maybe he already forgot, but she always remembered—the boy who crouched down, took her hand, and walked that road with her.
"Okay, I gave you this chance."
Vanya said coldly, "But I'm telling you, no matter how far you go, you'll lose in the end."
Cliff didn't seem to hear the second half, and his face was all happy.
Vanya pushed Cliff's hands away: "I'm really tired, you should go back."
"Grandma was here, where did you want me to go back to?"
Vanya wasn't home during this time, he had already taken care of this bedroom.
In this bedroom, there were lots of traces showing Vanya had lived here, and when they just got married, Vanya used to wait for him in this room, over and over again.
Cliff glanced at the double bed not far away, and the meaning couldn't have been clearer.
Vanya frowned, "I'm not used to sleeping with you."