The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

Chapter 19

Langford Mansion

In the study, the tea sitting on the desk had long since gone cold.

The old man paced back and forth, hands clasped behind his back, wearing a path into the slate floor.

Finally, McNeil arrived. Normally striking, his face was drawn with exhaustion, deep shadows pooling beneath his eyes.

He hadn't slept properly in days.

A porcelain teacup clattered to the floor near McNeil's feet, spilling tea everywhere.

"Where is she? The news is all over the place-saying Victoria's dead. Is that really her in the morgue?"

The old man's reaction to the news wasn't shock or grief, but barely contained rage.

McNeil looked as tired as he felt, but there was no sadness in his expression. "No," he answered flatly.

He'd gone straight to the police to identify the body. Of course, it wasn't Victoria.

he knew would never be so foolish-stranded in a snowstorm, car

you find her. Do you realize Victoria holds fifty percent of our family's shares? If she vanishes and decides to come back swinging, you, me-everyone in the Langford family

cutthroat world of business, priding

person she loved most-who knew what

the news, all he'd

fifty percent of the family's shares ever be worth more than

more than enough for her. I've played along for your sake,

if Victoria's run off, let me tell you, we'll all be

slipping

into the

calling

find Mommy? Is

and gone looking for Violet to chat. Instead, she'd found Violet sobbing

that was why Violet was upset. She'd been about

was her real mommy. She'd burst into tears

Daddy unreachable these past few days, Gwyneth's heart was

to McNeil, the first thing out of her mouth-punctuated by sniffles-was