Victoria spotted Gwh across the park, but what she didn''t see was the storm brewing in Gwh''s eyes-the jealous resentment that red up the moment she realized Victoria was actually Max''s "Miss Fannie."


    When Max had found her just minutes ago, Gwh was happy. But now, the knowledge that her own mother was the "Miss Fannie" Max spoke of soured everything. The joy drained right out of her.


    Before anyone could stop her, Gwh''s sharp eyes caught sight of Violet and McNeil nearby. She shook free of Max''s hand and darted straight for them.


    "Daddy, Violet-!"


    She threw herself into Violet''s arms. The fear of being lost, mingled with the even greater fear that her mother loved Max more than her, was just too much. Gwh buried her face in Violet''s shoulder and burst into tears all over again.


    Victoria instinctively stepped forward, wanting to check if Gwh was hurt, to gather her up in her own arms. But as she watched her daughter race into Violet''s embrace, she froze where she stood.


    All the tenderness and worry she felt for Gwh seemed to ebb away, leaving her hollow. Marcus arrived just then, breathless, and when he saw that Gwh was safe, the tension in his face finally eased.


    "Thank goodness, we found her."


    McNeil nced at the sobbing little girl clinging to Violet. He had never seen Gwh cry so hard, and the sight clearly unsettled him.


    His gaze swept over Victoria, Marcus, and Max, then settled into a cold, imprable mask.


    "McNeil, let me introduce-" Marcus began, thinking it was the perfect moment to finally introduce Victoria to McNeil and Violet.


    "It''ste. We''re heading home," McNeil cut in sharply, not even letting Marcus finish.


    Violet offered a strained smile, her expression apologetic. "Sorry, Gwh''s still shaken. She gets scared easily, and it''s been a rough day. We''d better take her home. You all go on and enjoy yourselves."


    Her words carried a subtle sting. Marcus didn''t notice, but Victoria felt the implied criticism—that Violet, on McNeil''s behalf, was ming her for being careless with Gwh. Yet, Gwh had wandered off while she''d been with them. Why was the me always hers?


    Victoria steadied herself, trying to collect her thoughts. Her daughter, still huddled in Violet''s arms, wouldn''t even nce her way, only urging them all to leave. The coldness in her heart deepened.


    "Drive safe," Marcus called after them, with the detached politeness you might offer strangers at a party. He didn''t pick up on McNeil''s hostility, assuming it was just lingering worry for his daughter.


    "Don''t mind him," Marcus murmured to Victoria. "McNeil''s always like that."


    Victoria said nothing, her face unreadable.


    Whatever McNeil felt was no longer any concern of hers.


    Their afternoon together-Victoria, Marcus, and Max-had been thoroughly derailed by Gwh''s outburst. Victoria had no desire to stay any longer.


    Marcus offered to drive her home, but she declined, as always.


    It was clear that everyone in Marcus''s circle already saw Violet and McNeil as a couple. Marcus himself had introduced Violet as "Mr. Langford''s girlfriend" without hesitation. Victoria told herself she didn''t care, but the sense of being an outsider among McNeil''s friends gnawed at her.


    That night, she chose to take the bus home alone. She leaned her forehead against the icy window, the image of Gwh running to Violet and clinging to her reying in her mind.


    When she finally got home, Haley was waiting up, just as she always did. As soon as Victoria stepped inside, Haley greeted her with a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup.


    "Miss Victoria, it''s sote and cold out there. You must be starving. I made you some soup-please, eat while it''s hot."


    After her mother passed away, Haley was the only one left who showed her any real care.