Still, she knew she had to be extremely careful. Her father was waiting in prison to be bailed out, and only by restoring the Yale family''s fortune could she reim her life of luxury. Pattiy on her soft bed, hugging a pillow. She, too, was waiting for that day toe.


    Meanwhile, in Starfall City, Gwh hadn''t slept a wink since Hawthorne left. Starfall City, a ce that rarely saw rain, was suddenly shrouded in dark clouds the next morning.


    She sat by the window, watching the rain drum against the broad leaves outside, listening to the rhythmic patter on the roof tiles. For a fleeting moment, it felt like she was back in Greenvale with Hawthorne. But the nostalgia was brief, and she quickly pulled her thoughts back to the harsh reality.


    Victoria had her driver bring her over first thing in the morning. Seeing Gwh alone, her face hardened. “Where''s Hawthorne?" To abandon her daughter right after the wedding-it was outrageous.


    "He went back to Greenvale. He had some business to take care of." Gwh didn''t want her mother to worry. She had forced herself to recenter after Hawthorne''s departure. Since the rain kept her from painting in the garden, she had set up her easel on the second-floor balcony. She had only made a few strokes when Victoria arrived.


    "What business could be so important? It''s only the third day of your honeymoon."


    Gwh looked at her mother and poured her a pot of fine oolong tea. She offered a cid smile, showing no trace of resentment or sorrow. "Mommy, Hawthorne and I were already legally married. We just came back to hold the ceremony as a formality. It''s not really a honeymoon."


    Seeing Gwh soposed, Victoria felt a wave of relief, but she still couldn''t ept it. No matter how you looked at it, for a husband to leave his new bride on the third day was simply wrong. "If you don''t mind, what can I say? Oh, Gwyn..." Victoria felt as if her daughter had grown up overnight. It seemed like only yesterday she was a little girl, tugging on her hand and begging her to y games. Now, she was an adult, a wife, and a future mother. Time had passed too quickly, and Victoria was still struggling to adjust.


    "Hawthorne asked me to go with him, but I said no," Gwh exined. "We still have to go to Greenvale for the holidays, and my time with you and Dad will be more and more limited."


    Victoria knew her daughter better than anyone. Gwh had always kept her distance, but now she was suddenly cherishing their time together. It was clear her daughter was facing a rough patch in her rtionship.


    "Did you and Hawthorne have a fight? Tell me the truth.”


    Gwh looked at her mother, the words forming on her lips, but she swallowed them back. “No, Mommy. Don''t overthink it."


    Victoria took her hand and sighed. "I''ve been through this, darling. In this world, not everything you want will just fall into yourp. If there''s a problem in your rtionship you have to fight for it, even snatch it3 back if you must." Her words were direct.


    Gwh realized she couldn''t hide anything from her mother. "You know."


    "Silly girl. I don''t want to interfere in your life, but I can''t bear to see you give up on a


    man you love without a fight. Are you really okay with letting him go?"


    A flicker of Sorrow finally crossed Gwh''s face. "I''m not. But I don''t want to


    to light with someone else


    over him. "Mommy, I''m so tired." All she wanted was a simple life, free of schemes and heartache.


    Victoria wrapped her arms around Gwh, patting her back gently. "Gwyn, no matter what you want to do, I will always support you. But before you make a decision, you must think it through very carefully Be absolutely sure it''s something you won''t regret."