His tone was calm, devoid of any threat or transactional implication. He was simply negotiating with her.


    Gwh found his reasoning usible, even if she privately scoffed at the idea that Everhart couples never lived apart. It was all for show, wasn''t it? Still, for her grandfather''s sake, she had topromise.


    "Fine, I agree."


    It was just a matter of living under the same roof, she reasoned. Hawthorne''s vi had plenty of rooms. She could pick one, and if she didn''t want to see him, it would be easy enough to avoid him. It reminded her of old stories about sprawling manors where a lord and hisdy could live for years without ever crossing paths if one fell out of favor.


    Hawthorne''s vi was absurdlyrge. The idea of living together yet entirely separate was not uneptable.


    Seeing her nod, Hawthorne let out a quiet sigh of relief and started the car again, driving them the rest of the way home.


    She hadn''t been back in nearly half a month. When the butler saw Gwh, the old man''s face lit up with genuine surprise and delight.


    Previously, his expression had always been as cold and distant as a traditional butler. Gwh had even wondered if he''d had professional training in expression management.


    "Mrs. Everhart, you''re back!"


    Seeing the elderly man wee her so warmly, Gwh found she couldn''t ignore him. She gave a slight nod. "Butler Parham."


    Butler Parham looked as happy as if he were greeting his own granddaughter-in-w. He was so excited he almost stumbled, and Gwh felt a flicker of emotion.


    Afterposing himself, the butler led the way inside.


    “We''ve put fresh sheets on your bed, and the maids have been airing them out in the sun every day. The room is all ready for you. It''s so wonderful to see you back."


    Butler Parham, usually a man of few words, chattered on about the household chores.


    Hawthorne walked beside Gwh, pulling her suitcase behind him. When a maid came to take the bag, the butler realized he had forgotten his own duties.


    “Butler Parham, thank you for all you''ve done for me."


    She could be cold to Hawthorne, but she couldn''t bring herself to be callous toward an old man.


    "Mrs. Everhart, what would you like to eat today? I''ll have the kitchen prepare it It''s just so good to have you home. Mr. Everhart hasn''t been eating or sleeping well. I can tell how worried he''s been aboutyoudts normal for a young couple to argue, but please don''t let it get to you. I''ve watched Mr. Everhart grow up. He''s not a man of fancy words, and he doesn''t know how to make a girl happy. Please don''t take anything he does to heart or hold it against him."


    Butler Parham was pleading Hawthorne''s case so earnestly that Gwh was


    almost overwhelmed. Hawthorne just gave the butler a gentle look.


    “Butler Parham, just prepare a few of Mrs. Everhart''s favorite dishes."


    The butler actually raised a hand to wipe away a tear.


    Gwh felt a sense of helplessness.


    "Which room do you want your luggage in?" Hawthorne asked her.


    After the butler''s heartfelt disy, Gwh swallowed the words she had been about to say. He had clearly prepared the master bedroom meticulously. If she chose. a different room now, she imagined Butter Parham would be weeping under the moonlight.


    "Take it to the master bedroom."


    Hawthorne nodded and instructed the maid behind him to do so.


    "Don''t worry," he added quietly to Gwh. "I won''t sleep there. I''ll be in the study."


    If he had insisted on sharing a room, Gwh would have felt deeply ufortable. But with his assurance, she had nothing more to say. Returning to this ce felt surreal. She never thought she''de back. The flowers and trees in the courtyard looked vibrant and full of life.


    "Do you still want to go to thepany?" Hawthorne asked.


    Gwh''s brow furrowed. She remembered a message from a colleague saying


    Hawthorne had brought Patti Yale to the office.


    “No, I don''t think I''ll be going back."


    She didn''t want to run into his little


    me. Besides, she was only


    agreeing to the Thanksgiving wedding for her grandfather''s sake. Their Connection, she thought,


    wouldn''tst much longer Once her


    grandfather and the rest of her


    family were ready, she would


    officially divorce Hawthorne.


    Hawthorne had anticipated this. With Patti Yale now at thepany, he had to go


    all-in to y the long game and reel in a big fish like Danny Oakes.