Maynard stared at Mr. Langford in shock. The man''s eyes had gone bloodshot, veins bulging across his forehead, barely holding himself together-rage simmered just beneath the surface.


    Maynard froze. He was supposed to follow Mr. Langford into the building, but he couldn''t move a muscle; he was rooted to the spot, paralyzed by the unfamiliar sight.


    Almost half a minute passed in charged silence before Maynard''s phone buzzed. He nced at the screen-Ms. Turner-and answered immediately.


    "Yes, of course. I''ll get Mr. Langford''s approval and head over right away."


    The sound of Maynard''s calm, measured voice seemed to snap McNeil out of his frenzy.


    Maynard was his personal assistant, and during work hours, the only person he''d dare pick up a call for was Victoria.


    "What did Mrs. Langford want?" McNeil asked, for the first time ever showing interest in Maynard''s conversations with Victoria. He even used the formal "Mrs. Langford" instead of just "her."


    Maynard shot McNeil a surprised look, not used to hearing him refer to Victoria in such a formal way.


    "Mrs. Langford—" The words felt strange in his mouth. McNeil had never called Victoria that before, and Maynard found it awkward just to say it.


    "She asked me to stop by her ce."


    McNeil waited, expecting more.


    Maynard faltered, thrown off by McNeil''s sudden use of "Mrs. Langford," and hesitated to continue.


    McNeil fixed him with an expectant stare, leaving Maynard no choice but to press


    on.


    "She wants me to take the divorce papers to city hall and handle the filing for her... She said she''s too busy to go herself."


    In the next instant, McNeil lost it. Down on the street, he smashed his fist straight through a car window. The ss exploded, shards flying everywhere, and blood welled from his knuckles. The scene was almost grotesque in its violence.


    Meanwhile, at the hospital, Victoria had just finished having her foot bandaged. She politely declined Marcus''s offer to drive her home, instead calling Yasmine toe pick her up. When introducing Yasmine, she simply referred to her as her younger sister.


    Marcus looked crestfallen. Little Max, seeing his uncle so dejected, couldn''t help but whisper, "Uncle, I don''t think Miss Fannie is interested in you."


    "Quiet, you," Marcus muttered, rolling his eyes.


    Later, at the Turner family home, Maynard finally arrived. Only then did he realize that Mrs. Langford had already moved out of Mr. Langford''s mansion.


    Haley opened the gate and let Maynard''s car roll in. Victoria sat calmly in the living room, watching as Maynard pulled up in a sleek ck Maybach-instead of McNeil''s usualpany car.


    "Mrs. Langford," Maynard greeted, a little more deferential than usual. His tone was tinged with respect, almost bordering on humility.


    He''d never been disrespectful to Victoria before, but he''d always seen her as just another one of McNeil''s subordinates-more of a peer than a boss.


    Victoria met his eyes, her own expression unreadable.


    She didn''t mean to ignore his new, formal address-she assumed he was just used to calling Violet by "Mrs. Langford" and slipped into habit.


    "Here are both copies of the agreement. Thanks for making the trip," she said, handing him a folder.


    Maynard epted it, eyeing her with curiosity. He couldn''t resist asking, "Is this... at Mr. Langford''s request?"


    Victoria smiled. "Didn''t he ask me to get the agreementst time? Said he didn''t have time to go to city hall for the divorce certificate?"


    Maynard nodded. "Yes, that''s right."


    "Well, I don''t have time now either."


    Maynard then noticed the thick bandages wrapped around Victoria''s foot. So Mrs. Langford was injured, he realized.


    Still, something about today felt off. Mr. Langford''s reaction had been dramatically different-he''d seemed much more shaken than he had at theirst divorce discussion.


    "All right. Understood," Maynard said, scanning through the documents out of habit.


    When his eyesnded on the signature line, something flickered across his face, but he quickly hid it.


    "Is there a problem?" Victoria asked.


    "No, nothing at all. Anything else you need, Mrs. Langford?" Maynard replied, all business.


    Victoria regarded him, sensing his sudden formality.


    "No, that''s all. Just bring me the divorce certificate when it''s done."


    Maynard nodded, polite and respectful as ever-his demeanor a mirror of how he acted with McNeil.


    With that, he took the divorce papers, got in his car, and the engine rumbled to life. Soon, he was gone from Victoria''s sight.


    As soon as Maynard left, Yasmine slipped to Victoria''s side, handing over a folder.


    "Ms. Turner, here are V&S Group''s financial statements for thest two weeks. That racing game weunched brought in our first real profits. Plus, all the buzz online about the ''real or fake Vivian'' drama is keeping our game trending-and..."