The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

Chapter 401

McNeil had never been this anxious before. He found himself checking his reflection in the full-length mirror over and over, fussing with his clothes, adjusting how he sat, smoothing out his expression until it looked gentle enough.

At three in the afternoon, a message popped up-a company contact request on his work app. The name didn't belong to any business he recognized. Then a video call came through.

Suddenly, Victoria's face filled his screen.

It had been more than three months since the divorce-more than three months without seeing each other. McNeil had thought he'd found his composure by now, but the moment he saw Victoria, all that calm evaporated.

"Where are you right now? I need to see you."

Hers was the face he'd been yearning for day and night, yet now all he could do was stare at this digital version, separated by a cold pane of glass.

Victoria's expression was unreadable, distant in a way that made her seem almost like a stranger. He felt a tremor of fear.

"If you have something to say, make it quick. I only have ten minutes."

McNeil could see the floor-to-ceiling window behind her. Victoria looked noticeably fuller, her cheeks soft and glowing with health. She seemed utterly at peace, more radiant than ever, as if these past months had treated her well-too well.

of her face were blurring into something rounder, almost cherubic. But she was still breathtaking, so beautiful he couldn't look

he repeated, the words tumbling out. He'd been trying to reach her for

perfectly calm. "We're seeing

she would have wanted nothing more to do with him. She'd told him as much the last time they spoke that she wanted

mean in person, not through

"I don't see the point. We're barely more

McNeil's hands balled into fists and then relaxed

spend time with her three

derisive laugh. "It doesn't matter whether I'm there or not. Gwyn's growing up-she needs a mother's love, sure, but you can find someone else to give her that. It doesn't have to

signal: she was never coming

his teeth. "So you're just going to walk away from your own

level as she said something he never thought he'd hear from

you. Even before the divorce was final, you were already preparing her for a new stepmom. I'm not worried about her. Whatever happens, you're still her father. You'd never treat

he tried, she'd already anticipated. There was nothing left he could use to hold onto her. She was free to do and say whatever

already explained everything. There's nothing between me and Violet

know there's nothing between you. I believe

side of Victoria-the gentle, loving wife; the devoted partner; the hurricane who could turn their home upside down in a heartbeat. But he'd never seen her like