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.

you, Mr. Garcia. We'll take you up on 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 attack earlier, thinking about the bonus at stake. Twenty thousand dollars-two months' salary and

the team. But with Curtis here, it

an eye on the EmilyTech Solutions project," Curtis said, unaware that Victoria had been the one to make the crucial introductions for the deal. He didn't want

Ailie replied with a quick glance at Victoria, who neither reacted nor tried to take any

for not telling Curtis about her involvement, so she

was peeling shrimp and neatly placing the tender pieces on Victoria's plate, one by one, with a care that

refuse, simply kept her head

see everyone's here," Violet said as she swept in, her tone polite but brisk. "Something came up at the office, but as soon as I finished,

and more time with the programmers, and Violet was always watching, determined not to miss a single development.

"cake" could be. She wasn't about to let

Curtis was still at it, quietly making sure every dish Victoria liked ended up

good mood, so she played along, doing her best

room seemed to drop a few degrees. The easy chatter faded, replaced by a stiffer, more formal

on her plate, eating in

across from Victoria and Curtis. Ailie, who'd been eating heartily a moment before,

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