Marcus caught sight of McNeil''s car and said casually, "That''s the friend I mentioned to you—he and his girlfriend are here to pick up his daughter from school today too."


    Victoria responded with a nomittal "oh," showing little interest in the well- worn gossip about McNeil and Violet. Frankly, she''d heard enough about their drama tost a lifetime.


    Marcus had expected Victoria to at least ask a few questions about McNeil. He''d never been much of a gossip himself, buttely he was just looking for any excuse to keep the conversation going with her. To his surprise, she seemed entirely uninterested.


    They got into the car. As Victoria settled into her seat, she noticed Marcus watching her through the rearview mirror. "What is it?" she asked.


    "Nothing. I just thought you''d be curious. My friend is the CEO of The Langford Group. I figured you''d want to know more."


    Marcus was almost amused by her cool indifference. He knew plenty of women who used that kind of aloofness to draw attention, but with Victoria, it seemed genuine.


    "I''m not really interested in that sort of thing," Victoria replied. "Besides, I don''t know anyone from the business world."


    Anything involving McNeil was thest thing she wanted to discuss.


    Marcus felt a twinge of disappointment, but that only made him more intrigued by her.


    "I suppose not," he said. Women like Victoria, who didn''t swoon at the mention of wealth and power, were a rarity these days. Maybe that was part of what made "Fannie" so irresistible to him.


    Across the parking lot, Gwh''s eyes grew wide as she stared at Marcus''s car. She''d spotted Victoria getting inside, and now the car was slowly pulling away.


    "What are you staring at?" McNeil asked, scooping Gwh into his arms. Her cheeks were flushed with indignation.


    "Daddy, I saw Mom again!"


    She pointed at Marcus''s car. "Turns out Mom is the ''Miss Fannie'' that little rascal was talking about. She must be the one who taught him those video games!"


    "What little rascal? Who are you talking about, Gwyn?" McNeil asked, though he already suspected the answer.


    "Marcus''s nephew, Max," Gwh replied, her tone leaving no room for doubt.


    Violet suddenly remembered on the day Gwh was discharged from the hospital, she''d had a spat with that boy. And now, it seemed, round two was underway.


    But Violet had picked up on something else. "Did I hear you say you saw your mom just now?" she asked.


    "Did Victoriae to pick you up too?" Violet wondered out loud.


    McNeil hesitated, but Gwh piped up, eyes locked stubbornly on the departing car. "She left with Max''s uncle. Mom is Max''s Miss Fannie."


    Violet thought back. "No wonder I saw Victoria driving Marcus''s car at the tech expost time. I thought I was seeing things."


    Gwh huffed, her voice rising in frustration. "Ms. Marchand knows too, doesn''t she? Mom only ignores me because of Max. Daddy, I bet that model car Mom had today was a gift for Max, not me."


    Her jealousy was palpable. Was her mother nning to be Max''s aunt? The thought stung.


    "Daddy, does that mean Violet will be my new mom because Mom is going to be Max''s aunt?" she asked, her voice wavering.


    The idea of Max living with her mom, the way she now lived with Violet, made Gwh''s chest tighten with resentment.


    McNeil''s face darkened, while Violet forced a smile. "That depends on whether your mom likes Max''s uncle, doesn''t it?"


    Gwh was nearly beside herself. The thought of her mother spending all her time with Max made her furious.


    "Of course she likes him! She taught Max video games and even beat me! Daddy, you should win Mom back-I don''t want her to be Max''s aunt. I want her to be my mom."


    Violet''s smile faltered as Gwh''s words sank in. For a moment, her beautiful,posed expression turned ashen.


    Was Gwh taking Victoria''s side now?