Aside from the fact that he never showed up for his own wedding and was rumored to have a mistress stashed somewhere, McNeil was, in Paul’s eyes, practically flawless.
Right now, though, McNeil was eyeing Paul with clear disapproval. “Greet her properly—”
He repeated himself, and Paul glanced at Victoria. The emotions flickered across his face so fast and so raw that even Victoria felt a twinge of sympathy for him.
“Who is she, exactly?”
Is this my cousin’s wife?
Paul’s face was a kaleidoscope of emotions, every shade in the book. Mrs. Nelson nudged her son gently.
“Honestly, Paul, is that how you greet your cousin’s wife for the first time? McNeil, don’t mind him—he’s spoiled, that’s my fault. He doesn’t know any better.”
McNeil’s voice was cool and even. “Ignorance is no crime.”
Mrs. Nelson and Madonna exchanged confused glances, clearly not grasping McNeil’s meaning, but Paul’s striking, fox-like eyes narrowed, and for a long moment, he was at a loss for words.
Victoria hadn’t expected McNeil to introduce her to his family like this. But then she thought back on his odd behavior over the past few days—clearly, he had gotten the wrong idea.
“Cousin, since we’re meeting for the first time, let me toast you—”
Before Victoria could get to her feet, Paul nearly knocked his own glass off the table in his haste.
He looked genuinely startled. “No need, really, I can’t accept that. If you want to drink, you should do it with McNeil—he can hold his liquor. He won’t get drunk, trust me.”
It had never occurred to him that the first woman he’d ever had a crush on would turn out to be his cousin’s wife.
Paul looked at McNeil and finally understood why he’d been punched and forced to drink all night.
So that was jealousy. But how was he supposed to know?
He felt especially wronged—this was his first love, for crying out loud.
Madonna glanced from Paul to the married couple, a sense of unease prickling at her.
“So… do you two have something to discuss?”
She couldn’t understand why McNeil insisted Paul come to dinner, and why he’d brought Victoria along, too.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge