That night, Victoria tended to Gwyneth with gentle patience, staying by her side until the little girl finally drifted off to sleep.
Watching her daughter's peaceful face in the soft lamplight, Victoria couldn't help but smile. She'd made up her mind to stay here for a while, at least until Gwyneth's emotions settled. After that, she would think about what came next.
Ever since McNeil had snuck into her bed that one night, Victoria found it hard to sleep through the night. She lay awake, eyes open in the darkness, unable to relax.
Sometime near dawn, she heard the iron gate at the front of the house swing open, followed by blinding headlights that swept across the yard, turning night into day. Victoria immediately knew McNeil was home. She glanced at her sleeping daughter, held her a little closer, and shut her own eyes, pretending to be asleep. Still, every muscle in her body was tense.
There had been a time when she'd loved falling asleep in McNeil's arms. Now, the thought repulsed her. If it weren't for Gwyneth, she might have told him to leave—if not with words, then with her actions.
Downstairs, she listened to the muffled sounds of his return. The car engine cut and the front door opened. Xenia greeted him quietly.
Spring had brought the rainy season in full force; the storm outside was relentless. McNeil entered, still damp from the downpour, raindrops clinging stubbornly to his suit jacket.
He shrugged off his coat, and Xenia hurried to take it from him.
"Where's Gwyn?" he asked, voice low.
"Mrs. McNeil came back. She's upstairs with Miss Gwyneth—put her to bed already," Xenia replied with a warm smile.
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