Gwh couldn''t believe he was calling her while he was with another woman.


    Her first instinct was to hang up, just as she always did, but she stopped herself. She had to get back to Greenvale to deal with the pregnancy. Steeling her nerves, she answered.


    For the first time in ages, Gwh actually picked up. Hawthorne was surprised, but a wave of relief and happiness washed over him.


    "Gwyn?"


    Her voice was so cold it could freeze bone. "I''m not calling for any particr reason, and I hope I didn''t interrupt anything important. You asked when I wasing back to Greenvale. I was thinking in the next day or two. Can you send someone to pick me up?"


    Hawthorne was momentarily confused. She wanted toe back?


    "When do you want toe? I can send someone right away," he said, his voice trembling slightly. Gwh knew the longer she stayed in Starfall City, the more likely her grandfather would find out about the pregnancy.


    "The sooner, the better."


    Hawthorne didn''t know what had changed her mind, but he was ecstatic. His hand holding the phone was shaking.


    "Okay. I''ll head over right now."


    His voice was filled with an undisguised joy, as if he wanted to fly to her side that very instant and pull her into his arms.


    Gwh hung up after giving her reply. She took a deep breath, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach. Two little lives were inside her. What was she going to do?


    Hawthorne left his office, ready to go and pick up Gwh, when someone rushed


    over.


    "Mr. Everhart, Director Yale fainted in her office! Should we call an ambnce?"


    Patti Yale was a nuisance no one wanted to deal with, but she had Mr. Everhart''s favor. So when she copsed, someone immediately ran to inform him.


    "Where is she?"


    Hawthorne instantly changed course and headed for Patti''s office, dialing Hans as he walked. "I need you to go to Starfall City and bring Ms. Everhart home. I''m tied up here."


    Hans, who was also at thepany, was bewildered. He had just gotten off the phone with Mr. Everhart


    when


    he saw his boss hurrying toward Director Yale''s office. So that was the reason Mr. Everhart@ouldn''t pick up his wife. It was Patti Yale. Cóntent


    It wasn''t his ce to question his boss. He simply followed orders, arranging for the


    private jet to fly to Starfall City.


    Gwh had already packed all her


    things and was waiting for


    Hawthorne. As the jetnded on the


    noe hist


    Hawthorne was nowhere in sight.


    "Ms. Everhart, Mr. Everhart sent me to bring you home."


    Any lingering hope Gwh might have had shattered into a million pieces. Before,


    he had at least put on a show. Now, it seemed Hawthorne couldn''t even be bothered to pretend.


    Hans looked guilty as he spoke, but Gwh didn''t bother to call him out on it. She didn''t even ask what important matter had kept


    Hawthorne froming himself if she was smart, she know He was with Patti Yale, the two of them joined at the hip at the office. He was probably too busy being lovey-dovey with his mistress to spare a thought for her.


    Gwh boarded the ne with Hans. As it ascended into the clouds, the houses below shrank into tiny matchboxes before disappearing entirely.


    Her mind was heavy with thoughts. She waited until she was far from Starfall City before calling Victoria Turner, wanting to avoid a barrage of questions.