Victoria sat quietly, listening without a word. As Violet''s gaze swept over her, she searched in vain for any sign of emotion. In fact, Violet suspected Victoria waspletely checked out, her mind wandering far from the meeting.


    "Thank you all for your support these past few months," Violet said with a gentle voice and a bright smile. "Working together with you has been one of the most inspiring and rewarding chapters of my life. But, as all good things muste to an end, I really am leaving thepany."


    The executives exchanged nces and whispered among themselves.


    "Ms. Marchand, you''re not stepping down because of health issues, are you?" Jack spoke up first. "If that''s the case, we understand. But if not, Mr. Garcia, is there really nothing we can do to convince her to stay? Ms. Marchand has always been a driving force in thepany."


    Once Jack broke the ice, the others quickly chimed in.


    "He''s right, Mr. Garcia. With Ms. Marchand here, we''ve moved forward at a breakneck pace. She''s led us to achieve things I never would''ve believed possible. The other day, when I handed my wife a bonus check that was triple my usual, she actuallyplimented me for the first time in her life—said she''d married well."


    The room erupted inughter. It was obvious to everyone that no one wanted Violet to go.


    Violet basked in their praise. This was exactly the effect she''d been hoping for.


    "Victoria?" Violet suddenly called out, catching her off guard.


    Someone nudged Victoria''s elbow. "Ms. Marchand is talking to you."


    Victoria''s stomach had been churning ever since she''d stepped into the office. She''d been forcing herself to sit through the meeting, barely able to focus on the ttery and praise being tossed around.


    "Hm? Uh-"


    She felt sick.


    It was getting harder and harder to hold it in.


    "What do you mean, Victoria?" Violet''s eyes narrowed, sharp and probing, as if she could pierce right through her.


    The real reason Violet had called this meeting was for Victoria. In just a bit, she nned to make a major announcement-one that she wanted Victoria to hear in person. She couldn''t wait to see the look on Victoria''s face when she learned how McNeil had really treated her. Would she still be so calm and collected, still putting on that strong, independent front, working herself to the bone just to prove herself to McNeil?


    No matter what Victoria did, no matter what tricks she used to keep McNeil close, it wouldn''t change a thing. Violet would be the one toe out on top.


    Victoria''s stomach twisted painfully. She knew exactly who was causing thismotion inside her.


    It was as though her body recognized something unpleasant-just as she''d started to feel a flicker of revulsion toward McNeil, the nausea would hit. Walking into the office and seeing Violet sitting at the head of the table made her instinctively frown, and then the queasiness would start again.


    Maybe this little one inside her was fighting on her side.


    "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," Victoria blurted out, unable to hold it back any longer.


    Ailie immediately stood up too. "Mr. Garcia, I''ll go check on her."


    She dashed out after Victoria, leaving the others exchanging awkward nces.


    One of the older female executives spoke up quietly, "Did you see Victoria just now? You don''t think she''s pregnant, do you?"


    Her words sent an electric jolt through the room.


    Violet''s voice went shrill. "Impossible. Absolutely impossible."


    Victoria, pregnant?


    Did McNeil really skip protection with her?


    All eyes turned to Violet, and only then did she realize how much she''d overreacted.


    She''d let her emotions get the better of her, and now everyone was looking at her strangely.


    Curtis, sitting nearby, didn''t look much better. He''d been thrilled at the chance to see Victoria today, hoping to get a read on her rtionship with her husband. But if she was pregnant, that could only mean they''d reconciled.


    Curtis''s mood darkened instantly.


    Violet tried to recover, "I just meant, she''s leading such an important project-this really isn''t the time for something like that."


    Her reasoning was sound, and the others nodded along.


    "If you ask me," someone muttered, "Victoria never really seemed like she was here to work. Just look at her-she alwayses across as so refined. I rememberst time, her chauffeur picked her up in a luxury car. She''s obviously from old money. Why put herself through the grind here?"


    "Exactly," another added. "I''m sure her inws treat her like royalty. Look at her- skin so smooth and fair, and her clothes don''t even havebels, but my sister-in-w married into a wealthy family too, and her style is exactly the same as Victoria''s. These women from the top tier of high society, they just carry themselves differently. There''s a grace about them that the rest of us can''t even hope to imitate."


    Conversations buzzed around the table, dissecting Victoria''s background and elegant demeanor. Violet seethed with jealousy but forced herself not to show it.


    Meanwhile, Victoria was hunched over a sink, retching, while Ailie hovered close by, rubbing her back and handing her tissues.


    "You didn''t even drinkst night," Ailie fussed. "Did you catch a cold on the way home?"


    Victoria stayed silent as Ailie continued to grumble.


    "That husband of yours, honestly-hasn''t he ever heard of being gentle? Did he keep you up all night again? It''s barely even spring, you two really need to be careful. And next time, make sure the heat''s on when you''re, you know, being intimate. You don''t want to get sick."


    Victoria had felt fine while throwing up, but Ailie''s words nearly made her choke on


    air.


    "What?" Ailie asked, confused. "Did I say something wrong?"


    Victoria almostughed out loud, despite herself. "You''re not wrong. You''re just—”


    A little slow on the uptake.