"I''m fine. If that''s all, I''d like to rest."


    She had wanted to tell him about the pregnancy, but with his other woman already carrying his child, she was certain he wouldn''t care about the two lives growing inside her.


    "We don''t have to be at each other''s throats. We are still husband and wife, after all."


    The statement almost made Gwhugh out loud.


    “Husband and wife? We''re just a couple on paper, with a marriage certificate and a wedding reception to our name. Oh, and I forgot about the other ceremony we have to hold at the end of the year," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Don''t worry. I told you I''d help you, and I will. The wedding will proceed as nned. You can count on me. I''m not the type to go back on my word, unlike some people who say one thing and do another."


    The insinuation was tant, but Hawthorne could only pretend not to hear it.


    As long as he kept Patti Yale around, Gwh would never believe a word he said. And yet, he couldn''t reveal his true n.


    He knew that once a woman believes her man is lying, nothing he says can restore her trust. With that in mind, Hawthorne decided there was no point in exining himself. He would have to deal with James first, and only then could he tell Gwh the truth about everything. As for Patti Yale, he had already arranged an exit strategy for her. Whether she kept her child with James was her decision to make; it had nothing to do with him. He wouldn''t pressure her to keep it or to terminate the pregnancy—the choice was entirely hers. For now, Patti was simply a pawn in his game against James.


    Since he couldn''t exin and knew she wouldn''t believe him anyway, Hawthorne decided to change the subject to ease the escting tension. “Why did you suddenly decide toe back?"


    "We''re married. You returned to Greenvale, and if I stayed in Starfall City, my mother and the Langford patriarch would get suspicious. So I decided toe back and stay here unur after our wedding Then figure out my next move."


    So that was her real reason. For a moment, Hawthorne had hoped she''d had a change of heart and wanted to be with him. But she was as stubborn as ever, merely fulfilling her end of the bargain.


    Hawthorne wasn''t in a position to ask anything of her. He just needed to keep her close, to prevent her from leaving his sight until the year-end wedding was over. After that, he coulde up with @new n. A thought struck him they


    hadn''t used any prote


    thest


    few times they were together. If she


    were pregnant, would she still be so determined to leave?


    “You are still Mrs. Everhart,” he said softly. “If you want to go anywhere, just let me know. I can make the arrangements for you."


    A bone-deep chill emanated from Gwh''s eyes. "You don''t need to trouble yourself, Mr. Everhart. I can manage my own affairs. You should spend your time taking care of your all, she needs”


    dear Patti Yale. After


    you more than I do right now."


    Cóntent


    She nearly blurted out, You two already have a child on the way, so why are you still putting on this act for me?


    But she held her tongue. She was already on the losing side of this love triangle; there was no need to humiliate herself further by begging for his attention.


    Hawthorne''s brow furrowed at the mention of Patti''s name, a dull ache throbbing in his temples. Why did women always fixate on one thing and bring it up over and over again? It was something he truly couldn''t understand.