The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

Chapter 250 Gwyn's face lit up with delight when she heard McNeil agree to take her to see the fireworks.

She nestled into Violet's arms, looping her little arms around Violet's neck- something she always did. Yet as Gwyneth pressed close, she sensed, almost imperceptibly, that Violet hesitated for a split second, almost as if she wanted to pull away.

But then, as Gwyneth tried to pay closer attention, Violet hugged her tightly again, her face adorned with the swarm, familiar smile Gwyneth had always known.

"Alright, sweetheart. If you love fireworks, we'll go with you. And if there's anywhere else you want to visit, your daddy and I will be right by your side. How does that sound?" Violet kissed Gwyn's rosy cheek, making her beam with even more happiness.

By eight o'clock, the city was ablaze with lights, neon signs crisscrossing the skyline, pulsing and brilliant. McNeil's first thought was to tell the driver to head for the beach, but Gwyneth had other plans. She insisted on going to the central plaza instead. She claimed she'd never set off fireworks there before, but only she knew the real reason for her choice.

Max had told her that his "Miss Fannie" and his uncle would take him to the central plaza for fireworks, and naturally, Gwyn wanted to be there, too.

"Are you sure you want to go to the plaza?" McNeil frowned. That place was always packed, and Gwyneth usually disliked big crowds-she preferred quiet twith just her family.

"Yes. I want to go." The truth was, Gwyneth wanted to see if her mom would really be there. She couldn't believe her mom would ever love another child more than her, even though she had Ms. Marchand to care for her. But Ms. Marchand wasn't her mom; her mom was different.

If Ms. Marchand had other favorite kids, Gwyneth wouldn't be bothered. But if her own mom was kind to someone else, especially to Max-the little scoundrel-she simply couldn't stand it. She definitely didn't want her mom to like him.

Meanwhile, Victoria and Marcus had already brought Max to the central plaza. They treated him to fried chicken and took him for a spin around the amusement park before finally arriving at the plaza, planning to end the day's adventure with fireworks.

Marcus bought a handful of sparklers, handing two each to himself, Max, and Victoria. When he lit them, the tiny points of light danced across Victoria's beautiful face. She had a gentle smile on her lips, and as she leaned down to talk softly to Max, she looked so kind and lovely that Marcus found himself momentarily mesmerized. "Uncle, I want cotton candy." Max had spotted a little vendor cart strung with twinkling lights, selling fluffy cotton candy. Marcus handed his sparklers over to Max, then glanced at Victoria.

"Watch Max for a minute, will you? I'll go buy him scotton candy." Victoria nodded calmly. "Alright." Around the stime, Gwyneth arrived at the plaza with McNeil and Violet. She hadn't told her dad or Ms. Marchand that she was actually hoping to find her mom. Scanning the crowd, she didn't spot Max or her mother, but she did spy the cotton candy cart in the distance.

"Daddy, I want scotton candy." McNeil ruffled her hair. "Sure thing." Gwyneth tugged Violet's hand, and the three of them walked over to the cart-just as Marcus approached, holding two sticks of cotton candy: one pink, one white.

"McNeil? Violet?" Marcus was genuinely surprised. Starfall City really was a small world-how could he bump into them here, too? McNeil's expression tensed, his gaze flicking to the pink cotton candy. Violet noticed too; a faint smile played at her lips.

"Did you bring Max out to play? And you bought him pink cotton candy?" Violet teased lightly.

Gwyneth had already fussed earlier about Victoria leaving with Marcus, and if her guess was right, the pink cotton candy must be for Victoria.

Violet's question was innocent on the surface, but McNeil's face, half-shadowed, looked stormy.

"No, I brought a friend," Marcus replied.

McNeil finally spoke, his voice so cold it could chill to the bone. "That must be the 'Miss Fannie' you mentioned. I suppose you lent her your Maybach the other day, too?" The flicker of surprise on Marcus's face confirmed McNeil's guess. He laughed, "McNeil, you're a CEO, not a detective, but you got everything right." Violet smiled. "We didn't guess we saw your Miss Fannie ourselves. But-" She paused, tilting her head. "Are you sure her nis Miss Fannie?"

Marcus waved it off. "Why would I lie about that? I'm not after anyone's kid. I mean, con I look a lot better than the creeps in those scam stories, don't you think?"

Seeing Marcus, Gwyneth immediately figured Max and her mom must be nearby too. Forgetting att about cotton candy, she took advantage of the adults' conversation to sneak off in search of Max and Victoria. Violet studied Marcus for a few seconds. So even men lost their wits when they fell for someone. And Marcus, it seemed, was a little full of himself.

He used to focus all his attention on her, but now that he'd suddenly shifted it to someone else, Violet found it strangely boring.

"I'm worried for you," Violet said quietly to McNeil. "Aren't you afraid she might already be married?"

Marcus grinned. "No way. She looks like she just graduated. I even wonder if she's hit twenty yet. m Married? You've got quite the imagination. Someday I'll introduce you then you'll see " Marcus's eyes sparkled as he spoke about Victoria, but his excitement was quickly doused.

McNeil's voice was icy. "That won't be necessary. As long as you're happy." That was when Marcus realized just how frosty McNeil was being. After years of friendship, tonight was the first tMarcus felt real hostility coming from him.