That night, Victoria tended to Gwh with gentle patience, staying by her side until the little girl finally drifted off to sleep.


    Watching her daughter''s peaceful face in the softmplight, Victoria couldn''t help but smile. She''d made up her mind to stay here for a while, at least until Gwh''s emotions settled. After that, she would think about what came next.


    Ever since McNeil had snuck into her bed that one night, Victoria found it hard to sleep through the night. Shey awake, eyes open in the darkness, unable to rx.


    Sometime near dawn, she heard the iron gate at the front of the house swing open, followed by blinding headlights that swept across the yard, turning night into day. Victoria immediately knew McNeil was home. She nced at her sleeping daughter, held her a little closer, and shut her own eyes, pretending to be asleep. Still, every muscle in her body was tense.


    There had been a time when she''d loved falling asleep in McNeil''s arms. Now, the thought repulsed her. If it weren''t for Gwh, she might have told him to leave- if not with words, then with her actions.


    Downstairs, she listened to the muffled sounds of his return. The car engine cut and the front door opened. Xenia greeted him quietly.


    Spring had brought the rainy season in full force; the storm outside was relentless. McNeil entered, still damp from the downpour, raindrops clinging stubbornly to his suit jacket.


    He shrugged off his coat, and Xenia hurried to take it from him.


    "Where''s Gwyn?" he asked, voice low.


    "Mrs. McNeil came back. She''s upstairs with Miss Gwh-put her to bed already," Xenia replied with a warm smile.


    With Mrs. McNeil home looking after Miss Gwh, and Mr. McNeiling back at a decent hour, the house finally felt like a real family again.


    Xenia remembered how, a few years ago, Mr. McNeil woulde home every night after work, just to spend time with his wife and daughter. Back then, this house had truly felt like home.


    But ever since he''d started seeing that Miss Violet, Mrs. McNeil had grown withdrawn and mncholy. Even little Gwh had begun to resent her mother.


    Nanny Amelia recalled those dark days all too well-Victoria moving through the house like a shadow of herself, barely holding it together. The whole staff worried she might do something foolish in her despair, so Xenia, Haley, and the others took turns keeping an eye on her, quietly making sure she was never alone.


    Victoria wasn''t one to show her feelings, but she was always kind to the staff. Every holiday, she''d give generous bonuses, and if someone in their family fell ill, she''d not only grant them leave, but also offer extra money and reassurance: "Don''t worry. If you need anything, just let me know."


    None of the staff could help but like her. After Mr. McNeil started seeing someone else, they all privately sided with Mrs. McNeil.


    Upstairs, Victoriay perfectly still, eyes shut, ears trained on every sound outside the bedroom. She heard footsteps climbing the stairs, then the soft creak as Gwh''s bedroom door opened.


    She hadn''t locked the door-she knew McNeil would want to see his daughter. He slipped in easily.


    In the darkness, she felt him draw near the bed. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Gwh''s cheek, his usually stern, distant face softening in the moonlight.


    Then he looked over at Victoria, asleep beside their daughter. Even now, she was heartbreakingly beautiful.


    McNeil couldn''t deny the flutter he''d felt the first time he saw Victoria. Whatever the world might say about his childhood friendship with Violet, it had never been romantic. He''d never even held Violet''s hand. To him, Violet was like a kid sister- the girl next door he felt obliged to look out for, especially after she''d once saved his life. That debt of gratitude was the only thing binding him to her.