Chapter 105 Five feet apart
Veronica's POV:
"Yes, we need to talk," Theo said after me. "All three of us. Now."
My heart sank as I knew what was coming next.
"What's going on?" Max asked, looking between me and Theo.
Theo took a deep breath, his green eyes finding mine for just a moment before looking away.
"Veronica has already made her choice," he said, sounding steady despite the pain I could hear beneath it. "And I think it's time we all acknowledge it and move forward."
"What?" I whispered, but Theo wasn't looking at me anymore.
He crossed the room and took my hand, then reached for Max's hand, bringing them together.
His fingers were warm as he placed my hand in Max's, holding them both for a moment.
"You two belong together," Theo said quietly. "Anyone can see it. The way you challenge each other, push each other to be better, bring out the passion in each other. It's what you both need."
"Theo..." I started, but he shook his head.
"Do you choose Max?" he asked me directly, his voice gentle but firm. "Will you stand beside him tomorrow at the press conference as his fiancée as he defends you? Will you build a life with him?"
I looked at Max's face... he was stunned.
This was it. The moment of decision.
I thought about everything Theo had said. About Max needing me. About both his favorite people being happy. About his brother slipping back into self-destruction if I chose differently.
"Yes," I heard myself say, the word barely audible. "Yes, I choose Max."
Theo's fingers released ours, and he took a step back.
"Good," he said, and his smile was gentle even if his green eyes were devastated. "That's... that's good. You'll be good for each other."
"Brother..." Max started, confusion and concern in his voice.
"I'm going to stay at a hotel tonight," Theo interrupted, already moving toward the door. "Give you two some space. Some privacy. You have a lot to talk about before tomorrow."
"You don't have to leave," I said desperately. "Theo, please..."
"I do," he said softly, pausing at the door to look back at us. "You're engaged now. And I need to... I need to accept that. We all do."
Then he was gone, the door closing softly behind him.
I stood there, my hand still in Max's, feeling like I'd just made the biggest mistake of my life.
"I don't believe you," Max said suddenly.
I looked up at him, startled. "What?"
"I don't believe you actually chose me," he said. "Not in your heart. I've always thought you loved Theo more than you loved me."
My throat tightened. "Max..."
"It's okay," he continued, squeezing my hand gently. "You don't have to lie to me, Veronica. I see the way you look at him."
I felt tears burning in my eyes. " I love you, Max. I do. It's just that I love Theo... "
"Differently than you love me," Max finished. "I know. But maybe that's enough. Maybe we could build something good out of it."
He pulled me into his arms, and I let him, burying my face against his chest as the tears finally spilled over.
"Now that you're my woman," Max murmured against my hair, "I have even more responsibilities, right? I won't spare them... any of them. Laura, Chase, whoever leaked that story about our fathers. I'll protect you from all of it."
His words should have been comforting. Should have made me feel safe and cared for...
Instead, they just made the guilt worse.
The next morning came too quickly.
I'd barely slept, lying next to Max in my bed... he'd insisted on staying close, on making sure I was okay... but sleep had been impossible. My mind kept replaying Theo's face as he'd joined our hands.
The resignation in his eyes. The sacrifice he was making.
By seven AM, the paparazzi were already gathered outside my building. I could see them from my window... dozens of reporters, camera crews, photographers, all waiting for a statement. For answers and more scandal if possible.
Max stood beside me, already showered and dressed in a fresh suit that Theo must have arranged to be delivered. He looked every inch the protective billionaire fiancé, ready to face the wolves on my behalf.
"Ready?" he asked, his hand finding mine.
"No," I admitted. "But let's do it anyway."
"Ready?" he asked, his hand finding mine.
"No," I admitted. "But let's do it anyway."
We took the elevator down to the lobby, where building security had set up a makeshift press area. Max had his PR team there, along with lawyers, all prepared to manage the narrative.
But when the doors opened, and we stepped out, the cameras started flashing and the questions started flying.
"Veronica! Did you sabotage the engagement out of revenge?"
"Maximilian! Are you really engaged to Veronica or is this a publicity stunt?"
The questions came fast and harsh from the paparazzi... but Max stepped forward, his hand still holding mine, his voice strong and clear.
"Let me make something very clear," Max said. "Veronica Whitmore is not only my fiancée... she's the woman I love. And I won't stand by while she's attacked and slandered by people who don't know the truth."
"What is the truth?" a reporter shouted.
"The truth is that Veronica was held hostage last night," Max said firmly. "Imprisoned in a hotel conference room by Laura Bellamy and her security team. She was denied food, water, and access to a bathroom for hours. She was threatened and coerced into making a false confession on social media. That confession you all saw? It was made under duress. It's not true. None of it is true."
"Do you have proof?"
"We have audio recordings," Max said. "And we're working with police to recover hotel security footage that was illegally deleted. But more than that, we have the truth. And I'm asking all of you... all the press, the public... to give Veronica the presumption of innocence she deserves."
Then I found myself looking to my side to find Theo, standing five feet away from us.
He was standing off to the side, slightly apart from the chaos, watching.
Our eyes met, and something passed between us.
It should have been him here, standing beside me!