"Gwyn, why don''t you take Celia and Chris outside for a bit? The adults need to talk."


    Victoria''s tone was as sweet as if she were coaxing a child.


    What did she mean, "the adults"? Hawthorne, apparently considering himself one


    of them, made no move to leave. Gwh could only sigh, especially since Hawthorne was giving her that affectionate, indulgent look.


    "Go on," he said gently, ruffling her hair. "I''lle find you in a little while."


    Gwh hesitated, caught off guard by the warmth in his eyes. For a moment, they just looked at each other, and in the end, she gave in.


    "Fine," she said, resigned.


    As soon as Gwh and her siblings left the dining room, Victoria''s demeanor changed; her usual warmth reced by a rare seriousness.


    "Gwyn isn''t like other girls," she said, fixing Hawthorne with a steady gaze. "If you''re truly set on marrying her, you need to be prepared."


    Hawthorne''s face remained calm, his voice steady. "I understand."


    But Victoria shook her head. "No, I don''t think you do. Gwyn suffers from a severe psychological condition. It''s my fault-"


    Her words caught in her throat and her eyes turned red. Even Thorpe fell silent.


    Though much of what Victoria said next was already known to Hawthorne, he listened patiently, out of respect.


    "We''re telling you all this because we need to be honest. If you''re still willing to ept Gwyn-well, then we can truly be at peace."


    Victoria did hope Gwh would marry soon, but only to someone worthy of her.


    Children shouldn''t bear the consequences of adults'' mistakes.


    Hawthorne''s reply caught Victoriapletely off guard.


    "I don''t see it as an illness," he said quietly. "Maybe that''s exactly what makes Gwyn so endearing, and so easy to care for."


    It was the first time Victoria and the family patriarch had heard anyone describe Gwh this way.


    Even the doctors called it a defense mechanism. Unless McNeil woke up, no one could say how long Gwh would remain like this. If things went badly, she could spend her whole life trapped in regret.


    No one in the Langford family wanted that for her.


    "She''s just trying to escape reality, ming herself for everything that''s happened.


    You don''t need to say more. I''ve made up my mind I''m marrying Gwyn."


    The three of them talked for nearly half an hour, and finally settled on Thanksgiving for the wedding.


    A day for family, a day when heartse together-it was the perfect choice.


    "These days, you can get a marriage license in different counties," Thorpe chimed in, his eagerness clear. "Why not handle the paperwork before the formal engagement?"


    Victoria was so surprised she didn''t know what to say.


    Hawthorne nodded. "That''s what I was thinking too."


    No point in leaving things to chance.


    With Hawthorne''s agreement, everyone breathed a little easier.


    When Gwh returned to the dining room, all eyes turned to her.


    "Gwyn," Vietoria said, smiling, "why don''t you and Hawthorne stay here tonight? We''ve already arranged to meet the city hall staff early tomorrow. You can get your marriage license first thing."


    Gwh blinked, certain she must have misheard.


    "Get what?"


    Hawthorne reached for her hand, gently bringing it to his lips. The smile he gave


    her was the most captivating she''d ever seen.


    "A marriage license."


    The Next Morning


    Gwh felt like a porcin doll as Victoria pulled her out of bed and fussed over her hair and dress. She hadn''t slept a wink all night, and to make matters worse, one of the housekeepers even asked if she''d spent the night in Hawthorne''s room-Victoria nearly had to peel her off the ceiling after that.


    With barely any sleep, she could hardly keep her eyes open as Victoria styled her hair.


    Hawthorne was already dressed impably; Gwh wore a simple white dress. Under Victoria and Thorpe''s warm smiles, the two of them headed out to the car.


    Gwh couldn''t help but notice


    that Hawthorne looked just as he always did unruffled, confident. She, on the other hand, never wore dresses, and today she''d been forced into one. She felt out of ce, awkward in every way.


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