Chapter 70
That was nowhere near challenging enough for Gwyneth.
Victoria had promised her daughter something special, and if she couldn’t deliver, she knew Gwyneth would be disappointed.
She considered her options. If she couldn’t find a sufficiently difficult racing game, she’d just have to create one herself.
Honestly, it wasn’t a big deal for her. After all, she’d secretly helped a classmate win third place at the national coding competition when she was just twelve. Programming, logic puzzles, engineering, competitive games-these had always been Victoria’s strengths.
Unfortunately, her mother Edith had never approved of her interests, insisting that she focus on music and art instead of what she considered “boys’ games.”
Back then, Victoria couldn’t understand why her mother was so determined to steer her away. Now, as a mother herself, she realized with a jolt of guilt that she’d been repeating the same pattern with Gwyneth.
Victoria blinked away the sudden sting in her eyes. She opened her laptop, swiftly finished the work Curtis had assigned her, then immediately launched her programming software.
Gwyneth’s birthday was next month. Victoria was determined to finish this game in time to give it to her daughter as a birthday present.
She lost herself in the code for hours. She didn’t even notice when McNeil entered the study.
It was only when he stepped in front of her, blocking the glow from her screen, that she looked up, startled.
McNeil glanced at her computer with an indifferent expression, taking in the dense lines of code and numbers.
He’d seen Victoria typing away with intense focus as he came in-and now he realized it was all this digital “ant trail.”
He had no interest in whatever new trick she might be up to.
“Come with me.”
His tone was flat, his words tossed over his shoulder as he turned and walked out, fully expecting Victoria to follow.
They went into the living room. Victoria glanced at the clock on the wall and was surprised to see it was already past midnight.
“You’ve been wanting to talk about our daughter. Now’s your chance.”
McNeil smelled faintly of alcohol and a stronger trace of expensive perfume. Victoria guessed he’d just come back from a night out with his friends-and with Violet.
The first time she’d met Violet at Quantum Core Technologies, that same perfume had nearly made her choke.
Now, smelling it on McNeil too, it was obvious he’d spent the evening with Violet.
Victoria couldn’t help but wonder-coming home at this hour, didn’t Violet mind at all?
“I don’t want you taking Gwyn to see Violet anymore.”
Her voice was tense, her opposition clear.
McNeil let out a sharp laugh. “Victoria, what are you jealous of now? Gwyn only
likes following me around. It’s not like I’m handing her over to Violet.”
Victoria’s recent behavior had been testing his patience to the limit.
She’d mailed the divorce papers to his office when he refused to sign at home. As a wife, she’d given him mor@than enough reason to end things a hundred times over.
“I’m not here to argue. Gwyn needs to come home.”
Victoria’s resolve didn’t waver.
Suddenly, McNeil reached out and grabbed the back of her head, pulling her stunning face close until it filled his vision.
“Victoria, I’m still your husband. Gwyn is with me; nothing will
happen to her. Maybe you sho
ask yourself if you’re really such a great wife and mother.”
He turned away, and something on the sofa caught his eye-a men’s suit jacket. It was clearly an expensive, custom-tailored piece, but it wasn’t his size; it couldn’t possibly belong to him.
He let out a cold, derisive snort.
A cruel smile tugged at his lips as he called out, “Xenia!”
Xenia came rushing in, flustered.
Without looking at Victoria, McNeil pointed at the suit jacket. “Take this and burn it. I won’t have filth like that in my house.”