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.

be so foolish-stranded in a snowstorm, car out of

she? I don't care what it takes, you find her. Do you realize Victoria holds fifty percent of our family's shares? If she vanishes and decides to come

had spent his life navigating the cutthroat world of business, priding himself on reading people. But Victoria had proven him

person she loved most-who knew what

he'd been

the family's shares ever be worth

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

if Victoria's run off, let me tell

quietly slipping out of

stepped into the

was Gwyneth, calling from her

Is it true-did Mommy

morning, she'd woken up cheerful, eaten breakfast, and gone looking for Violet to chat. Instead, she'd found Violet

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

Victoria was her real mommy. She'd burst into tears right then

past few days, Gwyneth's heart was heavy with worry, and she'd

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