Victoria could see from their calm expressions that they weren''t lying, which meant nothing had happened to Stein after all.


    Relieved, she finally made her way to the dining table and started in on her hearty breakfast.


    Around ten o''clock, her phone rang. When she saw the name "McNeil" light up on the screen-a name she''d only recently unblocked her heart skipped a beat.


    "Hello..."


    This time, she didn''t keep him waiting and picked up right away.


    "Pick Gwyn up from school tonight."


    Themand came in that same clipped, bossy tone, as if their intimate night together had changed nothing at all.


    "I can''t make it. I have something to do."


    There was a short silence on the other end, then-


    "I already asked Curtis. You''re not at the office, either."


    Victoria''s stomach tightened. McNeil let out a cold, humorless chuckle. "You''re in such a hurry to go see your boyfriend, huh? You must be really worried about him."


    His voice was steady, devoid of any warmth.


    "I''m allowed to have my own life. You promised you wouldn''t cause him trouble." Victoria knew that trying to exin anything while McNeil was in this mood was pointless-he wouldn''t believe her anyway.


    "Oh? Remind me what exactly did I promise you?"


    His tone turned mocking. "You mean what happened in bed? Wasn''t that your duty? We''d barely finished before you were running out the door. Afraid if I had him locked up, you''d never get to see him again?"


    She wanted nothing more than to reach through the phone and p that smug mouth of his.


    "McNeil, it''s not what you think between me and him."


    "Oh, really? What is it, then? Can men and women be anything besides lovers? Victoria, I used to think you were just clever in business, but it turns out you''re even more talented with men. Does he know how wild you were in my armsst night? Tell me, did hee first, or did I?"


    He paused suddenly, the direction of his words shifting.


    "No, wait—I remember when we first got together, you were still a virgin... Everything you know, you learned from me. I wonder if, when he''s with you, he ever thinks about where you picked up those tricks?"


    Victoria''s face burned with anger and humiliation as his words grew ever more vile.


    "McNeil, Stein isn''t my boyfriend, and he''s certainly not my lover. He''s my brother


    Click.


    The call ended abruptly.


    Clearly, McNeil had no intention of hearing her out.


    Victoria felt utterly drained, like her body wasing apart at the seams. The breakfast in front of her lost all appeal; dragging herself to the business car Stein had left for her, she climbed inside.


    "Riverbend Gardens, please."


    Osborn''s home in Evermore City.


    The driver didn''t ask questions, just made sure she''d fastened her seatbelt before pulling out.


    Victoria spent the entire morning in a daze. Thanks to McNeil''s crude tirade, she felt sick to her stomach. It wasn''t until Osborn''s house came into view that she managed to pull herself together.


    The rk family''s housekeeper answered the door, surprised to see Victoria on the doorstep.


    "May I help you?"


    "Is Mr. Osborn home? I''m a friend from Starfall City."


    The housekeeper eyed her suspiciously. "Please wait here. I''ll let him know you''re here."


    The door closed, and a few minutester opened again. "Ms. Turner, Mr. Osborn says you maye in."


    Victoria had the driver pull the car into the driveway. Inside, Osborn was sitting on the sofa, looking a shadow of his former self.


    "What brings you here?"


    He worefortable loungewear, his usually meticulous hair now tousled and unkempt.


    Victoria nced at him, noticing the familiar blue scarf wrapped around his neck- the one she had given him.


    A lump rose in her throat.


    "Osborn..."


    The entire rk family-his father, his mother, even the old man-had all been taken into custody. They''d pulled every string they had to protect their only son.


    "You should be happy to see me, you know. Why the long face?"


    The yful, privileged young heir was gone, reced by someone quieter, more mature—someone who''d grown up overnight.


    He slid a box of tissues across the coffee table and forced a weak smile.


    "Come on, you''re a grown woman. No need for tears. Wipe your eyes."


    Victoria choked back a sob. "This is all my fault. I dragged you and your family into this mess."


    She had never imagined that V&S Group would pull Osborn''s family and her brother-down with her.


    Osborn gave her a look, trying to sound casual. "Don''t be ridiculous. You really want to shoulder the whole world? Aren''t you tired?"


    "Our old man did plenty of things he shouldn''t have. The fact he got to live this long infort is more than he deserved."


    Victoria tried to protest. "I know, but I—"


    Her thoughtlessness had caused all this.


    She nced at the blue scarf around his neck and felt even guiltier.


    "You should take that scarf off. You don''t have to wear it."


    Osborn looked at the scarf, a wry smile tugging at his lips.


    "My mom gave me this, not you. Now that she and Dad are both... well, I don''t


    know when they''ll get out. I''m keeping it for the memories."


    Victoria felt a wave of embarrassment. "So, you figured it out?"


    Osborn stared off into space. "Other than Kimberly, who else would have such terrible taste? Who else would buy their own son a scarf in this color and insist he wear it?"