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 out of gas

find her. Do you realize Victoria holds fifty percent of our family's shares? If she vanishes and decides to come

the cutthroat world of

person she loved most-who knew what she

The moment he'd heard the news, all he'd been able to think about

family's shares ever be worth

her. I've played along for your sake, helped save her life, put on a show for long

me tell you, we'll

quietly slipping

he stepped into the hallway

was Gwyneth, calling

Mommy? Is it true-did Mommy

That morning, she'd woken up cheerful, eaten breakfast, and gone

Daddy away again, and that was why Violet was upset. She'd been about to stand up for Violet when Violet told her the police had found

Gwyneth had grown close to Violet lately, Victoria was her real mommy. She'd

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

through to McNeil, the first thing out of her