Lyndon and the others spent the whole day showing Victoria around town. By evening, they ducked into a nearby restaurant for dinner.


    Just as their food arrived, Victoria''s phone buzzed on the table. She nced at the screen-Simms was calling.


    "Where are you? Dad needs to talk to you."


    Hearing Simms''s voice, Victoria could guess why he''d suddenly decided to get in touch. If it weren''t something urgent, the two of them could have gone decades without speaking.


    "Just say what you need to say. But if it''s about anything other than our own family''s business, I''m not interested."


    Yasmine had already filled her in. She and Ailie had gone ahead and reported Violet to the police for stealing Victoria''s wedding dress. Now Violet was facing criminal charges. Yasmine had been a little nervous about Victoria''s reaction, worried she might be med, but she''d been too angry to do nothing. Victoria actually found her assistant even more endearing because of it.


    She''d always trusted her instincts about people-except, perhaps, when it came to choosing a husband.


    "It''s about your sister. Victoria, Violet only borrowed your wedding dress for her marriage to McNeil. Why do you have to use her of theft and press charges? Victoria, your father only has two daughters-you and Violet. Can''t you just drop the case, for Dad''s sake?"


    Victoria arched an eyebrow.


    "Daughters? Are you saying Violet is your daughter? Funny, I don''t remember Mom giving birth to an older sister for me. When did that happen? Wasn''t she Yulia''s niece? Since when did she be your biological daughter?"


    She asked the question knowingly, watching Simms''s irritation rise on the other end.


    "Cut the games, Victoria. Let''s just be honest. You''ve known all along that Violet is mine and Yulia''s, haven''t you? That''s right—she''s our daughter. If you don''t want to sign over the Turner family shares to me, fine. But at least remember that Violet is your real sister. Why do you two have to turn on each other?”


    Victoria listened to Simms''s shameless appeal, a cold smile curling on her lips. "Are you sure she''s my real sister? Here''s an idea-why don''t Violet and I get a DNA test together? That should settle whether we''re really rted."


    She was only teasing, but Simms''s temper snapped instantly.


    "Victoria, let me make this clear. I''m calling because I still want you as my daughter-I don''t want things to get ugly. Even if you insist on pressing charges, I have my ways of getting Violet out of jail. But if you''re determined to embarrass your father and refuse to drop the case, don''t me me when I cut you off for good. From now on, we''ll go our separate ways."


    Victoria''s smile only brightened.


    "What''s so scary about a DNA test, Simms? Are you afraid I''m not your daughter, or is it Violet who isn''t? What are you so worried about?"


    Simms clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles cracked.


    He was terrified Victoria would discover the truth-that she wasn''t his biological daughter. If that happened, his whole identity as the Turner family''s "son-inw" would copse. Golden Era Enterprises still belonged to the Turners, after all. If the board found out he had no real connection to Victoria, the


    dissenters would have him ousted in


    no time.


    He''d be right back where he started-a penniless nobody. Simms couldn''t let that happen.


    "Fine. We don''t need you. Don''t forget, your marriage to McNeil is over. Violet is the real Mrs. Langford now."


    Victoria''sughter rang out, bright and sharp.


    "So you won''t even agree to a paternity test, but you expect me to acknowledge


    her as my sister? Don''t tter yourself, Simms. She doesn''t deserve it."


    Before Simms could respond, Victoria hung up.


    She already knew the truth: Violet was Simms and Yulia''s biological child. Simms must have seen her


    divorce from McNeil as a sign omet


    weakness and decided to drop the act, parading Violet''s real identity as leverage. He didn''t even bother to hide it anymore.


    Fine by her. If he was so determined to ruin himself, she''d let him.


    Simms was nothing if not patient. He''d spent years pretending for the sake of a wife who didn''t love him and a daughter who wasn''t even his, all to oust the Turners and secure his hold on thepany.


    Victoria had no intention of letting


    Simms know that she already understood the truth-they weren''t


    rted at all. Let him cling to his


    precious seat as chairman a little


    longer. However he schemed to get


    his


    hands on the Turner Group,


    that''s exactly how she''d make him lose it.


    And as for her mother and grandfather''s deaths, she intended to investigate everything again. She needed to know, once and for all, whether it was a tragic ident or something far more sinister.


    Her aunt was still in aa in the hospital. If Simms wasn''t her real father, then every tragedy in her family''s history had to be reconsidered, and Simms''s involvement couldn''t be ruled out.


    It was all far moreplicated than she''d once believed. Sending Violet to prison was only a matter of time. But theft was a light chargepared to what they truly deserved.


    Right now, Simms could still pull strings to get Violet out on bail. And as long as


    the world still thought she was his daughter, the lines were blurred.


    If Simms wanted to stir public opinion-iming she''d thrown her own sister in jail


    -it could hurt her reputation and Golden Era Enterprises alike.


    This wasn''t the right moment to make a move.


    Violet was Simms''s daughter. If he wanted to save her, let him find a way himself.