The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

A fire crackled in the hearth, its warmth doing little to chase away the chill that had settled over the room.

Victoria swirled the red wine in her glass, bringing it to her lips for the occasional sip, her gaze distant and unfocused.

Out in the hallway, Haley stealthily dialed Yasmine. "Yasmine, you need to come see Mrs. Langford. It's barely dawn and she's already drinking."

Two glasses in, the wine was cold on Victoria's tongue, but her heart felt even colder.

She had just gotten off the phone with the bridal shop.

The plan was simple: on their anniversary, the dress would be delivered in the morning. That evening, she'd wear it to the studio, where she and McNeil would have their portrait taken—a keepsake for another year together.

But then, a minor hitch: McNeil had bailed last minute, and she'd somehow forgotten all about the dress herself.

And now-

"Mrs. Langford, we've already delivered the gown. You didn't receive it?"

Victoria frowned. She certainly hadn't.

"Where exactly did you send it?"

"To Midhill Manor, Winding Peak Lane. Mr. Langford's instructions."

Her hand slipped; the wine glass toppled, and a splash of crimson spread across

the pristine carpet, blossoming into a vivid stain-like the wound blooming in her chest, raw and impossible to ignore.

Winding Peak Lane. Midhill Manor.

McNeil's secret love nest.

Violet had lived there for six years. McNeil probably thought Victoria had no idea. But she'd always followed the advice of the old folks: "Before marriage, keep your eyes wide open. After marriage, turn a blind eye when you must."

She'd told herself, as long as McNeil treated her and their child well, there was no point obsessing over his flings.

Even her father-in-law had shrugged it off: "A man straying now and then is just how things are."

She was Mrs. Langford, and nobody could take that from her.

But now-

McNeil had given her mother's keepsake to his sweetheart, turned her daughter against her, and now even the wedding dress for their anniversary had ended up in Violet's hands.

This time, she couldn't just turn a blind eye.

When Yasmine followed Haley into the living room, she was greeted by the sight of three empty wine bottles at Victoria's feet. The glass had rolled away, and the carpet was dotted with wine stains-an utter mess.

Victoria lay draped across the chaise lounge, eyes glazed but not entirely lost- mostly sober, but with just enough wine in her to blur the edges.

Yasmine caught the sharp scent of alcohol as she approached.

Just three months ago, Victoria had been the picture of domestic grace- reserved, distant from the world, content to be Mrs. Langford. Then, out of nowhere, she'd hired a female secretary.

Yasmine had never seen her as the trophy wife the tabloids made her out to be.

But the last time Victoria had spiraled like this-lost and hollow-eyed-she'd nearly taken her own life.

"Mrs. Langford—" Yasmine called softly.

Victoria looked up, the blanket around her shoulders slipping to the floor.

"You're here. Good. Come with me somewhere," Victoria said, brushing off Yasmine's attempt to steady her.

"I'm not drunk."

She shrugged into a fur coat, her whole presence sharp and commanding a far cry from the woman who used to wait anxiously for McNeil to come home.

Midhill Manor was a long drive from the city.

Yasmine drove for over an hour and a half before they arrived.

Set against the backdrop of hills and water, the estate was quiet and secluded-a perfect retreat, far from the city's noise.

The deeper they drove, the more familiar the place felt to Victoria.

She'd been here once, two years back, and had even considered moving the family out to this peaceful spot. McNeil had protested, claiming it was too far from work.

Yet Violet could live here just fine; McNeil somehow always found the time to visit her. Maybe distance had never been the real issue-maybe he just didn't care enough.

When the grand, three-story manor finally came into view, Victoria thought she must be seeing things.noveldrama

She wasn't alone-Yasmine, who'd hurried out of the car to open the door for her, looked just as shocked.