Chapter 472
They’d already met not long ago-how much time had really passed before they were arranging another dinner?
McNeil could hardly believe it. Stein had clearly set Victoria aside, and yet here she was, showing up with all three kids in tow.
What was this supposed to be? Dinner with his son? A big family get-together?
McNeil stepped out of the car, his gaze fixed on Stein’s bodyguard as he strode
over.
“Mr. Langford, I strongly suggest you don’t go upstairs,” the bodyguard began, but McNeil silenced him with a single glare, making the man step aside.
Face grim, McNeil entered the restaurant, got directions from a server, and headed straight for Stein’s private room. As luck would have it, a waiter was just coming out, holding the door open.
Inside, McNeil saw Stein sitting beside a striking woman-mid-thirties, elegant, undeniably attractive. Her beauty was classic, the kind that drew every eye in the
room.
She and Victoria were worlds apart; Victoria had always carried the air of an heiress, while this woman was clearly the type older men gravitated toward.
Stein looked up, catching McNeil’s eye without a hint of surprise.
Victoria was nowhere to be seen, but that only made McNeil’s mood darker.
“Stein, are you seeing other women besides Victoria now?” McNeil finally snapped, losing control for good.
With a sweep of his arm, he sent everything on the table crashing to the floor, then landed a punch straight to Stein’s face.
Stein was no stranger to McNeil’s temper. The two men went at each other, exchanging blows, each punch landing with heavy, ugly force-neither gaining the upper hand.
The woman at the table was frozen in shock by the sudden violence. She screamed, scrambling away, and once she’d regained her senses, she quickly called for Stein’s security.
Both men ended up bloodied-one with a split lip, the other with a swollen cheekbone.
“Enough! Don’t move,” came a cold voice, as several guns were suddenly trained on McNeil’s head. He finally stopped fighting.
McNeil steadied himself, only to be slapped hard across the face.
He blinked, and when he made out who stood before him, the storm in his eyes faded at once.
“McNeil, have you had enough?” Victoria’s voice was cold as steel. She looked at the man she’d once loved with every fiber of her being. This wasn’t the first time he’d raised a hand to her brother, and every time she’d forgiven him. But not this time. She’d finally reached her limit.
Stein was caught off guard by Victoria’s presence. The security detail moved to haul McNeil away, but Stein stopped them.
“Vicky, let’s talk this through.”
McNeil shot Stein a venomous look. “Don’t pretend to be so righteous in front of us.”
Victoria turned to her brother. “I’m sorry, big brother.”
Stein nodded. “You two talk. I’ve got somewhere to be.”
He glanced at the shaken woman, picked up her fallen purse, and gently wrapped
an arm around her shoulders. “Are you alright?”
The woman nodded, still a little unsteady. “I’m fine.”
Ignoring the warning in Victoria’s eyes, McNeil blocked Stein’s path.
“Stein Campbell, you’re not going anywhere until you explain yourself.” He jabbed
a finger at the woman beside Stein. “Who is she? You’re dating Vicky and seeing other women on the side?”
Stein’s expression stayed cool, but he ignored McNeil, speaking to the woman in
a softer tone. “Did you hurt your foot? Can you walk?”
McNeil’s fists clenched tight. He looked at Victoria, voice low and bitter. “This is the man you’re in love with? If you’d found someone who loved you more than I ever could, I wouldn’t stand in your way. But this guy? He’s cheating on you right in front of your face-this is what you want?”
Victoria raised her hand, and McNeil, daring her, leaned in. “What, you want to hit me? Go ahead-do it.”
His eyes were wild, and he grabbed her hand, slapping it across his own face.
He searched her eyes for any trace of love, but there was none.
Victoria-she didn’t love him anymore.
“Does this amuse you, McNeil?” Her voice was quiet. She shook off his hand. “Big brother, you should go.”
Stein nodded and led the woman out.
McNeil heard it crystal clear that time.
Big brother?
He realized Victoria had called Stein her big brother before-more than once,
even.
“McNeil, we’ve been together for seven years. Thad no idea you were into this kind of thing.” Victoria fixed him with a hard stare. “Stein is my brother. If you’d paid even the slightest attention to me over the years, you’d have known I have a brother named Stein.”
McNeil froze.
Everything he’d believed he’d been wrong.
“You’re saying, Stein is your brother?”
Victoria’s smile was faint, almost sad. “Yes. He’s my brother. McNeil, I want you out of my life for good. And the kids are staying with me, unless Gwyneth chooses otherwise.”
Anger flickered in McNeil’s eyes. “You never cleared things up about Stein-was that on purpose, so I’d misunderstand?”
Was she toying with him all along?
She scoffed. “McNeil, don’t flatter yourself. If I wanted to make you jealous, even if
I paraded it in front of you, you wouldn’t have noticed. What would be the point?”
Victoria realized then: she truly didn’t love him anymore. Not one bit.
Because when McNeil tried to hurt her with those words, she felt nothing. No pain. Nothing at all.
“I’m keeping Gwyneth. As for Chris
and Celia, if you want them, fine. I’m
Ket
leaving for Starfall City tomorrow. From now on, your path and mine go
separate ways. This is what you
wanted, isn’t it? I won’t bother
again.”
you