Veronica's POV
Olive and Kathrine looked like they'd been struck by lightning. Neither had expected me to capture everything on video.
Watching their sons torment Joseph so viciously on screen, both women fell silent. Shame colored their faces as they dropped their gazes to the floor.
Cecile rose, gripping her cane. She slammed it against the marble with a sharp crack.
Bang! The sound echoed through the grand hall, making everyone jump.
"Disgusting! Absolutely disgusting! Burton, Tooker—how dare you treat Joseph this way?"
Tears gathered in her eyes as her voice broke with emotion.
Hanna rushed forward, putting on her best concerned daughter-in-law act. "Mother, please calm yourself. Don't let this damage your health."
She turned toward Joseph with fake sweetness. "Joseph, sweetheart, are you okay? Come to Grandma so I can check for injuries."
Joseph didn't budge toward Hanna. Instead, he pressed closer to me, seeking comfort in my arms.
I dropped to my knees and pulled my son close, offering silent reassurance and strength.
Burton and Tooker, faced with Cecile's wrath, didn't dare throw another tantrum. They burst into tears instead.
"Look at yourselves!" Cecile snapped. "You terrorize your little brother, and he doesn't shed a tear. But the moment someone calls you out, you're sobbing like babies! Who exactly is the victim here?"
Her harsh words sent both boys scrambling to hide behind Olive and Kathrine.
Olive stepped in to shield her grandsons. "Mother, they're just children. They didn't understand—it was innocent play. I'll make them apologize to Joseph immediately."
She looked down at the boys. "Say you're sorry to your brother."
Burton stuck out his lip defiantly. "I won't! Grandma and Mommy said Joseph's a bastard! We didn't lie!"
What should have been a simple apology instead revealed the ugly truth.
My smile turned ice-cold. "Cecile, did you catch that? Everyone knows children speak honestly. Burton just repeated exactly what he's been taught at home."
Rage flashed across Cecile's features. She whirled on Olive and Kathrine, her face thunderous. "This is how you've been raising them? You had the audacity to call Joseph illegitimate? Joseph carries Nelson blood—my blood—and you dare insult him?"
Angry tears rolled down Cecile's cheeks.
Olive backpedaled frantically. "Mother... I... it was just careless talk. I never questioned Joseph's parentage—"
Kathrine jumped in desperately. "Grandma, we were joking! We didn't mean anything by it!"
"Careless talk? Jokes? Teaching children to degrade their own brother? You think that excuses anything?"
Cecile struck her cane against the floor once more.
"Silence! Even if the children didn't know better, you adults certainly should have! You deliberately poisoned their minds. If I don't set things right today, I'll disgrace the Nelson legacy and dishonor our forefathers!"
"Mother, please—"
"Grandma, we're deeply sorry! Please forgive us!"
Both women clutched at Cecile's clothing, begging desperately. But her expression remained granite-hard.
"Charlie!" she commanded. "Bring the family discipline whip!"
At the mention of the whip, Olive and Kathrine collapsed to their knees.
Thud! They hit the ground, wailing, "Mother, no! Please have mercy!"
"Grandma, we swear we'll never do it again! Please spare us!"
Their desperate pleas bounced off Cecile's iron resolve.
Minutes later, Charlie returned carrying the family whip—black leather with the Nelson motto carved into the handle.
"Cecile, I have the whip," Charlie announced.
"Excellent. Proceed. Fifty lashes for each of them!"
"No! Please, Cecile—" Olive turned to Hanna in panic. "Sister-in-law, help me! Say something!"
Before Hanna could utter a word, Cecile's voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Anyone who dares intercede for them will share their punishment!"
Hanna's mouth snapped shut, unwilling to risk her own skin.
Charlie executed Cecile's command without hesitation.
Crack! The first lash tore across Olive's back.
"Ahhhhh!" Her scream shattered the silence.
Crack! The whip found Kathrine next, drawing an equally piercing shriek.
The leather struck repeatedly. Olive and Kathrine's agonized cries filled the hall as the punishment continued relentlessly.
Their clothing shredded under the whip's force, searing pain leaving them writhing on the marble floor.
After several lashes, Olive's body went limp as unconsciousness claimed her.
Kathrine held out slightly longer but fainted before the punishment was complete.
"Cecile," Charlie reported, "both Olive and Kathrine have lost consciousness. I believe the lesson has been learned."
Cecile waved dismissively. "Sufficient. Remove them."
The unconscious women were carried away, leaving tension thick in the air.
Cecile faced me. "Child, does this satisfy your need for justice?"
I nodded. "It does. Thank you, Cecile, for standing up for what's right."
I bowed respectfully before lifting Joseph into my arms.
"If you'll permit us, I'll take Joseph back now."
---
After Veronica departed, Cecile studied her identification documents once more. Satisfied with what she saw, she addressed Charlie.
"Charlie, conduct a thorough background check on Veronica. If everything proves legitimate, arrange for her marriage certificate with Leonardo to be processed immediately."
Cecile had witnessed enough of Veronica's character to determine she would suit Leonardo perfectly.
As expected, Charlie completed his investigation efficiently. Veronica's identity and birth chart checked out completely, and the marriage paperwork was expedited without complications.
When Cecile examined the finished certificate, she beamed. "I'll visit the estate personally to share this wonderful news with Leonardo."
---
Veronica's POV
I was in the kitchen preparing dinner when word came that Cecile had arrived at the estate.
After greeting her properly, I watched the elderly woman make her way upstairs.
Glancing down, I spotted Joseph perched in his little chair beside the kitchen doorway, his wide eyes tracking my every movement.
My heart squeezed at the sight.
After everything we'd endured today, Joseph's bond with me had grown even stronger.
Now he positioned himself by the kitchen entrance like a tiny sentinel, determined to shield his mommy from anyone who might try to separate us.
---
Upstairs, Cecile visited Leonardo and detailed everything that had occurred. She concluded with a pleased expression.
"Leonardo, I must admit, selecting Veronica as your bride has proven to be remarkably fortunate. She's absolutely perfect for you. I've already processed the marriage certificate. From this moment forward, you and Veronica are legally wed. Together, you can provide Joseph with the complete family he needs!"
"Marriage certificate?"
Leonardo's brow creased so severely it could have crushed steel.
He had tolerated Veronica's presence as Liana's replacement but had never consented to marry her.
What had that woman done to manipulate his grandmother?
While he appreciated her protection of Joseph, the thought of being legally bound to her—especially without his agreement—made his stomach revolt.
"Grandmother, I refuse to marry her. I'd rather die than be tied to that woman!"
---
Veronica's POV
His voice thundered through the room just as I stepped inside, catching every word of his furious rejection.