Chapter 203
Gwyneth knew there was no chance of clinging to Violet for the time being, so she obediently followed Victoria home.
She seemed a little listless, but Victoria was already handing her the tablet.
“I’ve set up the game you asked for,” Victoria said, her tone gentle. “Want to give it a try?”
Gwyneth just shook her head, hardly interested. Back at the hospital, Violet hadn’t even been able to register an account.
“It’s no use. I can’t play it anyway.”
Victoria pulled up the game’s main screen and logged in using her own account. “That’s not true. Here, watch this.”
She handed the tablet back, and to Gwyneth’s surprise, it worked. Her eyes grew wide.
“It’s working? I can really play?”
“Of course you can,” Victoria replied, smiling.
Victoria let Gwyneth play on her own and headed to her study to get back to work.
Downstairs, Gwyneth’s excited laughter occasionally drifted up, but Victoria remained calm and focused, her mind fully on her tasks.
Victoria’s time off was almost up. Soon, she’d be back at work, juggling her job and picking Gwyneth up every day. She made sure to return to the McNeil estate on time each night to look after her daughter.
Maybe it was the distraction of the game, but Gwyneth had been especially well- behaved these days-eating meals on schedule, skipping the usual demands for snacks, finishing her homework without a fuss. Sometimes she’d beg Victoria to play the game with her, a little more clingy than usual, but Victoria almost always agreed.
Gwyneth also pleaded with her to take her to the amusement park that weekend. Victoria didn’t say yes at first-she wasn’t sure if she’d have to work overtime.
But once she’d managed to clear her desk and finally had some time to spare, she went to Gwyneth’s room, planning to share the good news. Just as she reached the door, she overheard Gwyneth on the phone with Violet.
“Ms. Marchand, are you really getting discharged soon? That’s wonderful! Can I pick you up this weekend? I want to go with Dad to bring you home, and then we can set off fireworks at the beach.”
Victoria’s hand paused on the doorknob. Hearing the conversation, she quietly pulled her hand back. She decided not to tell Gwyneth about her plan to spend the weekend together.
On Saturday, Gwyneth-who usually had to be dragged out of bed for school- was up by seven, already dressed in a cute little sundress, teeth brushed, face washed, and sitting at the dining table, finishing breakfast.
Even Xenia, the housekeeper, was surprised by her unusual burst of energy.
Victoria had already heard all the commotion downstairs. She didn’t say anything, just followed her usual routine, getting up at her own pace and heading down for breakfast.
“Mom, Dad’s driver is picking me up soon. I have violin lessons this morning,” Gwyneth announced as Victoria reached for her coffee.
“Oh?” Victoria replied, pausing with her glass of milk halfway to her mouth.
Violin lessons?
Gwyneth had refused to go for ages. In fact, Victoria had already sold the remaining lessons to another parent. It had to be nearly two months since Gwyneth last attended one.
Gwyneth smiled sweetly. “I remember what you said, Mom. You just want what’s best for me to be better than the other kids, right?”
Victoria looked at her, and an unexpected wave of disgust washed over her. Gwyneth had never lied before. Now, just to go pick Violet up from the hospital, she was staring her mother in the eye and lying through her teeth. But Victoria didn’t call her out. She simply said, “Alright. I have some things to do later, so I won’t be able to pick you up after class.”
Gwyneth’s heart leapt, but she was careful not to let it show. She didn’t want her mother to find out about her real plans-she was terrified Victoria would ruin everything.
“That’s fine. I’ll come home by myself when it’s done,” she replied.