Hawthorne knew this couldn''t go on.


    He had to find a reason to bring Gwh from Starfall City back to his side.


    Otherwise, a separation of several months could lead to anything.


    After a few more unanswered calls to Gwh, he finally gave up for the time being.


    Gwh remained in their shared apartment, her days filled with little more than painting.


    She would asionally call Leonie to check on Max.


    From Leonie, she learned that Connor''s injuries had mostly healed and a check-up confirmed nothing serious, which brought her some relief.


    Since Hawthorne had left, Gwh had been feeling strangely lethargic.


    At first, she thought it was just her low spirits, but she wasn''t one to wallow in sadness.


    By immersing herself in her art, she filled her days and gradually began to forget the sorrow from her conflict with Hawthorne.


    Even so, she felt tired every day.


    And when it came to the meals prepared by the house staff, she was like a different person, cleaning her te every time.


    Her appetite was huge, shezed in bed in the mornings, and after lunch, she could easily sleep until four or five in the afternoon.


    After a week of this cycle, she had visibly put on some weight.


    Even the housekeepermented that she looked much fuller.


    "Miss, have you been in a good moodtely? I see you''re eating and sleeping so well."


    The housekeeper, sent from the Langford patriarch''s estate, still couldn''t get used to calling her Mrs. Everhart, and Gwh preferred being called ''Miss'' anyway.


    Only in Greenvale did Butler Parham call her Mrs. Everhart, which had felt very strange at first.


    "I guess so. Maybe it''s just a good mood." That''s what she thought, too.


    l.ne


    When she first moved to Greenvale to escape Starfall City, the new environment and the ssic beauty of the lush fertile south had lifted her spirits tremendously


    "If you don''t mind me saying, Miss, you look like you might be pregnant. My niece was just like this right after she got married. Eating well drinking well, sleeping at the time think y should go to the hospital fora check-up."


    Gwh had been feeling happy, but the housekeeper''s words sent a chill down her spine.


    It couldn''t be, could it? She was pregnant?


    Thest time she went to the hospital, they said her missed period was due to a hormonal imbnce.


    Thinking back, she realized her period hadn''te since then.


    She had assumed it was a health issue that would resolve itself with time and some herbal remedies, so she hadn''t paid it much attention.


    "That''s impossible. Mr. Everhart went back to Greenvale right after we got married. I couldn''t be pregnant that fast."


    She denied it out loud, knowing deep down that if her family found out she was pregnant, it would create a massive problem.


    As long as she stayed away from Hawthorne and her belly didn''t grow, she could probably drag things out until the divorce, right?


    It would only disappoint the Langford patriarch and the others for a little while.


    The thought made her deny it again, but a knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach.


    Waking up from her afternoon nap


    feeling heavy, she drove herself to


    the gynecology department a Starfall City''srgest central hospital.


    After an ultrasound, Gwh waited for nearly half an hour before getting the report.


    "Miss Langford, congrattions, you''re pregnant."