McNeil took Gwh by the hand and led her to the door.


    Victoria knew full well he was up to something, but there was nothing she could do about it.


    Especially when McNeil had the nerve to look at her with that gentle, caring expression.


    "Sorry to interrupt your dinner. If it''s not convenient, I can go to the Turners'' and pick up the kids myself."


    There he was, speaking as if it were nothing, tossing out an excuse no one in their right mind would believe, let alone apologize for.


    Victoria was momentarily speechless.


    He''d sabotaged her evening and still had the audacity to act innocent. Honestly, only someone like McNeil could pull a stunt like this without batting an eye.


    "No need. Take Gwh with you. I''ll go pick up Chris and Celia."


    "Alright. By the way, Grandpa''s been missing you. You might want to stop by and see him-he''s not getting any younger, and you never know how many more visits there''ll be."


    The wordsnded heavily, as if he wasn''t forcing her, yet making it almost impossible for her to refuse going back to the family home.


    Appealing to her emotions, guilt-tripping her with logic-no wonder the old man favored this grandson.


    Truly, McNeil''s shamelessness and cunning knew no bounds.


    Victoria walked to her car and reached for the door. McNeil politely gestured for her to go ahead, then followed behind in his own car.


    She doubted McNeil was being chivalrous out of concern. More likely, he just wanted to keep an eye on her, probably worried she''d sneak off to see someone else along the way.


    Typical.


    God, he was so calcting. She''d never noticed before that he could take all those underhanded business tactics and turn them against her now.


    Did he really think she was worth all this trouble?


    Victoria ignored his motives and drove straight to the Turners''.


    Haley was surprised to see McNeil standing at the door, holding Gwh''s hand.


    Had Mr. Langford and Miss Victoria patched things up?


    But looking at them, there was an unmistakable tension in the air.


    "Haley, are Chris and Celia awake? We''re heading over to see their great- grandfather."


    Gwh


    said to Victoria, "I''ll wait out bet


    McNeil stayed outside


    Ponounced into the house,


    hand


    me know if you need a


    With that, he turned and walked back to his car.


    Let


    He leaned against the hood, tall and lean in his ssic ck suit, every line of his body sharp and poised.


    He undid the button on his jacket, fished out a pack of cigarettes, and lit one, his expression unreadable, entirely at ease.


    Victoria went inside. Haley hesitated, but in the end decided not to close the front door.


    McNeil didn''t seem bothered by theck of hospitality; he just smoked quietly, waiting for Victoria and the kids toe out.


    By the time Victoria returned, the twins had already eaten and were ying with Gwh, their big eyes bright with excitement.


    She gathered up the nanny and Gwh, grabbed a few baby essentials, and headed back out.


    McNeil, sharp-eyed as ever, spotted them immediately. He flicked his cigarette away, crushed it under his shoe, and came over to help.


    It was about a half-hour drive from


    the Turners'' to the family estate. McNei tried to make conversation, but Victoria replied with little more than single sybles.


    Realizing he wasn''t going to get anything out of her, McNeil eventually gave up and focused on driving.


    At the estate, the old man had already been tipped off about their visit and had the staff waiting at the door.


    The moment he saw McNeil, his eldest grandson, he nearly rolled his eyes. But when his gaze fell on his great-grandchildren and the two little girls, his whole face lit up, his eyes


    crinkling into delighted crescents.


    "Come here, let great-grandpa give you a hug!"


    He tossed aside his cane with surprising agility, making Victoria half expect him to sprout wings and take flight.