Gwh refused to waste any more time arguing with him.


    Hawthorne felt a surge of irritation.


    His Gwyn had never spoken to him with such a sharp edge, her resolve so unyielding.


    He swore to himself that he would deal with that man, Connor, sooner orter.


    "Fine, you can go," he conceded, "but you''re taking your medicine first. And we''re leaving for Starfall City today. Don''t forget we have more important things to attend to."


    His words snapped Gwh back to reality.


    She remembered the uing holiday and their wedding in Starfall City.


    Her grandfather, the Langford patriarch, was still in the hospital, waiting for her toe home.


    The news that McNeil Langford would never wake up had already devastated him. If her absence caused his health to decline further, she would never forgive herself. "Connor is in the hospital because he saved me," she argued. "If I don''t even go to see him when his life is on the line, what kind of person does that make me?"


    They had to return to Starfall City, she knew that.


    But Hawthorne had a private jet. They could leave whenever they wanted, as long


    as they made it back before the holiday festivities began.


    Connor''s life was hanging in the bnce; to not even visit him would be unbelievably cold-hearted.


    Hawthorne knew he couldn''t win this fight.


    No matter what he said, Gwh was determined to go, and it was better to keep her under his watch than to let her go alone.


    Thest time she''d been with Connor, she''d gotten into an ident. This time was no different.


    He couldn''t trust her safety when that man was around.


    "I''ll have the car brought around," he sighed. "Get changed and meet me


    downstairs. I''ll take you to the hospital. But we only have half an hour. After that, we leave for Starfall City. Don''t forget, your family and the Langford patriarch are all waiting for us."


    Thatst sentence was more effective than anymand.


    Without another word, Gwh got out of bed and went to change.


    She picked up the medicine from the nightstand and swallowed it without hesitation.


    Hawthorne was waiting for her downstairs.


    Once she was ready, they left for the hospital together.


    A small crowd of paparazzi was already camped outside Connor''s room.


    Hawthorne made a single phone call, and suddenly, the


    photographers received urgent


    about a bigger story elsewhere and scattered.


    Only then was Gwh able to enter the ward.


    Connor''s friends were there, and their expressions soured the moment they saw her.


    "What are you doing here?" one of them demanded. "Don''t you think you''ve hurt Connor enough?"


    "Just get out of here. He doesn''t want to see you."


    Connor was lying motionless in the hospital bed, clearly still unconscious after surgery.


    Gwh''s heart clenched with guilt.


    "Speak to my wife with some respect."


    Hawthorne''s voice was low and dangerous.


    He was a man whose reputation preceded him in Greenvale''s high society.


    As he stepped forward to stand behind Gwh, Connor''s friends, who recognized him instantly, stared with wide, shocked eyes. >


    "Is... is that Hawthorne Everhart?" one whispered.


    "No way. I''ve only ever seen him in business magazines. He never makes public appearances. What''s he doing here?"


    "Are you an idiot?" another hissed. "Didn''t you hear him? He called Connor''s girlfriend his wife."


    "You''ve got to be kidding me.


    Connor''s dated a lot of women, but


    he went after a married one this.


    time? And not just any married.


    woman... Hawthorne Everhart''s


    wife? He''s insane." ''


    The aggressive energy that had filled the hallway just moments before evaporated<ppletely.