She stumbled back to Yulia''s ce, only to walk in on a vicious shouting match between Yulia and Simms.


    "Look at yourself! Do you see any trace of a dignifieddy left in you? You''re nothing but amon shrew," Simms spat, shaking Yulia off and straightening the sleeves of his suit.


    Violet burst through the door and rushed to stand protectively in front of Yulia. "What''s going on here, Dad?"


    Simms silenced her with a cutting gesture. "Don''t call me Dad. You''re a disgrace. You can''t even handle McNeil. Don''t go around telling people you''re my daughter."


    Violet''s temper snapped. "I am your daughter by blood! If McNeil doesn''t want me, then go yell at Victoria instead of taking it out on me."


    Simms scoffed, cold and dismissive. "You and your mother are both useless. What good are either of you to me?"


    He was already adjusting his tie, preparing to leave, but Yulia blocked his path. "You''re going to see that tramp again, aren''t you? I won''t allow it! Simms, all these years I''ve stood by you, no matter what you did. I supported you through everything, and this is how you repay me?"


    Yulia''s anger boiled over. Ever since Violet had fallen out of McNeil''s favor, Simms had all but stopped caring about her. Lately, he was barely home-a different man, always gone before dawn, sometimes not returning at all. Yulia''s suspicions had grown, so she''d hired a private investigator, and what she found confirmed her worst fears: Simms was keeping another woman.


    "There are plenty of people who support me, not just you," Simms sneered. "Besides, you''ve had your share of benefits these years-what haven''t I given you? Jewelry, money, the house-nothing but the title was withheld. I thought you and your daughter could win me some respect, but you''re not even half as useful as that brat Victoria."


    His words sliced through Yulia, cruel and deliberate.


    "Go look in the mi


    mirror and see how old you are now. You''re pushing fifty. I want a son-can you give me that? Fiona is different. She''s young, beautiful, and her father is CEO of a publicpany. If I marry her, she''ll give me a strong heir to carry on the Miller family name.


    And you? Just a washed-up chauffeur''s wife, an old crone who can''t even raise her own daughter properly. Don''t bother showing your face to me again."


    He shoved Yulia away with a violent kick, sending both her and Violet sprawling to the floor.


    "Simms, you animal!" Yulia screamed after him, but the m of the front door and the growl of his car''s engine made it clear he was gone.


    Shaking, Yulia struggled to her feet. When Violet tried to help, Yuliashed out, striking her hard across the face.


    Violet stared at her in disbelief. "You hit me?"


    "That''s right, you idiot! How many times have I told you not to cross Victoria head-


    on? She''s as cunning as her dead mother-I''ve spent over twenty years keeping my head down, waiting for Edith Turner to die before I could step into the spotlight.


    Years ago, your father wanted to


    drag me into high society, but I


    1.n


    refused. waited until I could bring you back from the countryside, waited until Edith was gone. I so close-Victoria finally divorced McNeil, and you had the perfect chance, but you ruined everything."


    Yulia clutched at her chest, ring at the daughter she had once been so proud of: Violet had yed her cards almost perfectly, nearly winning McNeil''s affection. Yulia had been on the verge of bing Mrs. Mitter herself, already scheming to give Simms a son. But in the end, it had all fallen apart because of Violet.


    Violet hade forfort, but found only Yulia''s resentment. Bitterness welled


    up inside her.


    "If you''re so angry, why don''t you get rid of Victoria yourself?" she snapped.