McNeil raised an eyebrow, and when Paul nced at the unexpected visitor, realizing it wasn''t Victoria, he paused in surprise.


    "Cousin, what brings you here sote?"


    Paul opened the door and let McNeil in. McNeil immediately noticed how spotless the ce was neat, organized, not a speck of dust in sight.


    He remembered thest time he''d visited this kid, the apartment had been aplete disaster. Now, it looked like a whole new ce.


    "Not happy to see me?"


    On the way over, McNeil had picked up some snacks for him. But when he tried to put them in the fridge, he realized there wasn''t any room. The fridge was packed


    to the brim, everything arranged so precisely it was almost military. That was definitely not Paul''s style.


    "Got yourself a girlfriend? Or maybe someone older?"


    Paul grabbed two beers from the fridge, tossed one to McNeil, and cracked open his own with an easy pop. He took a long swig.


    "Nah. Just a woman who thinks she can get something out of me. Shees by every day-cleans up the ce, cooks dinner. So, what brings you here?"


    Paul spoke with his usual nonchnce, barely giving Victoria a second thought.


    A faint smile tugged at McNeil''s lips.


    "Don''t mess with me. What could she possibly get from you?"


    Paul didn''t answer. His cousin didn''t know the woman anyway; there wasn''t much


    to say.


    "My mom asked me to check in on you."


    Paul snorted, a hint of sarcasm in hisugh.


    "What''s there to check? I''m the same as always-miserable but still kicking."


    "Ever thought abouting home and joining the family business?" McNeil''s words wiped the smirk off Paul''s face.


    "My parents have nagged me about that a thousand times. Don''t tell me you showed up in the middle of the night just to try and convince me, too."


    He shot McNeil a look. "You know I''m not like you. I like my freedom. I like things the old folks would never approve of. If the family ran a gamingpany, maybe I''d consider it. But the old-fashioned stuff? Not a chance. And I''d lose my mind having to schmooze those old men in suits all day. Doesn''t it bother you, dressing up like that all the time?"


    McNeil wasn''t here to y the family envoy. He just needed to check off this little duty so his mother would stop nagging him.


    After all, he''d never wanted the family business, but as the only grandson-and with his father gone the responsibility hadnded on him.


    Paul didn''t have those burdens or that sense of duty. He just wanted to live his own life.


    "If you''re fine, I''ll get out of your hair."


    McNeil stood up to leave, but as he did, something tugged at the corner of his suit jacket.


    He nced down and, to his surprise, found a pearl earring caught on the fabric.


    He was about to hand it to Paul-probably that "older woman" he''d mentioned— when the light hit the pearl and he froze.


    He knew this earring all too well. It was the exact pair he''d bought for Victoria on their second wedding anniversary, imported from South Africa-a one-of-a-kind set. There wasn''t another like it in the world.


    Without a flicker of emotion, McNeil slipped the earring into his pocket.


    Paul walked him out to the door. For some reason, he felt like his cousin had been


    in a pretty good mood when he arrived, but now his look was downright murderous.


    "So, when does thisdye over to, uh, help out?"


    McNeil''s question seemed odd, but Paul didn''t overthink it.


    "Calling it ''help'' is a bit much. I''m not that much of a jerk. I just like messing with her a bit. Shees by around five or six in the evening, cooks dinner, tidies up. Usually stays until after midnight. Once, she even crashed here and didn''t leave until morning..."


    Paul was still mentally retracing Victoria''s schedule when he suddenly took a hard punch to the face.


    Stunned, he clutched his nose. "What the hell, man? Why''d you hit me?"


    McNeil''s tone was icy. "My mom-your aunt-asked me to look after you. If she ever gets sick, you''d better help me take care of her."


    Paul''s nose was streaming blood, and he nearly choked as he tried to stem the flow.


    By the time he looked up, McNeil was already gone. The pearl earring in his fist was on the verge of being crushed to dust.


    Paul mmed the door, grabbed some tissues to stop the bleeding, and couldn''t help but call Madonna.


    "Auntie, I think my cousin''s lost his mind..."


    The next morning, Victoria woke to find several texts from K, along with a dozen missed calls from McNeil.


    Sorry, I''ve just been worn outtely, she texted K. Took a night off at home yesterday. I''lle by this evening.


    She replied to K right away, but ignored McNeil''s calls.


    Work at the office went smoothly-maybe it was the good night''s sleep, but Victoria felt energized. She messaged K again: On my way with dinner for you tonight!


    "Alright... Wait for your chef''s four-course dinner," K replied.


    Victoria hurried to finish her tasks for the day, but just as she was about to leave, McNeil called.


    "I''m busy for a while. You''re in charge of Gwyn," he said, and hung up before she could say a word.


    Victoria stared at her phone. When McNeil made up his mind, that was it. She couldn''t go to K''s ce for now.


    But she''d already promised.


    After thinking it over, Victoria opened her food delivery app and ordered a four- course meal for K, scheduling it to arrive right on time.