Chapter 33
The car sped down the road for quite a while before McNeil finally realized
something was wrong.
“Wait-where’s Gwyn?” he blurted out.
Violet had noticed Gwyneth’s absence much earlier, but she hadn’t said a word to McNeil.
His face fell. The chaos back there had thrown him off; all he’d cared about was getting Violet out safely. He hadn’t even thought about Gwyneth.
“What if she’s still at the restaurant? Oh God, this is all my fault. If it weren’t for me, Gwyneth wouldn’t be missing,” Violet sobbed, her hands trembling as tears streamed down her face.
McNeil frowned, worry etched between his brows. “Have the driver take you home. I’ll go look for Gwyn.”
“I should come too. She got lost because of me…” Violet’s voice broke, guilt twisting her words.
“This isn’t your fault,” McNeil said quietly, his tone flat but not unkind.
He switched cars halfway and raced back to the restaurant. By then, the place was deserted. There was no sign of Gwyneth anywhere.
until Victoria
He tracked down the manager and asked for the security footage. On the screen, he watched in horror as Gwyneth was nearly caught in a stampede appeared just in time and whisked her away.
The frame froze: it was Victoria who had taken Gwyneth. Without hesitation, McNeil pulled out his phone and dialed.
Meanwhile, Victoria had brought her daughter to McNeil’s estate. She’d considered taking Gwyneth back to her own father’s place, but after a moment’s hesitation, she’d decided against it.
Lately, Gwyneth had grown closer and closer to Violet. From the way her daughter acted, Victoria could tell Gwyneth preferred being around Violet. If she forced Gwyneth to stay with her, Victoria knew she’d only be met with resistance.
She alone understood her daughter’s temperament.
“Mommy, can you call Daddy?” Gwyneth asked, her small voice shaky. The ordeal had rattled her, and once she realized she was home, her nose began to sting with unshed tears.
She didn’t want to be here with her mom-she wanted to see Violet.
Just then, McNeil’s call came through. Victoria saw his name flash on the screen and knew immediately what he wanted.
“Hello?” she answered, bringing the phone to her ear.
“Why didn’t you say anything before taking Gwyn?” McNeil’s voice was tight with worry. “Do you have any idea how scared I was when I realized she was gone?”
Victoria’s heart clenched. She’d called him, sent messages-he hadn’t answered or even read them.
If she hadn’t been there tonight, who knows what might have happened to Gwyneth.
Once, she might have tried to defend herself-maybe even argued with him. But ever since she’d seen Violet’s messages on his phone, she’d lost the will. No matter how sincere McNeil sounded, all she heard was performance.
“Gwyn, it’s your dad,” Victoria said, handing the phone to her daughter without bothering to respond to McNeil directly.
If Gwyneth wanted to go to Violet’s, she’d ask McNeil to pick her up or he’d send someone. Victoria wouldn’t stop her daughter from going where she felt happiest. Children naturally gravitate toward those who treat them well.
Just because Gwyneth didn’t seem to like her didn’t mean Victoria loved her any less.
If Gwyneth was happier with Violet, as long as she was safe and healthy, Victoria could live with that. It wasn’t coldness-it was simply that she could never match Violet’s knack for winning people over. Violet had a gift for making even other people’s children adore her.
When it came to McNeil, Violet had truly devoted herself.
Victoria was different. She only knew how to love a man in her own way-by supporting him quietly, helping him behind the scenes, risking everything for him. But she’d never been one for sweet talk or playful affection. She could only ever be herself.
Gwyneth took the phone, glancing up at Victoria.
When her mom had rescued her, she’d been relieved—overjoyed, even, to see her alive.
But now…
Now that Mommy was back, would Daddy make her stay with her? She didn’t want to. Mommy cared only about grades and violin lessons, and always pushed her to draw. She couldn’t eat what she wanted. Sure, Mommy took her to movies and read her bedtime stories-but she insisted on early bedtimes and too many rules.