Chapter 23
If McNeil had said those words to her even just two weeks ago, Victoria might have believed him.
Now, all she wanted to do was throw up.
His handsome face was nothing more than a mask, a lure to ensnare hearts. He’d flit from one woman to the next, never satisfied, sweet-talking her at night while putting on a show of devotion for Violet by day.
To the outside world, McNeil was the perfect gentleman-wealthy, refined, untouchable. In truth, he was no different from every other charming, unfaithful man out there. If anything, he was better at playing the part, making everyone believe he was madly, passionately in love.
Who would ever suspect that the devoted, affluent McNeil was really just enjoying the best of both worlds-a lover in one hand, a wife in the other? He’d taken the role of heartbreaker and somehow managed to convince everyone he was the most loyal man alive.
Victoria had loved McNeil. She’d loved him so much that, even after learning he was with both her and Violet, she’d chosen to turn a blind eye.
At first, she told herself it was for Gwyneth’s sake. Later, she had to face the truth she really did love him.
It wasn’t until the day he gave her daughter away that Victoria realized-after six years, she’d been nothing more than a pawn in his and Violet’s game.
“So what?” she said coldly, her words slicing through the silence. “Does it make a difference?”
McNeil had no answer. The car was instantly swallowed by a heavy, suffocating quiet. Neither of them spoke.
The shrill ring of a cell phone finally shattered the silence. Victoria turned away, refusing to look at the screen-she didn’t want to see Violet’s name light up, or worse, some humiliating pet name.
“It’s Gwyn.”
McNeil lifted the phone to his ear. At the same moment, Victoria’s gaze snapped back.
She still cared about her daughter. Of course she did. Both she and McNeil were here in Evermore City, and Madonna had never liked Gwyneth. Where was her daughter now?
“Daddy, have you found Mommy yet? I’m scared.”
Gwyneth’s small, trembling voice came through the phone. McNeil looked down at Victoria—still pinned beneath him—and handed her the phone.
The sound of her daughter’s tears wrenched at Victoria’s heart.
“Gwyn, Mommy’s okay. I’m right here.”
“Are you with Daddy? That’s great! When are you coming home? It’s been so long since I saw Daddy. I miss you” Gwyneth’s words dissolved into sobs. “And I miss you too, Mommy. Please come home.”
Tears prickled at the corners of Victoria’s eyes. In all these years, she’d never left Starfall City, never been apart from Gwyneth for so long.
It wasn’t that she’d wanted to leave her little girl-Gwyneth simply didn’t cling to her anymore. Just like her father, Gwyneth had grown fond of Violet.
“I’ll be home soon, sweetheart. Is there anything you’d like Mommy to bring you?”
It had been so long since she’d heard her daughter’s voice; Victoria’s own voice was thick with emotion.
“Hmm… Mommy, will you bring me some roast chicken? I heard it’s really good over there.”
Gwyneth rattled off a whole list-snacks, toys, little treasures.
Victoria listened to every request, comforting her daughter for a while before passing the phone back to McNeil.
“Daddy, you have to come home soon. I miss you both.”
McNeil’s voice softened. “I know, darling. I’ll bring Mommy back tomorrow.”
He ended the call. In the darkness, his eyes were deep and unreadable, filled with
a gentleness that seemed a world away from the jealousy he’d shown moments before.
“Victoria, come back to Starfall City with me. I won’t ask about what happened today.”
Meanwhile, after hanging up, Gwyneth pouted unhappily.
“Violet, Daddy said Mommy’s not dead. You’re sad every day, but Mommy never even asks about you. You’re sick and she’s never once checked on you or cared about how you’re doing.”
Gwyneth knew her mother was alive-McNeil had told her so.
At first, the terrible news had devastated her, but as Daddy scoured the city for Mommy, he’d hardly been around at all.
Even when Violet called, he’d only exchange a few hurried words before hanging
up.