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.

would never be so foolish-stranded in a snowstorm, car out of gas and broken down,

takes, you find her. Do you realize Victoria holds fifty percent of our family's shares?

of business, priding

who'd lost the person she loved

burned red. The moment he'd heard the news, all he'd been able to think about was

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

as soon as possible. The Langford family's done more than enough for her. I've played along for your sake, helped save her life, put on

off, let me tell you, we'll

quietly slipping out of the

into the hallway

was Gwyneth, calling from her

find Mommy? Is it true-did

her father in days. That morning, she'd woken up cheerful, eaten breakfast, and gone looking for Violet to chat. Instead, she'd found Violet sobbing in her room, skipping

thought maybe Mommy had dragged Daddy away again, and that was why Violet was upset. She'd been about to stand up for Violet when Violet told

Violet lately, Victoria was her real mommy. She'd

was heavy

finally getting through to McNeil, the first thing out of her mouth-punctuated by