Gwh was in the middle of a tantrum, tears streaming down her cheeks.


    Victoria, frustrated, raised her hand-but instead of scolding, she gently patted Gwh''s soft hair.


    "What kind of racing game do you want to y, Gwyn?"


    Gwh''s longshes were still wet with tears as she sniffled, "But, Mommy, you don''t even know how to y..."


    Victoria sighed, trying tofort her. "You want to y a racing game? I''ll y with you, okay?"


    Gwh stared at her for a few more minutes, her sobs gradually fading.


    "You really know how?" she asked, skeptical.


    Victoria nodded and pulled out a tablet from the drawer.


    "Daddy has another one, but whichever game you want, Mommy will y with you."


    Gwh, still just a child, mostly loved Violet because she enjoyed the attention andpany. Now that her own mother offered to y, Violet was quickly forgotten.


    Seeing her daughter''s excitement, Victoria couldn''t help but feel a pang of guilt- maybe she had been too strict, too demanding in the past.


    Gwh grabbed the tablet and eagerly opened her favorite game, "Crazy Racers."


    Victoria nced down at the simtion game, and felt a familiar rush of adrenaline.


    It was just a game, but she was determined to take it seriously for her daughter''s sake.


    After all, before she ever graced a real racetrack, Victoria had racked up impressive wins in virtual racing arenas.


    The summer after high school graduation, she''d spent weeks dominating the leaderboards, holding the top spot for two solid weeks and drivingpetitive gamers across the ocean to fits of rage.


    But when her college eptance letter arrived, she''d put games aside and dove into her studies, never looking back.


    Still, the name "Vivian” remained a sore spot for those gamers-her legendary username, still whispered about in online forums. Abroad, she''d kept using the name, and soon everyone in the international engineering circuit knew about the mysterious, brilliant mechanical engineer named Vivian. Few ever learned her real name: Victoria.


    Within half an hour, Victoria and Gwh were on a winning streak, their rankings soaring with each race.


    Finally, Gwh tossed the tablet aside and flung her arms around Victoria''s neck.


    "Mommy, you''re amazing! You''re the best!"


    For the first time in days, Gwh nted kisses on Victoria''s cheeks, her eyes sparkling with pure adoration.


    "Alright, it''s gettingte-time for bed," Victoria said, smiling despite herself.


    Her heart swelled with her


    daughter''s happiness, but a flicker of concern,creased her brow. Kids this young shouldn''t get too obsessed with video games. It just wasn''t healthy.


    But Gwh, content and sleepy, nodded obediently.


    Victoria tucked her in, and as she moved to leave, Gwh clung to her arm. "Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?"


    For once, Gwh was extra clingy, so Victoria slid under the covers and


    wrapped her arms around her daughter.


    Gwh snuggled up and kissed Victoria''s cheek again and again. "Mommy, you''re the best ever."


    Tonight, she thought her mom might be even cooler than Violet.


    That night, Gwh slept more soundly than she had in a long time.


    Gwh off at school. The


    The next morning, Victoria ed


    homeroom teacher stopped her at the door, bringing up the same old concerns.


    "I''ll keep an eye on it," Victoria assured her.


    Back at the office, she didn''t see Mr. Garcia all day. ording to Ailie,


    he''de by a few times


    without saying much


    During lunch, Victoria made time to visit Serenity Gardens.


    The housekeeper spotted her at the gate and hurried to open it. "Ms. Turner."


    Victoria stepped inside. The master bedroom was filled with soft morning light, and a womany quietly in bed.


    Her eyes were open-she was awake.


    "Aunt Emily, I came to see you," Victoria said, settling onto the chair beside her.


    Emily Turner stared nkly at the ceiling, her eyes unfocused, lost somewhere far away.