Victoria felt nothing but emptiness as McNeil handed the gift over to Violet.


    "You go ahead and find Marcus in his room. I''m going to use the restroom," he said.


    Violet paused for a moment as Victoria walked away, but she wasn''t concerned.


    After all, she''d kept McNeil close to Victoria for six years and he still hadn''t fallen for her. Victoria was no real threat.


    With practiced poise, Violet smiled. "Alright, I''ll go check on Max."


    The moment McNeil was out of Violet''s sight, he hurried after Victoria.


    A sleek Mercedes rolled up in front of Victoria. Through the half-lowered window, Stein''s striking yetposed face appeared.


    Victoria opened the door and slipped inside.


    It was the same car McNeil had seen thest time at the Yates estate-the same man who had taken Victoria away right in front of him.


    McNeil''s features were tight with anger, and beneath it, a sadness he barely recognized in himself.


    So, that was it. Victoria had found someone else long ago. All this time, he''d been the only fool still waiting for her.


    He let out a bitterugh.


    "If you''re free tomorrow afternoon, let''s meet. I''ll bring mywyer, and we can finalize the divorce."


    He''d let her leave, but as for anything belonging to the Langford family-she wouldn''t get a penny.


    Inside the Mercedes, Victoria sat quietly, phone in hand, texting. Stein caught her troubled reflection in the rearview mirror.


    "Something wrong?" he asked gently.


    Victoria hesitated. "McNeil signed the divorce papers. He wants to meet tomorrow, and told me to bring awyer."


    Stein didn''t look surprised; after all, loving someone who couldn''t love you back was never a recipe for happiness.


    "Do you want me to help you find awyer?" he offered.


    He knew she''d been struggling, so he''d dropped everything toe to Starfall City for her. Now that she was safe, he wouldn''t be staying much longer.


    Victoria shook her head. "As long as I don''t fight him over money or over our daughter, he''ll let me go."


    She didn''t want anything anymore. With McNeil out of her life, Victoria suddenly felt lighter-almost free.


    "Just make sure you''re certain," Stein warned quietly. "Marriage is supposed tost a lifetime. Divorce, too, changes everything."


    Victoria looked down, slipped off her wedding ring, and tossed it out the window.


    This time, she truly was done being Mrs. Langford.


    The next day, Victoria arrived at the ce McNeil had chosen.


    He''d brought hiswyer. Victoria had only brought Yasmine.


    Across the table, Yasmine studied McNeil. Dressed in a ssic ck suit, his hair artfully tousled yet neat, his features sharp and striking.


    He looked every bit the picture ofposure and charm-handsome from any angle.


    Yasmine couldn''t help but think, what woman wouldn''t fall for a man like that? No wonder Ms. Turner had been infatuated for six years, loving him with no regrets, even choosing to stay after discovering he loved someone else.


    But knowing how heartless McNeil could be, Yasmine only felt contempt. She met his gaze with a sh of disdain.


    "Yourwyer?" McNeil asked, raising an eyebrow as he noticed the young woman Victoria had brought.


    "Mr. Langford, shall we begin?" Victoria replied coolly.


    The title Mr. Langford-sounded so formal, so distant. Almost mocking.


    McNeil folded his arms and stared at Victoria for a long, silent two minutes.


    Victoria wondered what exactly he was looking for.


    Finally, he spoke.


    "We''ll split the marital assets down the middle. The house goes to you. I can''t give you any shares of thepany, but as Gwyn''s mother, you''ll receive a share of thepany''s dividends—a monthly allowance at a rate of point-two percent."


    Victoria let out a bitterugh.


    When he needed her during their marriage, he''d whispered endless sweet promises. Now that it was time to part ways, he calcted everything down to thest cent. In the end, maybe all men were the same.


    "Point-two percent-how much is that?"


    Given what she''d helped build for the Langford Group and what it was worth now,


    the monthly dividend would be at least two million dors.


    It was a million less than the three million she''d asked for before, but he was


    being more generous than she''d expected.


    "Three hundred thousand," he answered.