Yasmine was left speechless.


    "But Ms. Turner..."


    Victoria''s patience was running thin. "Let''s drop this for now. Don''t bring it up to me again."


    Giving up on V&S Group would be the same as handing herself, her brother, and Osborn over to McNeil on a silver tter. She wasn''t that naive.


    "Understood, Ms. Turner."


    Yasmine focused on driving, her eyes flicking to the rearview mirror where Victoria was answering a call from McNeil.


    "We''ll pick up Gwyn together this afternoon," McNeil''s voice came through, deep and gentle. "It''s been ages since the three of us sat down for a family dinner."


    He sounded just like he had the first time Victoria met him-polite, saying her name with that easy confidence. Even back then, just hearing his voice had been dangerously seductive.


    "Fine."


    Victoria''s answer was clipped, almost through gritted teeth. The call ended soon after.


    That afternoon, when it was time to pick up Gwh, McNeil never showed. Victoria hadn''t been surprised; she''d suspected he was just talking for the sake of it. So she brought Gwh home herself. While Gwh sat at the kitchen table working on her homework, Victoria lingered nearby, helping when needed.


    It almost felt like old times-but only Victoria understood deep down that things could never go back to the way they were.


    As six o''clock approached, the low growl of a sports car engine echoed in the driveway.


    McNeil was home. Victoria kept her attention on her daughter''s homework, refusing to be distracted by his arrival.


    But Gwh''s ears perked up at the sound. She immediately dropped her pencil and dashed downstairs.


    Victoria followed, though there was no longer that chilly indifference she used to radiate around McNeil. She needed something from him now, but she was careful not to appear desperate.


    She knew exactly how McNeil operated; the moment he sensed she was at his mercy, he''d only push harder to make her yield.


    Stepping into the foyer, Victoria saw him standing there-a ck shirt hanging loose, the top buttons undone, hair slightly mussed. He looked nothing like his usual meticulous self.


    Their eyes met. McNeil''s gaze lingered on her, yful and a little insolent, a crooked smile on his lips.


    Victoria ignored him. Gwh ran straight into his arms, immediately spotting the new plush toy in his hand.


    "Daddy, did you get this for me?"


    Gwh hugged the toy with delight. Only then did Victoria realize how long it


    had been since she''d bought her daughter anything like that.


    "It wasn''t me, sweetheart. Violet picked it out for you."


    McNeil ruffled Gwh''s hair, his expression softening.


    Gwh, still holding the toy close, was about to thank Violet, but as soon as she noticed Victoria standing nearby, she swallowed the words.


    "Oh, I''ll go upstairs then. You and Mommy should talk," she mumbled, darting up the steps.


    It had been a while since she''d spent time with her mom, and Violet had been busy too-no one was around much these days. Gwh still remembered her toothache from thest time and had sworn off sweets before bed. Max''s advice echoed in her mind-it actually made sense.


    No matter what, she never thought Violet was trying to hurt her or make her ufortable. Maybe Violet just didn''t know any better, but she was always affectionate.


    Sinceing home, her mother wasn''t as strict as she used to be. Still, when they were together in the evenings, Victoria always made sure Gwh went to bed on time and brushed her teeth.


    Only after suffering through that dreadful toothache did Gwh start to appreciate her mother''s concern. Maybe Max was right-her mom really was looking out for her.


    McNeil watched Gwh disappear upstairs. Victoria remained by the doorway, silent, almost as if her presence was erased from the house.


    Victoria noticed that Xenia hadn''t even started dinner. So what had McNeil meant about a family meal? Surely he didn''t mean to take her and Gwh out to eat in public.


    In over six years of marriage, McNeil had never taken her or their daughter out to a restaurant as a family.


    So no, Victoria didn''t believe for a second that McNeil had turned over a new leaf or wanted to rekindle their rtionship by whisking them both out for a meal.


    McNeil''s eyes roamed over Victoria. She was dressed casually today-nothing like her usual style.


    Even at home, she used to wear things he found easy on the eye. She''d never been this rxed, nor did she dress in the sharp, professional outfits she wore at Quantum Core Technologies. Now, she seemed more hardened, less gentle than she once was.


    McNeil had never liked the no-nonsense attitude of a career woman. That wasn''t the image of a gentle, devoted wife he had in mind.


    He frowned, and Victoria met his gaze, her own mood sour.


    This man, who had yed the part of the refined, attentive husband for six years, always projecting that perfect image-today he looked nothing like that. His ck shirt, two buttons undone, revealed just enough skin to make any woman blush. Victoria''s cheeks flushed as memories from the other night crept in, irritating her all over again.


    Was he nning to keep up this roguish act forever? Or was this who he really was, underneath all the suave pretense? Had the past six years just been an borate show?


    One thing was certain-Victoria had never been impressed by the men around her. She especially disliked those charming, smooth-talking heirs who wore their arrogance like a badge. That was the type she found most insufferable.