Chapter 5

A fire crackled in the hearth, its warmth doing little to chase away the chill that had settled over the room.

Victoria swirled the red wine in her glass, bringing it to her lips for the occasional sip, her gaze distant and unfocused.

Out in the hallway, Haley stealthily dialed Yasmine. "Yasmine, you need to come see Mrs. Langford. It's barely dawn and she's already drinking."

Two glasses in, the wine was cold on Victoria's tongue, but her heart felt even colder.

She had just gotten off the phone with the bridal shop.

The plan was simple: on their anniversary, the dress would be delivered in the morning. That evening, she'd wear it to the studio, where she and McNeil would have their portrait taken—a keepsake for another year together.

But then, a minor hitch: McNeil had bailed last minute, and she'd somehow forgotten all about the dress herself.

And now-

"Mrs. Langford, we've already delivered the gown. You didn't receive it?"

Victoria frowned. She certainly hadn't.

"Where exactly did you send it?"

Winding Peak Lane.

glass toppled, and

the wound blooming in her chest,

Lane.

McNeil's secret love nest.

always followed the advice of the old folks: "Before marriage, keep your eyes wide open. After marriage, turn

as McNeil treated her and their child

had shrugged it off: "A man straying now and

Mrs. Langford, and nobody could take

But now-

given her mother's keepsake to his sweetheart, turned her daughter against her, and now even the wedding dress for their anniversary had ended up

just turn

Yasmine followed Haley into the living room, she was greeted by the sight of three empty wine bottles at Victoria's feet. The glass had rolled away,

entirely lost- mostly sober, but with just enough wine in her to

sharp scent of alcohol as she

reserved, distant from the world, content to be Mrs. Langford. Then, out of nowhere,

seen her as the trophy wife the tabloids made her

had spiraled like this-lost and

Yasmine

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