Deadly silence haunted the house after Veronica finished her words.

They sat on their chairs, wordless, a few meters between them. They could hear the chirp outside the window and their breath.

A long time later, Harrison sighed, "It's already late now. I will drive you home."

"Yes."

***

When they arrived at the Rou house, it was already midnight. The lights were turned on inside the house. Sitting in the car, Veronica heard noise from inside. They seemed to be quarreling.

She smiled, but no one could see the smile in the darkness. She then unfastened her seat belt before she hugged her arms around Harrison's waist and said, "I'll meet you this weekend." She was reluctant to be separated from him.

Harrison reached out and stroked her hair gently. "Call me whenever you want."

His hands were big. His loving stroke on her head reminded Veronica of her past life. She recalled that when she was unable to fall asleep because of the nightmare, Harrison would always embrace her in his warm arms and stroke her hair to comfort her. That was his way of caring for her.

Veronica blinked her eyes and felt that tears were welling up in her eyes again. She asked in a soft tone, "Could you walk me inside?"

The quarreling became louder and louder inside the house. Something hard seemed to fall down on the ground and caused a sharp disturbing voice. Harrison let out a sigh before he replied, "Okay. Let's go."

Trying hard to hold back her tears, Veronica got off the car and stood there.

It was cold at night when a breeze swept over her face. Put her hands against her chest, she locked her eyes filled with complex feelings on the house in front of her, a smile resting on her face.

Suddenly, something sprang into her mind. She reached out and messed up her hair. Then she took off her shoes and threw them into the trash can nearby. Then she held his hand and ran towards the house in a seemingly hurried way.

Harrison was speechless by her behavior. But still he played along with her. Despite his expensive and perfect-fitting suit, he ran with her in the dark night.

It was the 'real princess' – Crystal – who saw Veronica. She was carrying a rubbish bag and collecting the falling leaves on the grass ground in the courtyard at that time.

She was totally stunned at the sight of Veronica, safe and sound. What was more, there was a man beside her. Immediately, she dropped the rubbish bag on the ground and ran toward Veronica. "Veronica! I'm so glad to see you back home safe! Jasper and your parents have been quarreling for a long time since you were missing…" she said.

Veronica, on the other hand, put a deaf ear to her words. She ran towards the house with a startled look, her hand holding Harrison's.

Crystal clenched the corner of her clothes. She was exerting too much strength that her fingertips paled thanks to the lack of blood. She seemed to be venting her anger on her clothes.

Anna felt nothing but excited to see Veronica safe and sound.

She was behaving like every loving mother would do. Discreetly, she pulled Veronica closer to her so that Harrison had to let go of Veronica's hand. Then she hugged her daughter and examined her from head to toe to make sure she was okay. She wanted her daughter intact, so that she would still function as a perfect princess.

Harrison drew back his hand, face reflective.

Jasper's lips shivered with excitement when he gazed at Veronica. He locked his affectionate eyes on her and did not want to move them away from her, not even for one second.

Lawrence was the calmest one. He was still enjoying his tea by the table.

Burying her face into Anna's arms, Veronica hugged her mother. However, her face was expressionless. And no one could detect it.

Anna took a glance from the corner of her eye at Harrison. Curiosity filled her up. Who is this man? Why is he with Veronica? she thought secretly. However, she did not utter her puzzles at once. Instead, she reached out to tidy Veronica's hair gently.

"God bless you, Veronica! I'm more than pleased to see you safe," Anna said with joy.

The corners of Veronica's mouth lifted upwards. A silent sneer crept on her face.

Sure, Anna was pleased to see her safe. If she died and couldn't marry Jasper, the Rou family would have no chance to be the wealthiest family in this city.

Veronica's hair was smooth. So it did not take Anna much time to tidy it. After she was done, she pulled Veronica slightly away from her, held her hands, and looked right into her face. "What happened to you, sweetie? I was so worried when Jasper told me that you were missing," she asked, trying to dig more information.

Veronica pulled her own hands away from Anna's slightly and then walked to Harrison. Holding his hand, she replied shyly, "I'm okay, Mother. Don't worry about me. He saved me."

Harrison was wearing an expensive suit. Anna could tell it from the way he dressed. Immediately, she laughed, "Thank you so much. But can I have your name? Where do you live? We would like to pay you a visit some other day to express our gratitude, and…"

Harrison cut her off. "You don't have to do this."

Then he took a look at Veronica and nodded to Anna and the others before he turned around and left the house.

Staring at his receding back, Anna somehow felt him quite familiar. She seemed to have seen him once. But where? She searched her brain yet failed to find any clue.

Lawrence smiled coldly. He put the teacup down on the table forcefully and said angrily, "Humph! Such a young boy! How rude he was!"

Jasper walked closer to Veronica and embraced her. He choked with sobs, "I'm so worried about you, Veronica. I felt so scared when I found you were gone. Thank God you came back safe."

Who should I marry if there is something bad happened to you? he thought.