Through the crack in the door, Violet caught a glimpse of Victoria.


    Victoria was fumbling with her clothes, her hands trembling so badly she could hardly fasten the buttons. McNeil stepped over and did it for her, his movements practiced and intimate.


    The sofa behind them still bore the rumpled marks of their recent passion. McNeil had even sent someone to buy aplete set of new women''s clothing- everything, top to bottom-which was nowid out in his office.


    When Victoria left, her face was a mask of icy indifference. A turtleneck covered every inch of her neck and jaw, and the sharp click of her heels on the marble floor sent chills through anyone who heard it.


    Violet''s face wentpletely pale. She never imagined the "important guest" the secretary mentioned would be Victoria.


    She made sure to avoid being seen, waiting until the elevator doors slid shut and Victoria was gone before forcing herself to calm down. Only then did she steady her hand and knock quietly on McNeil''s office door.


    McNeil seemed to be in excellent spirits; she''d rarely seen him look so openly pleased.


    As soon as she entered, Violet''s eyes flickered toward the trash can beside the desk.


    Insidey a crumpled heap of women''s clothes. She didn''t need to guess they were Victoria''s.


    Violet''s heart plummeted. If she rifled through that trash, she''d probably find something else confirming her worst suspicions-just like the time at the spa hotel, when she''d found three used condoms in McNeil''s trouser pocket.


    "What did she want?" Violet struggled for a long time to tamp down the wild surge of jealousy and humiliation inside her.


    McNeil finally looked up from his paperwork, as if just noticing her. "We discussed some business."


    Violet bit down on her lip, so hard her sharp canine teeth nearly broke the skin. Business? What kind of business required a closed office and a change of clothes?


    She''d seen Victoria that morning-she''d been wearing a different outfit then. Now those very clothes were wadded up in McNeil''s trash.


    "Is there something you need?" McNeil''s tone was casual, almost dismissive.


    Violet swallowed her anger. She had no right to question him. "There are a few uses in the contract I didn''t quite understand. I wanted to consult you."


    Her voice was clearly tinged with sadness, but McNeil either didn''t notice, or didn''t care.


    Victoria left Vertex Dynamics and immediately booked a flight to Evermore City. Five hourster, her nended at Echo City''srgest airport.


    By the time she arrived at the Campbell family estate, the sun was setting. The trees in the yard glowed gold and green in thest light of spring, their new leaves catching the sunset.


    Stein was home, and Jimmy Campbell was there too.


    Stein''s eyebrows lifted in surprise when he saw Victoria, still travel-worn, step through the door.


    "Stein..." Her suitcase dropped to the floor. She flung herself into his arms and broke down in tears. Stein held her, his jaw set, gently stroking her hair.


    "What''s wrong? Did someone hurt you?"


    After hours of holding herself together, Victoriapletely unraveled in her brother''s embrace. She''d been terrified she might never see him again.


    "Aunt Victoria..." Jimmy''s voice was small. At seven years old, he''d lost his mother and spent most of his time with his father, the weight of that loss making him seem older than his years. Victoria noticed he''d grown taller since she''dst seen him.


    "Jimmy..." She managed a weak smile, embarrassed to have lost control in front of the boy. She pulled away from Stein, wiping her eyes.


    It was the first time she''d allowed herself to break down so openly in front of her brother.


    "Come inside," Stein said, and asked the housekeeper to bring a pot of herbal tea.


    They sat together on the sofa, Victoria studying her brother''s face, searching for signs of change. He looked much the same as ever.


    "I heard you were taken in for questioning. Is it true?" Victoria''s voice was soft but urgent. The matter had been kept quiet, but she''d found out anyway.


    "Let me guess-Osborn told you?" Stein shook his head. "I warned him not to fill your head with nonsense. It was just a routine inquiry, nothing serious."


    He shrugged it off, but Victoria wasn''t convinced. She''d taken the opportunity of Ailie''s trouble with McNeil to see her brother.


    Victoria had only been guessing, but she was right-McNeil was behind it all. Ever since he''d misunderstood her rtionship with Stein, she should have been more careful.


    But she''d always underestimated her ce in McNeil''s life. Surely he wouldn''t go so far as to punish those around her out of petty jealousy—especially not when he was still so entangled with Violet.


    She''d never thought McNeil capable of such small-minded cruelty.


    Six years ago, he''d kept her at his side, refusing to let her step into the public eye, not even willing to acknowledge their marriage. She''d been a canary in a gilded cage.


    She should have seen it then: McNeil''s love was obsessive, bordering on pathological. He wouldn''t allow her close to any man-least of all her own brother, who''d bought her a house when she was at her lowest.


    McNeil believed Stein was "keeping" her.


    Turns out he hadn''t been inactive-he''d simply kept her in the dark while trouble brewed for her brother.


    "No, Victoria, I know McNeil. He''s not going to let this go easily."