Violet''s face changed in an instant, her expression tightening.


    Victoria didn''t respond. She walked out of the dining room with Ailie, not sparing a backward nce.


    For a moment, the atmosphere was heavy with awkwardness. Curtis shot McNeil a long, searching look, clearly mulling over the phrase "all alone."


    "I''m done too. You all enjoy the rest of your meal," Curtis said, barely masking his intent as he set off after Victoria.


    Simms let out a coldugh. "Seems Mr. Garcia values Victoria a lot. Five million dors, and he doesn''t even bat an eye."


    Violet watched Curtis''s retreating figure. Suddenly, a realization dawned on her: Curtis cared for Victoria far more than she''d imagined. A businessman who''d built hispany into one of Starfall City''s leading firms, yet he let his staff follow their whims, switch departments as they pleased-unless he was in love, what other reason could there be? What boss would indulge an employee like that?


    "Curtis is serious about Victoria."


    Violet''s smile was subtle, almost offhand, but her wordsnded with precision.


    "Cousin, you really are something," Marian chimed in, eager to please Violet, her tone full of disdain. "Why would you even bring someone like her into thepany? She''s not half as capable as you, and she''s got the nerve to ask for three percent. Who does she think she is?"


    Marian''s words dripped with contempt, oblivious to the way McNeil''s expression was growing darker with every second. Yulia noticed and nudged Marian under the table, but Marian seemed not to register the warning.


    "Violet, you should talk some sense into your husband," Marian pressed on. "The Langford Group is rich, sure, but there''s no need to hand out money for nothing. Three percent, just for showing up? She must be out of her mind."


    A sharp crack broke the tense air. McNeil''s wine ss shattered in his grip, shards digging deep into his palm, blood welling instantly.


    "McNeil-!" Violet gasped, a look of rm shing across her beautiful face. She reached for his hand, but McNeil didn''t move, his eyes cold and dangerous.


    "She is my wife," McNeil said, his voice low and chilling. "Half of The Langford Group belongs to her. You ask who she is?"


    He stood, yanking his hand away from Violet, tossing his napkin onto the table, and fixed Simms with an icy re. "Mr. Miller, Vertex Dynamics doesn''t wee people who don''t know when to hold their tongue. Don''t bring anyone like that to mypany again."


    With that, McNeil strode out of the room.


    "Wait, McNeil!" Violet called after him, shooting Marian a look sharp as a knife. No wonder Janice Miller, Simms'' mother, was once so infuriated by Marian she ended up in the hospital for months.


    "Miss Marian, perhaps it''s best if you stick to your own family''spany from now on. Aunt Edith, would you see her out?" Violet''s words were clipped, making it clear she was done.


    If Yulia still couldn''t see that both Violet and McNeil were furious, there''d be no reason for Simms to keep her around any longer.


    Violet couldn''t vent her anger on Simms or Marian directly, but she could say her piece to her aunt.


    "I know, I know. You should hurry after Mr. Langford-take him to the hospital and make sure his hand isn''t too badly hurt," Simms said, awkward and flustered. Marian, meanwhile, looked genuinely shaken. She couldn''t understand what she''d done wrong-why had her cousin-inw been so furious?


    Once McNeil and Violet were out of sight, Marian pouted, muttering under her breath, "What did I do? I was just standing up for Violet. How was that a mistake?"


    "Enough," Simms snapped. "I''ll have the driver take you home in a bit."


    He was already regretting agreeing to let Edith bring Marian to Vertex Dynamics. He never could have predicted she''d make such a scene.


    For six years of marriage, McNeil had never once publicly acknowledged Victoria as his wife—until Marian''s blundering remarks pushed him to say it outright, right


    in front of everyone. Even Violet had been caught out by that, and it was humiliating for Simms. McNeil was supposed to be his son-inw, and now, because Simms had let his own bias get in the way, trying to push his niece into the family, he''d ended up making himself aughingstock.


    Simms figured that as long as McNeil never acknowledged Victoria, no one would know they''d ever been married. Even if Violet married into the Langford familyter, if people learned Victoria was the ex-wife, no one would care. After all, someone who''d never had any official status could easily be forgotten once the truth came out.


    In high society, all that mattered was who held power. Once McNeil cast Victoria aside, she''d be invisible-no one would mention her again.


    But now, with Victoria''s identity out in the open, Violet''s reputation as the "other woman" was cemented, and Simms himself would be the subject of endless gossip. If he had any hope of marrying Yulia, this would affect her too. The media and his rivals would have a field day-if this story got out, Yulia and Violet would never be able to marry into the Miller or Langford families.


    Simms was more furious than anyone, but with so many eyes in the restaurant, he couldn''t yell at Marian. All he could do was curse her silently for being such an idiot.


    He definitely wasn''t going to keep his promise to Edith about getting Marian into Golden Era Enterprises, or rmend her to Violet, or try to sneak her into Vertex Dynamics.


    "But I don''t want to go home! Weren''t we supposed to ask McNeil about joining Vertex Dynamics this afternoon?" Marian protested.


    Truth was, she had no interest in Golden Era Enterprises. McNeil might be a bit distant, butpared to the other rich boys she''d met, he had everything-looks, presence, family name-so much more than any of them.