Her mother had always seemed so unreasonable, making her father miserable too.


    Gwh had even sworn that when she grew up, she would never be a woman like her mother.


    But now, finding herself in the same situation, she finally understood the gut- wrenching pain.


    It wasn''t just the betrayal; it was theplete copse of trust and the utter despair for the future.


    The fairy-tale romance she had woven in her mind had shattered into a million pieces overnight.


    It seemed that no emotional bond, no promise of a life together, could everpete with the idealized memory of an old me.


    She considered fighting for him, but she had witnessed her mother''s suffering firsthand.


    To protest would be to relive that tragedy.


    Yet now, for the sake of her family, she was forced to remain entangled with this


    man.


    Gwh was trapped in an unprecedented spiral of conflict and heartache.


    As she poured out her emotions, she failed to notice the slight twitch of McNeil''s fingers on the bedsheet.


    After a while, Gwh finally sat up and wiped her tears away.


    "I''m sorry, Daddy," she whispered. "I didn''t mean to say all that and make you sad. It''s just... I''m really hurting."


    She had never loved anyone the way she loved Hawthorne, and now she was learning how much love could hurt.


    But she had responsibilities. She couldn''t just follow her heart.


    The patriarch''s health was more important than anything.


    Her marriage and her love life were already a wreck; what harm could a little more damage do?


    The patriarch was the only one she had left from that generation.


    If his health failed, she would lose him forever.


    Composing herself, Gwh looked at McNeil onest time.


    "Daddy, don''t


    n''t you want to wake up


    and see us again? Mom said the


    patriarch''s health has been declining ever since he heard abo ard about your


    condition. We''re the people you love most. Can you really bear to see him grieve for you at his age?"


    But no matter what she said, the man on the bed remained motionless.


    Disappointment washed over her. Perhaps she shouldn''t have held onto any hope at all.


    She finally stood and picked up her bag.


    "I''m going now, Daddy. I''lle


    back to see you again. I wish so


    much that you and Mom could be at my wedding. Even though I won''t be happy getting married is still a


    major


    event hust want you


    blessing."


    5


    After a few moments of silent farewell, she opened the door and left.


    The moment the door clicked shut, a few long, dark strands of Gwh''s hair were seen tangled in McNeil''s hand.


    Outside the hospital, Hawthorne was leaning against his car, a small pile of cigarette butts at his feet.


    He had lost count of how many he''d smoked.


    When he finally saw Gwh emerge, he extinguished the one in his hand.


    She walked past him without a word, her face an emotionless mask, and got into the car herself.


    Hawthorne looked at her cold expression and said nothing.


    He knew that right now, anything he said would fall on deaf ears.


    They drove back to the vi the


    Langford patriarch had purchased in


    Starfall


    City and Hawthorne walked.


    her to their room.


    Just as he was about to turn and leave, Gwh''s voice stopped him.


    "You should sleep in here tonight. I don''t want Mom and the patriarch to know we''re sleeping in separate rooms."


    Hawthorne''s expression didn''t change. "Okay. Whatever you say."