This time, Gwh Langford heard it clearly—it was a woman''s voice. She immediately hung up the phone.


    Hawthorne had just walked in from outside to find Patti Yale waiting in his office. His phone was sitting on the desk, untouched. When Patti had arrived, she found him gone. The phone had rung, the screen disying the word ''Darling''.


    Resentment churned within her, and she swiped to answer. But the person on the other end hung up before she could even say a word.


    If Patti''s guess was right, it had to be Gwh.


    She hadn''t followed Hawthorne to Greenvale, so what was the meaning of this call? Was she trying to get him toe back to Starfall City?


    Patti had been ready to mock Gwh over the phone, but the line had gone dead too quickly, and she didn''t dare call back.


    She knew better than to provoke Hawthorne. All she could manage were these small, underhanded acts.


    "What are you doing here at this hour?" Hawthorne asked, walking directly to the leather armchair and sitting down.


    Patti quickly pulled out her medical report. "This is my ultrasound report. I wanted you to see it. I''m seven weeks along. Hawthorne, I''ve been thinking... I don''t think I should keep this baby. I''ll terminate the pregnancy. What do you think?"


    If this child was going to be a liability in her rtionship with Hawthorne, she thought it best to get rid of it quickly. As for James Mercer, she knew she couldn''t use the baby to threaten him into giving her higher, position. After all, wasn''t James already trying to offload her and the baby onto Hawthorne?


    Hawthorne just looked at her. "So, your n is to get an abortion, then pretend to be pregnant to deceive James. And you expect me to y along Sif I''m being fooled t Patti, do you really think all men are idiots? If you get rid of the baby, what leverage would you have over James? He''d have no more use for you."


    A chill went down Patti''s spine. It was clear her little test had failed; Hawthorne wasn''t falling for it. But would he willingly raise James''s child? Would he let himself be yed for a fool?


    Her belly would grow bigger every


    day. She could deal with the pregnancy in the first three to five months, but by eight or nine months, it would be undeniable proof that she was carrying James Mercer''s illegitimate child. Hawthorne and James were mortal enemies. If she gave birth to James''s baby sho could never be with Hawthorne. Didn''t he understand that? Was he really willing to raise his rival''s child?


    Patti couldn''t fathom what was going through his mind, but she knew she couldn''t act without his consent. If she terminated the pregnancy and Hawthorne found out, would he decide she was no longer useful and cast her aside?


    Patti was no fool. She immediately softened her tone, trying a more pleading approach. "Oh, I was just talking... I wanted to get your opinion. If you don''t want me to, then I''ll keep the baby."


    Hawthorne shot her a cold look. "Get out," he said tly.


    Patti didn''t dare push her luck further and meekly left the office.


    Hawthorne checked his phone and saw no missed call from Gwh. Deciding to try again, he dialed her number.