Veronica Weston: Breaking Free from Control in Felicia's Favorites

Overview

Veronica Weston is the fourth of five daughters in Danielle Steel’s Felicia’s Favorites. At thirty-six, she enters the story as the long‑term mistress of a married U.S. senator, Anson — a role that has cost her a promising law career and any semblance of autonomy. Over the course of the novel, Felicia’s hidden inheritance and the revelations about her mother’s secret life as bestselling author Morgan Reed give Veronica the leverage to reclaim her identity, pursue a legal education, and eventually build an independent life with attorney Scott Freeman. Her arc is one of the most dramatic in the book: from willing “geisha” to self‑possessed woman.

Plot Role

Veronica functions as the sister who has the farthest to fall — and rise. Where her siblings are shocked by their mother’s wealth and secrecy, Veronica is stunned by the possibility of freedom. She is the catalyst for the novel’s exploration of independence vs control, as her relationship with Anson epitomizes the gilded cage. Her gradual defection from that cage drives multiple subplots: the tension over her inheritance, her re‑enrollment at Columbia Law School, and her growing bond with Scott Freeman, the family’s attorney.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Veronica's core motivation throughout most of the story is to preserve her relationship with Anson. She tells her sister Quinne, “I thought he was worth it, and I still do” — even after learning about her mother’s disapproval and her own sacrifice of a magna cum laude law career. She describes herself as “willing slave” to his schedule, keeping herself constantly available, never complaining, and maintaining an immaculate appearance. Her apartment, paid for by Anson, operates as a sanctuary where she suppresses her own needs to serve his.

Yet beneath that compliance, a quieter resolve appears. When Anson throws her intellectual‑property law books into the wastebasket, she retrieves them later and signs up for refresher classes. This small act of defiance is the first crack in the facade of perfect submission. Her trait of intellectual curiosity — a remnant of her law‑school days — never fully dies. She admits to Scott that she loves “challenging my brain again.” The inheritance does not change her personality; it simply gives her the resources to act on long‑suppressed ambitions.

Chronological Arc

1. Before the will reading (backstory) – Veronica graduates magna cum laude from Columbia Law School, works briefly at a firm, then quits to become Anson’s mistress. She has been entirely financially dependent on him for ten years.
2. At the farm after the will – She learns about her mother’s hidden fortune and the $18 million inheritance. She is disoriented but also protective of Anson, worrying about how the news might affect him.
3. Early resistance – Anson throws away her law books; she signs up for con law classes despite his “warning.” She meets Scott Freeman at the Saint Regis to review a contract, and a mutual attraction begins.
4. Escalating conflict – Anson grows colder, accusing her of becoming “independent.” She lies about the size of the inheritance. He withholds affection and uses the silent treatment.
5. Breaking point – Anson delivers an ultimatum: be available at all times or leave. He calls her a “high‑end call girl.” Veronica, fortified by her mother’s legacy, decides to move out. She returns the keys and briefcase via Scott.
6. New life – She rents a floor‑through in a townhouse, furnishes it with her sisters’ help, continues law classes, and begins a romantic relationship with Scott. The novel ends with her fully independent and embraced by her family.

Relationships

Anson (the senator) – The central oppressive relationship. Anson is twenty‑one years older, controlling, and married. He defines Veronica as his “property” and demands total availability. Their dynamic is one of patron and kept woman; he funds her lifestyle in exchange for exclusive access. Veronica initially sees this as love, but by the end she recognizes it as “ownership.” Her breakup scene is the novel’s clearest demonstration of secrecy and truth, as she finally tells Anson what she had hidden: the inheritance and her true feelings.

Scott Freeman – The contrast to Anson. Scott is near her age, respectful, and supportive. He helps her understand contracts, encourages her studies, and never asks her to sacrifice her goals. Their relationship develops slowly, with Scott waiting until she has fully separated from Anson. He represents the second chances and new beginnings theme.

Felicia (mother) – Posthumously, Felicia becomes Veronica’s liberator. The inheritance gives Veronica financial independence, but equally important is Felicia’s example: a woman who lived a secret life of achievement. Veronica realizes that “her mother had given her the power to resist him.” The theme of inheritance and hidden legacy is personal for her.

Sisters – Veronica is closest to Olivia and later Isabelle. At the farm, the sisters support her through the transition. Quinne gently reminds her that she “gave up a lot for him.” The sisterhood and family bonds grow stronger as Veronica returns to the fold.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Each decision marks a step from submission to self‑determination.

Theme and Symbol Connections

• Independence vs. Control – Veronica embodies this tension. Anson controls her schedule, her reading, and even her clothing choices. Her small acts of defiance culminate in the physical move out of “his” apartment — a symbol of shedding his ownership.
• Secrecy and Truth – She lies to Anson about the farm and the inheritance, mirroring Felicia’s own secret life. The truth of her mother’s wealth enables her to finally tell Anson the truth about her new life.
• Inheritance and Hidden Legacy – The $18 million is not just money; it is the key to reclaiming her future. Felicia’s hidden career as Morgan Reed inspires Veronica to resume her own.
• Second Chances – At 36, she gets a second chance at law, at love, and at a self‑directed life. Scott’s patience embodies this theme.
• Ending explained – Veronica is last seen at the family gathering at the farm, fully integrated and happy, having found new love and purpose. Her story reinforces the novel’s message that Felicia’s greatest gift was liberating her children.

Book‑Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why did Veronica stay with Anson for ten years if he was controlling?
   She loved him and believed his openness about being married made the arrangement honest. He gave her financial security and a sense of purpose. She rationalized that her sacrifices were worth it — until her mother’s death gave her both perspective and resources.

2. What finally made Veronica leave Anson?
   The immediate trigger was Anson calling her a “high‑end call girl” and demanding total availability “for sex, for an hour, for however long I want.” His cruelty, combined with the inheritance, gave her the courage to walk out.

3. How did Veronica’s relationship with her mother affect her decisions?
   Felicia had been furious when Veronica quit law. After her death, learning that Felicia was a secret, successful author made Veronica reconsider her own choices. She decided to honor her mother’s belief in her potential by returning school.

4. What role does Scott Freeman play in Veronica’s arc?
   Scott is the catalyst for emotional change. He treats her as an equal, respects her intelligence, and never asks her to sacrifice. His kindness contrasts with Anson’s control and helps Veronica see what a healthy relationship looks like.

5. Does Veronica regret her years with Anson?
   The novel does not suggest explicit regret. Instead, she treats the experience as something she needed to live through to arrive at her present freedom. She tells Scott, “Things look different at thirty-six than they do at twenty-six.” Her focus is forward.

For further discussion of the entire novel’s themes and ending, see the Questions and Answers and Ending Explained pages.