The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge novel Chapter 293

Through the crack in the door, Violet caught a glimpse of Victoria.

Victoria was fumbling with her clothes, her hands trembling so badly she could hardly fasten the buttons. McNeil stepped over and did it for her, his movements practiced and intimate.

The sofa behind them still bore the rumpled marks of their recent passion. McNeil had even sent someone to buy a complete set of new women's clothing—everything, top to bottom—which was now laid out in his office.

When Victoria left, her face was a mask of icy indifference. A turtleneck covered every inch of her neck and jaw, and the sharp click of her heels on the marble floor sent chills through anyone who heard it.

Violet's face went completely pale. She never imagined the "important guest" the secretary mentioned would be Victoria.

She made sure to avoid being seen, waiting until the elevator doors slid shut and Victoria was gone before forcing herself to calm down. Only then did she steady her hand and knock quietly on McNeil's office door.

McNeil seemed to be in excellent spirits; she'd rarely seen him look so openly pleased.

As soon as she entered, Violet's eyes flickered toward the trash can beside the desk.

Inside lay a crumpled heap of women's clothes. She didn't need to guess—they were Victoria's.

Violet's heart plummeted. If she rifled through that trash, she'd probably find something else confirming her worst suspicions—just like the time at the spa hotel, when she'd found three used condoms in McNeil's trouser pocket.

"What did she want?" Violet struggled for a long time to tamp down the wild surge of jealousy and humiliation inside her.

McNeil finally looked up from his paperwork, as if just noticing her. "We discussed some business."

Violet bit down on her lip, so hard her sharp canine teeth nearly broke the skin. Business? What kind of business required a closed office and a change of clothes?

She'd seen Victoria that morning—she'd been wearing a different outfit then. Now those very clothes were wadded up in McNeil's trash.

"Is there something you need?" McNeil's tone was casual, almost dismissive.

Violet swallowed her anger. She had no right to question him. "There are a few clauses in the contract I didn't quite understand. I wanted to consult you."

Her voice was clearly tinged with sadness, but McNeil either didn't notice, or didn't care.

—

Victoria left Vertex Dynamics and immediately booked a flight to Evermore City.

Five hours later, her plane landed at Echo City's largest airport.

By the time she arrived at the Campbell family estate, the sun was setting. The trees in the yard glowed gold and green in the last light of spring, their new leaves catching the sunset.

"Let me guess—Osborn told you?" Stein shook his head. "I warned him not to fill your head with nonsense. It was just a routine inquiry, nothing serious."

He shrugged it off, but Victoria wasn't convinced. She'd taken the opportunity of Ailie's trouble with McNeil to see her brother.

Victoria had only been guessing, but she was right—McNeil was behind it all. Ever since he'd misunderstood her relationship with Stein, she should have been more careful.

But she'd always underestimated her place in McNeil's life. Surely he wouldn't go so far as to punish those around her out of petty jealousy—especially not when he was still so entangled with Violet.

She'd never thought McNeil capable of such small-minded cruelty.

Six years ago, he'd kept her at his side, refusing to let her step into the public eye, not even willing to acknowledge their marriage. She'd been a canary in a gilded cage.

She should have seen it then: McNeil's love was obsessive, bordering on pathological. He wouldn't allow her close to any man—least of all her own brother, who'd bought her a house when she was at her lowest.

McNeil believed Stein was "keeping" her.

Turns out he hadn't been inactive—he'd simply kept her in the dark while trouble brewed for her brother.

"No, Victoria, I know McNeil. He's not going to let this go easily."