Beastmen Kings At My Feet [Reverse Harem] - Chapter 74: Chapter 74

Ever since Veronica said those words that shook him to his core, Joshua had been consumed by unease and dread.
Her words—"Who he gets close to has nothing to do with me"—and the look on her face were both cold.
Joshua was terrified that Veronica, the one person he truly cared about, might leave him for good because of a single lie. It was the first time he had ever felt this kind of fear.
He kept replaying those words in his mind, trying to find a sliver of hope, some way to fix things, only to realize he'd walked straight into a trap of his own making, one he couldn't break free from.
He started reflecting on everything he'd done, trying to figure out what Matthew really meant with what he said. He finally realized that the move he thought was clever had backfired on him completely.
He had hidden the fact that the assassin was from the Holland family. He thought if Veronica didn't know, she wouldn't resent him. He thought he was safeguarding the family's reputation and standing.
He hadn't expected that doing so would only make matters worse. Now, thinking back to that decision, all he felt was regret and guilt.
Joshua knew perfectly well that if he had told Veronica the truth, she wouldn't have blamed him for the actions of someone from his family.
But driven by selfishness, he had chosen to deceive her. And in doing so, he didn't just lose her trust—he also backed himself into a corner he couldn't get out of.
Joshua stood at Veronica's door, unsure whether to talk to her. He felt torn and uneasy. Part of him wanted to rush in, apologize, and tell her everything. But another part held him back, afraid that facing her would only make things worse.
Finally, he raised his hand and knocked gently on the door. Each knock landed like a drumbeat in his chest, making his heart race.
He prayed that Veronica would open the door so he could have a chance to say the words he'd buried deep inside for a long time. However, there was no response inside the room.
Joshua did not give up. He knew their relationship could only get back on track if—and when—Veronica was willing to forgive him.
So he stood there, quietly waiting for Veronica to be ready to face him—hoping this could prove his sincerity and determination.
But the longer Joshua waited, the more anxious he became. 'She doesn't even want to see me now?' he thought.
"Joshua?" A clear and pleasant voice rang out. Joshua was slightly taken aback. He knew that voice well—it was Veronica.
He slowly turned around and saw her standing in the hallway, her face marked by a hint of weariness, but her eyes were bright and determined.
Relief washed over Joshua as he realized Veronica hadn't been ignoring him—she just hadn't come back yet.
He couldn't help but feel guilty for being too nervous to notice that Veronica hadn't returned to her room. He hurried toward her, hesitant to speak.
When Veronica saw Joshua, she felt a surge of mixed emotions she couldn't even begin to name. Her eyes fell on him for just a few seconds before she silently stepped past him and walked into the room. She looked calm, but her heart churned with emotions.
After Veronica walked around him, Joshua stood rooted to the spot, utterly shaken. His eyes were hollow and unfocused, as if he had lost his soul. He allowed the pain to take hold, submerging himself in the sudden surge of emptiness.
Just then, Veronica spoke. Her voice was soft, yet it seemed to heal the pain Joshua was feeling, pulling him back from the brink. "Come in," she said with subtle expectation.
Joshua instantly came to his senses and hurried into the room after her. The moment he stepped inside, he couldn't hold it in any longer.