Chapter 20
Victoria might have ignored her own calls out of anger, but she could hardly avoid picking up when Violet rang.
When Gwyneth finally heard her father say that her mom was all right, the worry that had weighed on her heart for days at last lifted; she calmed down, and the tears that had come so easily no longer threatened to spill at every little thing.
Her sadness had lingered until Mr. McNeil told her that Victoria wasn’t dead. The truth was, she cared about her mom more than she wanted to admit. But as soon as McNeil suggested she call Victoria, her mood soured again.
Dad had been home with Violet, everything was fine, and then, early this morning, he’d left. Violet told her the police called and said Mom was dead, which could only mean one thing-
Mom was up to her old tricks, trying to lure Dad back.
Gwyneth didn’t agree to call right away. Instead, she asked sullenly, “Dad, are you at home now?”
“No, I’m not.”
That settled it-Dad hadn’t fallen for Mom’s ploy, but Mom was definitely hiding somewhere. Otherwise, why would Dad ask her to call Mom himself?
There was no way she was going to call her. Her mother was far too cunning; Gwyneth was sure this was just some test to see if Dad still cared. If she called, Mom would tell Dad where she was, and he’d drop everything to go find her, dragging Gwyneth along too.
Here at Violet’s place, with Violet still sick and no one really in charge, she got to do whatever she wanted. She could eat when she liked, sleep when she pleased, and spend all day playing games. Being late for school-or even skipping altogether-wasn’t a problem, since Winding Peak Lane was so far from the kindergarten. Dad had even written her a month-long absence note.
She wasn’t about to contact her mom. If she did, Mom would probably make her go back to school, and her days of freedom would be over.
“Dad, Violet’s calling me. You’d better come back soon-if she starts throwing up blood again like that night, I’ll be scared to death. Oh no, my smartwatch is running out of battery. Gotta go charge it. Bye, Dad!”
“Gwyn-“
Before McNeil could finish, her watch had already powered off.
***
Evermore City
“Victoria, I don’t care where you’ve run off to. I’m giving you twenty-four hours to come home.”
McNeil had just received a call from the police, asking him to identify a body. Now, all the Starfall City headlines screamed about a corpse found in her car, and the police had even released her ID number to the press. If they kept digging, sooner or later the whole world would know about her marriage to McNeil.
“Don’t forget-it was you who insisted on marrying into the Langford family,” Madonna Nelson’s voice droned from the phone, her number and name— unchanged for years-lighting up Victoria’s screen. “Back then, McNeil and Violet were practically engaged. You were the one who agreed to keep your marriage a secret after the wedding. Now you’ve stirred up this mess-are you trying to ruin our family’s reputation?”
Even when she was scolding, Madonna’s tone was slow and measured, with an air of superiority that brooked no argument-each word deliberate, heavy, and edged.
Victoria listened for a long time before the real meaning sank in. It wasn’t until she picked up her tablet and saw the headline splashed across the Starfall City news that she understood.
The Ferrari the Langfords had given her as a wedding present had turned into a crime scene, notorious overnight. She certainly had no desire to drive it now.
“With the Langford family’s resources, shutting down rumors like this is just a matter of money,” Victoria replied, her voice calm and unruffled, gone was any trace of panic. The evenness of her reply left Madonna momentarily speechless, her imperious tone faltering, until it sharpened almost imperceptibly.
“If our family steps in, the whole truth will come out.”
Victoria could hear how desperate the Langfords were to keep her marriage to McNeil a secret. No wonder if people found out that the illustrious President Langford had once been supported by his wife, wouldn’t that be a laughingstock?
But-
“If the police could find McNeil, that means they already know I’m Mrs. Langford,” she said coolly. “How much longer do you think you can keep this under wraps?”