Chapter 71

VERONICA Descending from the guest wing, I encountered Zeon and Cadence. Zeon appeared to be frowning with his arms crossed, and Cadence seemed to be mirroring her brother's posture. “Mom, may I ask where you have been? We've been searching for you.” Zeon asked. “Yes, bwothew wite, whwe mommy?” Cadence copied his brother with a baby voice. Completely taken aback, I gazed at my children. "Well, I—I was merely, um—taking a leisurely walk," I offered with an awkward smile. It felt as though I were undergoing questioning. "Leisurely walk?" Zeon raised an eyebrow, looking just like his dad—no DNA test needed. "Veronica, there you are," Aunt Lucy said, approaching my children. "We've been looking all over for you." She paused, glancing at me. "I assumed you had gone to the hospital.” "Mom said she was walking around," Zeon replied, his eyes watching me doubtfully. "Were you walking in the guest wing?" Aunt Lucy inquired, appearing perplexed. “Well, I uh—I was—” I felt at a loss for words. "S