He was here at the science museum too, which meant Violet was almost certainly around as well.


    Victoria and McNeil''s eyes met across the room. She looked away instantly, her expression unreadable, and McNeil didn''t nce her way again.


    "No idea," he said, brushing off the question.


    Maybe McNeil was looking for someone. There was no way he''d be looking at her, Victoria told herself, refusing to indulge in wishful thinking.


    Osborn had a vague sense that something felt off, but couldn''t quite put his finger on it.


    Meanwhile, Max was in the middle of a heated gamingpetition, taking on a group of kids his age. He wiped the floor with all ten of them in just a few minutes, leaving his opponents defeated and breathless.


    Then he came up against a rival who matched him move for move. They yed several rounds, each ending in a tie, until finally Max eked out a win. He barely had time to celebrate before a girl marched over, dragging a posse with her.


    When Gwh realized the person who''d beaten her was Max, her fury was almostical-her face was a memee to life.


    "You... you cheated," she used.


    Max recognized his opponent. It was the same Gwh who''d made him cryst time. He burst outughing, loud and unrestrained, showing no mercy.


    "Can''t handle losing, can you?" he teased, relishing the chance to get even.


    "Don''t think you''re the only one with a cool friend. Miss Fannie could totally beat yours!" Max stuck out his tongue in triumph.


    That was thest straw. Gwh''s face crumpled and she stormed off in tears, running to find McNeil and Violet.


    Soon enough, the two kids were back in the main exhibition hall, arguing so loudly they drew a crowd. If Gwh hadn''t suspected Max would win in a fight, she might have swung at him right then and there.


    It took both Marcus and McNeil to finally pull them apart.


    Violet knelt beside Gwh, gently hugging her. "What''s gotten you so worked up, sweetheart?" she asked soothingly.


    Gwh ignored her, ring at Max instead. "If you''re so tough, why don''t you face my friend? Bet she''d wipe the floor with you... sniff, sniff..."


    The adults in the hall couldn''t help but chuckle at the sight of the two kids squabbling like a pair of ruffled hens over a game.


    "Bring it on! I''m not scared of anyone," Max crowed.


    Violet, caught in the middle, looked slightly embarrassed. There was no way she was actually going to challenge Max.


    Gwh, undeterred, grabbed Victoria''s hand. "Ms. Marchand, you y him instead!"


    It took McNeil promising to buy Gwh a present to finally calm her down.


    Max was over the moon. Miss Fannie was awesome-he wasn''t afraid of Gwh or her "fierce" friend in the slightest.


    Marcus led Max off to find Victoria.


    Spotting her with Osborn, Max tugged on Marcus''s sleeve. "Uncle, that''s Miss Fannie!"


    Marcus noticed Victoria and Osborn deep in conversation. Was that guy her boyfriend? He''d always thought Victoria was single.


    Curious, Marcus steered Max toward them. The man with Victoria was a stranger; Marcus was sure he''d never seen him around Starfall City.


    "Uncle, can we go see the battleship exhibit?" Max asked, already running off, leaving Marcus and Victoria to greet each other.


    Victoria had already noticed Marcus approaching. "Let me introduce you this is Marcus..." she began, thinking it polite to introduce her friends.


    Osborn''s hands clenched into fists.


    So this was Victoria''s scumbag ex-husband, the one who looked all polished on the outside but was a jerk through and through. He must be the one who''d hurt her thest time she visited Evermore City.


    Marcus sized up Osborn in return. The guy was decked out in designer casuals, a lollipop in his mouth, oozing cocky, bad-boy charm. Marcus couldn''t see what Miss Fannie would ever like about someone like that.


    Out of courtesy, Marcus extended his hand for a shake-but Osborn just swung and punched him square in the nose.


    Victoria stared in shock as, without warning, the two men broke out into a fistfight. "You bastard, I''m going to teach you a lesson today-" Osborn growled.


    Marcus, sucker-punched for no reason, reflexively swung back,nding a blow on Osborn''s handsome face.


    Osborn, convinced Marcus was McNeil, went all in, throwing punch after punch.


    Marcus thought Osborn was jealous, suspecting he was after Victoria. There was no way he''d back down in front of the woman he liked.