“I didn’t.”
Victoria could tell by McNeil’s tone that he wasn’t joking.
She immediately ended the call and turned to the teacher. “Excuse me, who picked Gwyn up?”
If it wasn’t McNeil, then who else could it be?
“It was her aunt, I think. The one who used to come with Mr. Langford to pick her up. Gwyn seemed happy to see her.”
Victoria froze. Gwyneth’s aunt? There was no one else but Violet.
But Violet was supposed to be in prison.
Before she could call McNeil again, her phone rang—he was already calling her back.
“I’m on my way to find Gwyn. I just got word from the warden: Violet seduced the prison director and wrangled a three-day leave. It’s probably her who took Gwyn.”
The world swam before Victoria’s eyes. She nearly fainted and would have collapsed if someone hadn’t caught her.
“Gwyn’s mom, are you okay?” The teacher’s worried face swam into focus.
Victoria forced a smile, quickly asked for more details, then rushed out the door.
—
Gwyneth sat in the car, peering up at Violet with shining eyes. It had been so long since she’d seen her aunt, and she couldn’t help but feel overjoyed.
But Violet didn’t look the least bit happy.
“Ms. Marchand, where are we going?” Gwyneth asked, curious. “Are we going to your house?”
She was still full of hopeful excitement, but when Violet heard the word “house,” her expression changed sharply.
“I don’t have a house anymore.”
Her gaze darkened, turning almost vicious. “Your mother’s the reason for all of this.”
Gwyneth’s memories of Violet were stuck in the past, when Violet would use her to curry favor with McNeil. She didn’t notice the poisonous resentment in Violet’s voice, or how that hatred was now being directed at her.
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