McNeil noticed the game''s prompt: Please contact the developer. Signed, Vivian.


    He''d always known Violet was Vivian. The game had been sold by Curtis Garcia for twenty million, so the listed author was "Vivian," but Violet herself wasn''t technically the owner anymore.


    "Maybe."


    "I''m sorry, Gwyn. Looks like there are still some bugs in the game. I''ll try to figure it out, okay?" Violet offered.


    Strangely, Violet felt a flicker of satisfaction at the game''s malfunction.


    Someone had tried to swoop in and make a quick profit, but their n had clearly backfired.


    Victoria, that fool, had let Curtis sell the rights and only walked away with half a million. If she''d stepped in sooner and kept control before the sale, she could''ve negotiated a hefty profit-sharing deal with the buyers.


    Business was never Victoria''s strong suit. The buyers weren''t much better- thinking they could revive the game just because Quantum Core Technologies had made waves before. But now, even after the runch, no one could register.


    While Violet and Gwh talked, McNeil quietly stepped aside and dialed the contact number disyed in the game.


    It rang for a long time before a customer service agent finally picked up.


    "How can I help you, sir?"


    McNeil hesitated. "I tried to sign up for a game ount on my phone today, but it says I''m an unauthorized user. What''s going on?"


    The agent seemed caught off guard, pausing for a few seconds before replying, "I''m sorry, sir, but the developer set up a cklist. If you can''t log in, it means your ID has been blocked by the system."


    So it wasn''t just him-Violet''s number was cklisted as well.


    McNeil didn''t ask any more questions, nor did he tell Violet what he''d learned. "Gwyn, let Violet rest."


    He gently pulled Gwh over to him, asked the nurse to look after Violet, and offered to take Gwh home.


    Once they left the hospital, McNeil looked at his daughter. "Violet isn''t feeling well right now. I want you to stay with your mom for a while."


    His tone left no room for argument. Gwh''s face fell instantly.


    "No. I don''t want to."


    "Gwyn, be good. Violet has to stay in the hospital for some time. She can''t take care of you right now. When she''s better, I''ll bring you back."


    Faced with her father''s stern expression, Gwh could only nod, despite her obvious reluctance.


    When Victoria saw Gwh, she was surprised.


    Maybe it had just been too long since they''d seen each other, but Gwh couldn''t help feeling a surge of affection at the sight of her mother. Children''s emotions shifted quickly-one moment she was clinging to Violet, and the next, all those old mother-daughter feelings came flooding back as she ran straight into Victoria''s arms.


    "Mommy-!"


    Victoria hadn''t heard Gwh call her that in ages, but her heart wasn''t as soft as it once was. Though her response was cool, she still hugged Gwh back.


    "What made you decide toe stay with me all of a sudden?"


    Victoria guessed it was because Violet was in the hospital. Of course, Gwh wasn''t about to admit she couldn''t stay with Violet, so she put on her sweetest voice and coaxed, "Because I missed you, Mommy."


    Victoria just smiled, unconvinced.


    She knew all too well how clever Gwh could be. She''d always had her little schemes-probably inherited from McNeil, Victoria thought. At least she herself was never one for saying one thing and meaning another.


    Victoria still took Gwh back to McNeil''s house. She didn''t want her daughter spending time around the Millers. Judging by the Miller family''s attitude towards Violet, if Gwh was ever to acknowledge Simms Miller as her grandfather, it would likely be only as Violet''s stepdaughter.