The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

Chapter 287

No one said anything aloud, but everyone seemed to understand—and, surprisingly, no one seemed to mind the dynamic between Victoria and Curtis.

The main reason was simple: recently, Victoria's work ethic had impressed everyone. She was nothing like the rumors painted her to be.

According to office gossip, Victoria was just a pretty face, coasting by under Mr. Garcia's protection—a total lightweight.

The private dining room was warm, the radiators humming quietly in the corner. Coats had been shed and draped over the backs of chairs. Victoria wore a cream- colored sweater, a delicate crystal necklace glinting at her throat, catching the light.

Curtis noticed the necklace but didn't say a word. He couldn't remember ever seeing Victoria wear jewelry before. He recalled once calling her driver to pick her up; he hadn't heard any rumors from Ailie about a separation lately. Could it be that she'd patched things up with her husband?

The thought left Curtis with an odd, uncomfortable feeling.

Victoria, oblivious, shifted over to make room for him beside her.

"I just heard about your team's dinner tonight and happened to be passing by. Mind if I join you?" Curtis smiled at the group, making it clear who he was here to see. "Dinner's on me."

Everyone got the message, but played along.

that, then," someone replied, and the group turned their attention to the menu, eagerly ordering their favorites. Ailie let out a sigh of relief-she'd nearly had a heart

team. But with Curtis here, it didn't seem wise to poke

deal. He didn't want the company's future tied solely to the Langford

quick glance at Victoria, who neither reacted nor

understood that Victoria must have her reasons for not telling Curtis about her involvement, so she

and Violet arrived, Curtis was peeling shrimp and neatly placing the tender pieces on Victoria's plate, one by one, with a care that made others glance over in

simply kept her head down

here," Violet said as she swept in, her tone polite but brisk. "Something came up at

department, and naturally, George had invited her. She hadn't originally planned to come until she heard Victoria would be there. Victoria had been spending more and more time with the

how valuable this "cake" could be. She wasn't about

over the little mountain of peeled shrimp on Victoria's plate. Curtis was still at it, quietly making sure every

spoil Curtis's good mood, so she played along, doing her

Violet's arrival, the room seemed to drop a few degrees. The easy

eyes on her plate, eating in

beside Violet, directly across from Victoria and Curtis. Ailie, who'd

greetings, Violet's sharp eyes caught on the necklace around Victoria's neck. For a moment,