Chapter 5 So You're Playing Hard to Get Now?

Veronica didn't answer Gregory. Time was critical, and she couldn't waste another second. She pressed one knee against Carter's shoulders to stabilize him, using her left index and middle fingers to firmly hold the sides of the cricothyroid membrane. "Hold his head still for me," she said to Gregory. With that, she pressed the small knife in her right hand against the thin membrane, barely half an inch wide. In a flash, the blade made a precise horizontal incision. As blood gushed out, Veronica angled a straw into his trachea, sealing the other end with her mouth to blow air in. To everyone's amazement, Carter's chest immediately began to rise and fall, and the bluish-purple color of his lips started returning to a healthy tone. The surrounding guests widened their eyes in disbelief as they watched Veronica perform the emergency procedure. They hadn't expected that Veronica could actually pull it off. Gregory's deep eyes locked onto Veronica, narrowing slightly as they grew darker and more intense. By the time the paramedics burst in, Carter was already breathing on his own, albeit weakly. After quickly assessing his condition, the doctors and nurses lifted him onto a stretcher. One of the doctors couldn't help but exclaim, "Thanks to the timely cricothyrotomy, he might have died otherwise." Hearing this, Pamela, who had been about to follow the nurses out, froze in her tracks. She turned back and bowed deeply to Veronica, her voice choked with gratitude. "Thank you… Thank you for saving my son." Veronica simply nodded lightly without saying a word, her expression calm. "Veronica." A commanding voice then rang out. She turned her head to see Lionel Steele, the head of the Steele family, walking toward her. He reached out and patted her shoulder, his tone still carrying a trace of relief. "I just heard the news. Thank goodness you were here." Hearing Lionel refer to her by name, the guests exchanged surprised glances. Judging by his tone, they seemed to be on very good terms. Lionel then turned to face the other guests, his voice sharp and commanding. "Veronica saved my life and is a guest we specially invited! Anyone here who just claimed she had no right to be here or insulted her, step forward now!" As Lionel's words fell, the massive banquet hall went completely silent. Everyone was stunned to learn that Veronica had saved Lionel's life. Under the pressure, the two women who had been gossiping earlier could only step out from the crowd. Both appeared to be around Veronica's age. Lionel's expression was stern, radiating authority and anger. "Who do you think you are? My Steele family's honored guests aren't for you to insult at will!" He then turned toward Leon in the crowd. "And you, Leon, get out of my house right now! From today onward, you are no longer welcome at any Steele family events." At his declaration, every guest present was left completely stunned. No one had expected that Veronica, the adopted daughter the Walsh family had taken in from the countryside, could command such protection from Lionel. "I'm sorry, Mr. Steele Senior! I shouldn't have insulted Ms. Walsh," one woman admitted. "I know I was wrong, too. Please forgive me this once, Mr. Steele Senior!" the other pleaded. Faced with their desperate pleas, Lionel remained unmoved. "If you don't leave now, I'll have security remove you." With no choice, they slunk away in shame. Lionel then turned to Leon, who was still standing frozen in place. "Mr. Reid, do you need me to send someone to escort you out?" Leon's face turned pale with shock. He couldn't believe he would be thrown out of the banquet hall for insulting Veronica. "Mr. Steele Senior, you—" He barely managed to start when Lionel cut him off coldly. "Security!" Leon's expression changed again. Knowing he had no choice but to comply, he drew in a deep breath and muttered, "I'm leaving." Before leaving, Leon shot Veronica a venomous glare. "That damn ugly girl! I'll remember tonight's humiliation!" he thought. For a moment, the guests' expressions toward Veronica subtly changed. Lionel smiled at her and said, "Veronica, come with me, let's go over there." She gave a slight nod and followed him. Rowena's eyes flickered with a trace of jealousy as she watched her retreating figure. … After washing her hands in the restroom, Veronica stepped out and immediately saw Gregory leaning against the wall not far away. Her steps paused slightly. When she saw Gregory again, Veronica had to admit that her heart still stirred. But now, she could keep her expression completely composed. She stepped toward him. Looking at his strikingly handsome face, Veronica said directly, without any small talk, "Tomorrow, 10:00 am at the courthouse. I hope this time… you'll be punctual, Mr. Sutton." After saying this, Veronica stepped past Gregory, ready to leave. "Veronica, what game are you playing now?" Gregory suddenly spoke, his low, husky voice carrying a hint of impatience. Veronica froze at his words, furrowing her brow as she turned to face him. "I don't understand what you mean, Mr. Sutton." Gregory looked down at her, a faint, mocking smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Three years ago, when it was time to divorce, you suddenly vanished. And now you bring it up yourself, talking about going through with it tomorrow. What is it… trying to play hard to get and catch my attention?" Hearing Gregory's words, Veronica's eyes flickered slightly. She had indeed tried countless ways to get his attention in the past. Yet after one failure after another, she realized she had been nothing but a complete joke. This time, when she brought up the divorce, she felt no reluctance or sadness. On the contrary, she longed for freedom, a desire she had carried for a very long time. Veronica met Gregory's gaze head-on, unflinching despite the sharp mockery in his eyes, a faint smile tugging at her red lips. "If I remember correctly, the one who broke the promise back then… was you. "If you were the one who broke the promise, why should I wait around for you to summon me again? Who do you think you are?" Veronica scoffed and added, "Even if something urgent comes up tomorrow morning, please postpone it, Mr. Sutton. The sooner we finalize this divorce, the sooner we're both free." With that, Veronica didn't wait for Gregory to respond and strode away without a hint of hesitation. Her steps were firm and unwavering, without a single falter in her stride. Gregory watched her tall, slender figure, his gaze dark and unreadable.