"No need to be so modest, Ms. Marchand. For years, you spared no expense seeking out the best doctors, hoping to cure your infertility. And now, finally, there''s hope on the horizon.


    As long as you don''t go taking any of those lethal pills that cause internal bleeding, your health should be just fine.


    You will have your own children. In my opinion, no matter how clever anyone else thinks they are, you''ll always be two steps ahead."


    Kelvin suddenly recalled the old saying-hell hath no fury like a woman scorned- and realized it must have been written for someone like Violet.


    "Oh, no, you''ve got it wrong. I truly love McNeil. And he''s always loved me too— otherwise, why would he have turned a blind eye to everything I''ve done?


    Give me a little more time. Once I''ve fully recovered, I''ll go to Mr. Langford myself and tell him the truth. I can have children too; I can give the Langford family a future just as well as anyone.


    And really, when ites to that whole ''stomach cancer'' business, I owe you and the old man my thanks for such a convincing performance. Tomorrow, I''ll transfer the amount I promised you into your ount.


    And Dr. Kelvin, once you return home, you''ll have your own privateb. Whatever research project you want to pursue, you''ll get better funding and resources here than you ever could abroad."


    At that moment, a waiter arrived with their food. Spotting Victoria standing at the doorway, he politely asked, "Would you like toe in, ma''am?"


    Inside, Violet and Kelvin immediately realized someone had been eavesdropping. After chatting for so long, there was no telling how much the person outside had heard.


    Victoria felt rooted to the spot, her feet glued to the floor.


    Kelvin could hardly believe he''d run into Victoria here. Only Violet, seeing her, acted as if nothing at all had happened, a faint smile on her lips.


    "Victoria, what a coincidence-join us for dinner, won''t you? We all know each other, after all."


    She turned to the waiter. "Another ce setting, please."


    Then she took Victoria by the arm and led her, dazed as a sleepwalker, into the private dining room.


    Victoria''s face was sheet-white.


    "How long have you two known each other?" she managed to ask.


    Violet poured her a ss of wine with deliberate leisure.


    "I hear you can hold your liquor, VP Turner. Why don''t we have a drink and talk?"


    Victoria said nothing, her eyes locked on them both.


    It was Kelvin who finally broke the silence.


    "We''ve known each other a long time. Longer than I''ve known you."


    Victoria''s face went even paler.


    "You, McNeil, Marcus Green, Isaac... and-" Her voice trembled. "And Curtis. You all know each other, don''t you? You all grew up together."


    She''d been such a fool or maybe she''d simply been so focused on McNeil that she''d never noticed the circle of friends always around him, guiding him from the shadows.


    "Does McNeil know about everything you''ve done?" she asked, voice barely more than a whisper.


    Kelvin looked at Victoria with genuine pity. He opened his mouth to answer, but Violet quickly cut him off.


    "Of course he knows. In fact, you could say he orchestrated it all. Victoria, you''re a smart woman; how could you not see it? Why do you think he never made your marriage public? He was always keeping me as his backup n.


    The moment you forced yourself into his life, you should have realized this day woulde. He never loved you. You can''t force love, so why cling so desperately?


    Your V&S Group has already been renamed. McNeil isn''t yours. The Langford Group isn''t yours either. Whatever you do, it''s only ever been to pave the way for


    me.


    Honestly, I should raise a ss to you tonight. Thank you for giving me Gwyn. Thank you for showing me how sincere McNeil''s feelings are for me. And thank you, most of all, for helping me see that everyone around us always wanted him and me together.


    Everyone was just waiting for you two to end things. This rtionship was only ever one-sided-yours alone."


    Violet spoke slowly, her tone sweet, a smile on her face. But next to her, Kelvin''s eyes grew darker and heavier with every word.


    He wanted to exin, but he didn''t know where to begin. The look in Victoria''s eyes said that no exnation would matter now.


    "Is there anything else?" Victoria pressed, her voice brittle.


    She needed to know-what else had Violet and McNeil done behind her back?


    Violet''s smile softened, almost gentle. "Isn''t that enough? Or maybe... this will do?"


    She reached into her bag and pulled out a folded slip—an ultrasound report. It said she was three weeks pregnant.


    "I''m expecting. And it''s McNeil''s child."


    For a moment, the world spun. Victoria''s stomach twisted, a sharp pain radiating through her lower abdomen, and she felt as if something inside her was slipping away...