Gwyneth kept making faces, her expression full of cheeky defiance. Max, thoroughly ignored, burst into tears.

Marcus sighed in exasperation. “Max, you’re a boy. Boys don’t cry over video games.”

But Gwyneth only doubled down, smirking. “Aw, come on. Only babies cry when they lose, Max.”

Red-faced and even angrier after being called out, Max jabbed a finger at her. “You cheated! You’re such a liar!”

The two kids went back and forth, their argument escalating into a full-blown squabble. Fortunately, the adults were so used to these antics that no one took it to heart.

Isaac grinned at Violet. “Impressive, Violet. I knew you drove for a living, but I didn’t realize you’d be this good at games, too. Look at you-teaching Gwyneth so well she made Max cry.”

Violet shrugged, her tone caught somewhere between modesty and pride. “We do a lot of simulation training before races. Honestly, these games are nothing compared to the real thing.”

Marcus reached over and tapped Max lightly on the head. “Alright, that’s enough. Any more tears and you’ll embarrass yourself.”

***

That evening, Victoria didn’t go to the McNeil house. She knew McNeil wouldn’t be expecting her tonight.

Instead, she returned to the Simms residence. Yulia was there waiting.

“You’re back, Miss Turner.”

Yulia hurried over, eager to help Victoria out of her coat.

Victoria took a step back. “No, thank you. I don’t like being fussed over.”

She turned and handed her coat to Yasmine, who carried it upstairs.

Yulia stood aside, wearing her usual polite smile, but her eyes glittered with something else.

“Honestly, Ms. Turner, there’s no need to treat me like some kind of threat. Mr. Miller is a normal man-he needs a woman in his life. That’s perfectly natural.”

The implication was clear: Yulia was angling for a place in the household, and she wasn’t shy about it.

Victoria walked over to the sofa and sat down. As Yulia started to follow and was just about to sit, Victoria spoke coolly.

“I prefer staff to stand when they speak to me. Nanny Yulia, you should remain standing.”

Yulia froze, swallowing her irritation and forcing herself to obey.

Haley came over with a cup of tea for Victoria, deliberately ignoring Yulia.

“Miss, Mr. Simms says he’ll be home soon. Should I start preparing dinner?” Victoria found the whole situation quietly amusing. Simms absolutely couldn’t stand Haley, which was exactly why Victoria insisted on keeping her close.

Haley, after all, only ever called Simms “Mr. Turner”-never his first name.

Simms hated the title. He wanted to be known as Chairman Miller of Golden Era Enterprises, not as the Turner family’s live-in son-in-law.

Victoria nodded. “Oh, and from now

on, no more seafood in the house And those expensive

delicacies-bird’s nest, sea

cucumber, all of it-I don’t like them.

Don’t buy that stuff anymore.”

Yulia’s smile faltered.

When Victoria finished giving Haley her instructions, she turned to Yulia. “Is there something you want to say?”

Yulia hesitated, then shook her head. “No, nothing.”

“Good.” Victoria nodded. “If you’re determined to stay here, you’ll need to learn our house rules from Haley I’ll also have my mother’s memorial set up in the main hall. Every

ver

morning, when you come in to work, you’ll bow three times and light three sticks of incense in front of her portrait.”

Yulia’s face nearly twisted in protest.

She was willing to obey Victoria-if that’s what it took to secure her future in the house. But bowing and paying respects to Edith? That was a line she could hardly bring herself to cross.

Just then, Simms walked in and immediately noticed Yulia dabbing at her eyes. His face darkened.

“What’s going on here?”

His voice boomed as he strode toward Yulia.

Victoria didn’t miss a beat. “Dad, I was just having Nanny Yulia learn the house rules from Haley. She’s new-how else will she know how to look after me?”

Simms seethed, but said nothing.

“Oh, and by the way,” Victoria added, “in three months, I’ll be turning

twenty-six. I expect you to keep your promise and transfer twenty-five

percent of The Turner Group’s

shares to me.”