Veronica contemplated telling Liam about his mother. His hatred for her mother was evident but would he believe that his mother might have a role to play in her almost dying?
Veronica thought it over to the next day when Liam had to leave her to deal with business.
She stood by the door, watching as he fixed his sleeves.
"I'll be back by noon," Liam said, the habit of informing Veronica continued. "My assistant Jerome is setting up a new phone for you and will bring it to you soon. My number will be there with Edna's and a few of your friends."
Veronica found it surprising Liam was giving her access to contact someone outside of their home. Seeing that he was being less overly protective, she decided to bring up the email. "I saw an email from your mother to meet with her four days ago. Do you know if I went to see her?"
"No," Liam replied, this news the first he ever heard it. "You wouldn't have gone to see her."
"Why?"
"You've had a lot of conversations with my mother after I introduced you two but they were pointless. You didn't waste your time with any more since you would just argue. I went to all the family holidays and birthday celebrations without you," said Liam.
"I will look into it. We can't dismiss anyone. Not even my mother," Liam said, not wanting Veronica to think his anger was only to her mother. "Show me when I come home. Be safe," Liam said, stepping forward to kiss Veronica goodbye.
Veronica backed away, not ready for such interaction.
Liam regretted it after she moved away from him. "Sorry. It's an old habit. Try to eat and look at the recommendations I have to help with your memories."
Liam left Veronica in the hands of Edna.
Sleeping in separate bedrooms was a first and now Veronica avoiding his kiss made their predicament dawn on him even more. Veronica was back but his wife was missing. He had to be patient but after the emotions he went through thinking she was going to die, he just wanted to hold her at least once.
Liam headed for his family home to speak to his mother. Her request to meet was starting to become a headache and if he did not speak to her, Adeline would start finding ways to contact Veronica.
His childhood home seemed unfamiliar since his visits decreased after his wife wasn't welcomed to family events by his mother. Visiting wasn't something he missed since he spent years listening to his mother plan his life.
The first chance he got to leave he took it.
Liam entered the home in search of his mother.
He found her in one of the living rooms watching a report on Veronica's case.
"It took you long enough to come to see your mother. Have you finally woken up for what I have been telling you? And you came alone. Good," Adeline said, preferring it this way. "Your father is out with some of his friends. He's helping with the campaign unlike you."
Liam walked around the room, looking at the photos placed only for when interviewers would come to ask about the family. All the photos that made them look like the perfect family were here.
"I don't want to get involved in politics. Never have and never will. Your brother isn't a good candidate and you only shower him with support because he is family. He's as corrupted as the men he talks about putting away," said Liam.
"He's family. My brother is close to having what he was prepared for," Adeline answered. "Can you name anyone in this battle who is clean?"
"If I find one, I will support them. Maybe then uncle could take a good hit with public image-"
"Liam!" Adeline exclaimed. If her father heard Liam talking like this she would never hear the end of it. "He is family."
"Family doesn't mean anything these days. Like how you mean nothing to me for the way you treat my wife. You will not like it if I turn on you. I'll expose every family secret," Liam said, knowing enough to end his family stepping foot in politics.
Adeline laughed as he would never do it. "Our hands are clean. I suggest you don't do something stupid to ruin your own business. You're a Sterling but you are still part of my family. You are my son so if my image is ruined, it will affect the Sterlings."
"You still think I care about all of this? I would be happy to take my wife and settle down somewhere else. I have the money to do it," said Liam.
Adeline turned to her son as she couldn't believe her ears. She gave him the world just for him to lose his mind over a woman who had nothing to her name before she latched onto Liam. "You disappoint me. You're sharing your earnings with a woman who approached you for your money."
"No, she did not," Liam denied his mother's assumption. "If you had taken the time to get to know Veronica as I told you to do, you would see she doesn't care about money."
Adeline laughed. Take away the money and would Veronica still be there? "I know her mother. That's all I need to know to judge her. I told you not to get married and you did. You were so stupid to not protect your wealth."
"I am not like you who married for appearances. I married my wife to stay with her for the rest of my life. Stop sending those divorce papers because I will not sign them. Veronica is a Sterling. I will ruin everything you love if you keep trying to ruin my marriage," Liam declared, his right hand balled into a fist, his fingers digging into the palm of his hand as he kept his anger at bay.
Adeline stood up from her seat. "Watch your tone with me. I am still your mother."
"Then act like it first. I will show you respect only if you can respect my marriage. I almost lost Veronica. The things I would do to protect her have changed. Please don't reach out to her, don't mention her name or talk about a divorce. Don't send your people to interfere with her gallery. I will be at your doors ready if you do," Liam warned Adeline.
He had been protective of Veronica before but to almost lose her changed the lengths he would go to protect her. He would go lower than the people trying to hurt her. He had the means to do it and would not hold back.
It pained Adeline to see her beloved son putting a woman before her. After everything she did to raise him, he should love her most. Where was the thanks for her giving him a good life? Going to the finest schools and having the finest things others dreamed of?
"I heard she lost her memories. This is the time for you to wake up and leave her. Her family has abandoned her, no one in our circle is impressed by her and I will never accept her. Why should the daughter of a divorced woman be in our family? The daughter of a whore who is following in her mother's-"
"Mother!" Liam yelled, using the last of his patience to restrain himself from doing something he didn't know he would regret. "Watch how you speak about my wife."