Even that Mr. Garcia from Quantum Core Technologies was quite handsome—a celebrity in Starfall City, no less.


    Marian couldn''t help thinking she was better looking than Violet. If McNeil had taken a liking to Violet, then why couldn''t he ever notice her, Marian?


    Besides, Victoria and McNeil were bound to get divorced sooner orter. Violet couldn''t have children, and who knew who would end up marrying into the Langford family? If Mariannded a job at Vertex Dynamics, she''d have the perfect opportunity-after all, being close at hand always gave you the edge. Opportunities don''t just fall into yourp; you have to create them.


    "You still remember to call McNeil your cousin-inw, huh? Funny, you didn''t treat Victoria like family when she was here just now-you even managed to annoy McNeil. Now he doesn''t want you hanging around, so you''d better go home and think about what you''ve done."


    Simms struggled to hide his disgust. Edith was no fool, so how had she raised such a dense daughter?


    Only now did Marian grasp the seriousness of the situation, though she still couldn''t understand why. Simms had never acknowledged Victoria as his daughter, and he''d never publicly admitted that McNeil and Victoria were married. So why were both of them suddenly taking Victoria''s side today?


    Feeling wronged, Marian clenched her jaw in frustration.


    "Fine. Who wants to stick around anyway?"


    She wiped away her tears and stormed out.


    Yulia was still holding her breath, her words caught in her throat. "Don''t you think you were a bit hard on her? And what''s up with Mr. Langford today? Suddenly he''s raising Victoria''s status-did you see the look on Violet''s face?"


    Simms shot Yulia a cold nce. "You should ask yourself that. Why did you and Edith insist I bring Marian here? Was the scene she made at my mother''s birthday partyst time not embarrassing enough? And now she''s caused another mess. If McNeil ever formally acknowledges Victoria as Mrs. Langford, neither Violet nor you will ever set foot in the Miller family home again."


    Simms tossed his fork onto the table. The executives trailing behind fell silent, not daring to speak. Yulia fumed in silence, swallowing her resentment—she knew Marian''s blunder had nearly ruined everything.


    That afternoon, Victoria toured the other departments at Vertex Dynamics with Curtis. This time Violet stayed away, and McNeil didn''te along either. Instead, Vertex Dynamics assigned Mr. Pierce to apany Curtis and his team. Victoria forced herself to remain patient as they visited every corner of thepany. It wasn''t until after five, as the workday was winding down, that the tour finally ended.


    Curtis was noticeably more cautious when he spoke to Victoria this time. "Will you and Ms. Ailie ride with me, or wait for your own driver?"


    Ailie coughed softly and gazed up at the birds in the sky, careful not to meet Curtis''s eyes, afraid of sharing in his difort.


    Victoria replied coolly, "If you don''t mind, Mr. Garcia, I''d be happy to ride with you."


    Curtis gave a relievedugh. "Of course, it''s my pleasure."


    He was all too eager to y chauffeur. After what McNeil had said earlier, Curtis was on edge. What did he mean, having Victoriae alone to Vertex Dynamics tomorrow to discuss the contract? Was he trying to poach his staff right in front of him?


    Victoria was just about to get into Curtis''s car when she noticed McNeil''s driver pulling up with Gwh in tow.


    Just then, McNeil and Violet emerged from the building. Gwh spotted Violet, broke into a run, and threw herself straight into Violet''s arms.


    Victoria saw the scene and paused, caught off guard.


    Gwh, turning her head, caught sight of Victoria—and immediately froze. "Mommy?"


    What was Mommy doing at Daddy''spany? Hadn''t she said she was away on a business trip?


    McNeil heard Gwh''s spontaneous "Mommy!" and turned his head, catching sight of Victoria climbing into Curtis''s car. His expression darkened.


    "Yes, your mommy''s over there. Do you want to go say hi to her?" he asked.


    Gwh looked up at McNeil, skeptical. "That''s not Mommy, is it? I called her just yesterday and she said she was super busy and far away on a trip. How could she be here?"


    McNeil hesitated for a moment. Meanwhile, Curtis''s car was already heading off in the opposite direction toward Quantum Core Technologies. Violet smiled, whether out of genuine amusement or something else was hard to tell.


    "Maybe your mommy''s just busy. She''s pretty popr-lots of uncles want to see her these days."


    McNeil''s jaw tightened, and he felt a slow burn rising in his chest.


    "Oh? And what about you, Violet? Do you have lots of uncles asking you out too?"


    "Not at all, Daddy," Violet replied with a giggle. "No one could everpare to your mommy. She''s always been the one men admire. I only have eyes for you- and I''m not interested in any other uncles."


    McNeil''s face grew stormy, his voice heavy. "Watch what you say in front of the child."


    Violet blinked, a little taken aback. Was he ming her now? Before, she''d often joked like this and even made sly remarks about Victoria, but he''d never been so openly displeased.


    "Alright, I won''t say it again," she murmured, ying the part of the obedient littlemb.


    "Really?" Gwh piped up, her eyes wide. "What if Mommy marries another uncle? Can I still y with her? And Violet, what if you marry Daddy? Will I have to start calling you Mommy too? Then I''d have two mommies!"