After picking Gwh up from kindergarten, Victoria realized she couldn''t put off talking to McNeil any longer.


    If things kept going this way, their daughter would end uppletely spoiled under his care.


    Sliding into her car, Victoria called McNeil without hesitation.


    At that moment, McNeil was still at Quantum Core Technologies, apanying Violet. As the newly appointed assistant manager, Violet had insisted on holding a department meeting on her very first day. Even Ailie, the department manager, couldn''t help but smirk at that.


    Clearly, Violet came in ready to climb right over her. No surprise, considering she had some powerful backing.


    Well, if Violet wanted to show off, Ailie wasn''t about to back down.


    She handed Violet a stack of proposals-documents she and Victoria had already discussed and that Curtis, the CEO, had signed off on.


    Curtis happened to be present as well. If Violet wanted an audience, then fine-let everyone hear what she had to say.


    Let''s see what she could really do.


    Violet didn''t shy away. She skimmed through the proposals, quickly but thoroughly, thenunched into a ten-minute presentation, speaking with clear confidence.


    Even Ailie had to admit: Violet had some real skills.


    But...


    That was before she''d ever seen Victoria in action.


    Victoria''s expertise and market analysis were on another level entirely.


    Most importantly, The Langford Group had been built from the ground up by Victoria''s own hands.


    Violet''s analysis wasn''t wrong-she made her case well, backed by data-but shecked real-world experience.


    Still, the executives in the room were momentarily cowed by her professionalism, her sharp business attire, and her presence.


    Ailie nced calmly at Mr. Garcia and at McNeil, who had stayed by Violet''s side the entire time.


    At precisely five minutes and six seconds into Violet''s speech, both Curtis and McNeil exchanged a quick frown.


    As two of Starfall City''s business heavyweights, they saw right through Violet''s presentation: smart analysis, but questionable market viability.


    Violet was young-barely out of school. Her technical expertise was solid, but she''d barely set foot in the trenches.


    Curtis had worked closely with Victoria. McNeil had been her partner in business for years.


    From the moment Violet started speaking, the difference was obvious. Ailie, the only one in the room who knew the full story, could barely hide her smirk.


    She almost felt sorry Victoria wasn''t there-if she''d witnessed this meeting, she''d haveughed herself sick.


    Is that all you''ve got?


    Ailie watched McNeil lean over and murmur something to Curtis, who nodded and began to apud.


    The rest of the executives quickly joined in, showering Violet with praise.


    Ailie rolled her eyes at the sycophants; since Mr. Garcia wasn''t paying attention to her anyway, she quietly slipped out of the conference room.


    Meanwhile, McNeil''s phone kept buzzing.


    When he saw Victoria''s name sh on the screen, he hesitated, then stepped aside to answer.


    "What''s been going on with Gwyntely? Her teacher wanted a word with me this afternoon," Victoria said, anger clear in her voice.


    "I''m busy right now," McNeil replied coolly. "We''ll talk when I get home."


    "McNeil, whatever''s going on


    between you and Violet is your business, but I want my daughter back. The teacher says Gwh spends all day ying games, sleeps through her sses, and frankly, I don''t think you on Violet are taking proper care of her


    Victoria wasn''t trying to meddle, nor was she jealous of her daughter''s rtionship with Violet.


    wel


    But McNeil and Violet''s behavior was leading Gwh down the wrong path. She was only five; Victoria couldn''t imagine what their daughter would turn into if this kept up.  s?novel


    Even if they ended up divorced, she couldn''t just walk away from Gwh.


    That was her duty as a mother.


    McNeil''s expression shifted as he gripped his phone.


    ет


    Violet had told him Gwh was perfectly well-behaved-finishing her assignments, always polite. She''d


    even said she''d never met ad


    intelligent child.


    And to be fair, Gwh did act more obedient with them than she ever did with


    him and Victoria together.