Thorpe fixed his gaze on Victoria Turner. "Has someone been mistreating you? Or are we starving you at home? Since when is it your ce to be out working in public?"


    He turned, his eyes sharp on McNeil Langford. "What''s really going on here?"


    These two were getting more and more out of line.


    "What position does Victoria even hold at thepany? Surely the Langford family doesn''t need its eldest daughter-inw personally running the show. If things havee to that, then her husband clearly isn''t up to the job."


    Thorpe knew full well that his grandson had relied on his wife every step of the way.


    So when the Langford Group took off, old Mr. Langford had made it crystal clear: his grandson was to put his wife first, above all else.


    Now, hearing Victoria was going off to work, Thorpe found it absurd and had no idea what sort of drama the young couple was up to this time.


    Victoria''s answer was calm and measured. "It''s not the Langford Group. It''s a new tech startup. I just don''t want to sit around at home doing nothing all day-it''s got nothing to do with McNeil."


    She offered a casual excuse, hoping to brush him off, but Thorpe wasn''t that easy to fool. His temper red immediately.


    "Nonsense! You''re the eldest daughter-inw of the Langford family. How could you go work at someone else''spany? I''ve been telling you two to have another child-give yourselves something to focus on so you stoping up with these ideas."


    Victoria stayed silent, and McNeil didn''t bother exining.


    The two of them just sat there, cold and distant, and the more Thorpe watched, the more off things seemed. But he couldn''t quite put his finger on it.


    They''d arrived hand in hand, looking like the perfect couple. Thorpe assumed Victoria was just sulking over some spat.


    "Victoria, be reasonable. I swear to you, as long as I''m alive, you''ll always be the Langford family''s eldest daughter-inw. There will never be anyone else."


    Victoria was unmoved. “Grandpa, I''m going to check on Gwyn."


    She walked out. Thorpe turned to McNeil. "You''re just going to let her act out like this? Is she still hung up about Violet Marchand?"


    "You want to keep Violet around as a ything, fine by me. But you''d better make sure Victoria''s happy."


    Thorpe had never liked Violet. No matter where she came from, he didn''t think she was half as smart as Victoria—and that mattered, especially for the family''s future.


    McNeil lit a cigarette, letting it smolder in his hand.


    "I don''t want another kid. Gwyn''s enough."


    He meant it. Victoria didn''t even want to share a bed with him anymore. If anyone thought they could get between them, they''d have to try a lot harder.


    Half the time, he didn''t even know where his next meal wasing from. How was he supposed to get Victoria to agree to another baby?


    It wasn''t up to him anyway, and honestly, he only enjoyed the process.


    Gwh had already been fighting for Victoria''s attention ever since she was born. If they had another, where would that leave him?


    "Bullshit. Utter nonsense."


    When Thorpe got angry, his words turned rough.


    "With just Gwh, what are we supposed to bring in a son-inw to carry on the family name? Haven''t you seen how Victoria''s heartless father left nothing for his kids?"


    Thorpe was fuming. The thought of his grandson ending up with nothing made his blood boil.


    McNeil shrugged. "What do you expect me to do? You handed Victoria fifty percent of the Langford Group, and she still didn''t bite. Lucky for me she didn''t— otherwise, if we had a second kid, you''d just have me stuck at home ying househusband while you transfer the wholepany over to Victoria and retire."


    Thorpe red at him. "Don''t get smart with me, boy. I''m being serious. I don''t care what it takes-sweet talk, bribery, even if you have to force her just give me a great-grandchild, understood?"


    McNeil flicked his cigarette ash. "Aren''t you worried I''ll end up in jail if I take your advice literally?"


    Thorpe and McNeil argued for nearly an hour before he finally let him go.


    The housekeeper had prepared a spotless guest room for the couple, with Gwh''s room right next door.


    Victoria didn''t want to stay, but making a scene would only draw more suspicion from Thorpe, so she reluctantly agreed to spend the night.


    Gwh insisted her mother sleep with her, and Victoria was only too happy toply.


    That night, she bathed in Gwh''s bathroom, then made up a bedtime story to lull her daughter to sleep. Before long, both drifted off.


    Victoria had no idea how long she''d been asleep when she felt someone pinching her nose.


    "Stop it..."


    Half-awake, she felt like she''d slipped back in time to those early days after she and McNeil were first married.


    She rolled over, trying to sink deeper into sleep, but her breathing grew more difficult. Finally, she opened her eyes and saw McNeil sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a finger to his lips.


    "Come on,” he whispered, “unless you want me to carry you."


    His voice was soft, and pale moonlight spilled through the window, casting his sharp features in silver.


    Under that cold glow, he looked almost otherworldly-so striking that Victoria''s sleepiness vanished in an instant.


    McNeil led the way, Victoria trailing behind, dragging her feet.


    At the doorway to his room, she stopped short.


    McNeil frowned. "If we don''t stay in the same room, Grandpa will get suspicious. You don''t want to cause trouble, do you?"


    Victoria hesitated; she really didn''t want to test Thorpe''s patience any further.


    "Rx, I''m not going to try anything. After six years of marriage, don''t you trust me?"


    Victoria''s expression was icy. Trust him?


    What a joke.


    It was trusting him that had gotten her into this mess.


    "Come in. I promise I won''t touch you..."