Patti Yale saw the smug smile ying at the corners of Gwh''s eyes and lips, yet in front of them, she projected an image of cautious humility.


    "Mrs. Everhart, please don''t misunderstand. It''s really not what you think."


    Gwh didn''t say a word. She simply walked with calmposure until she stood right in front of Hawthorne. Then, under everyone''s astonished gaze, she moved with lightning speed, her hand swinging up and striking Hawthorne across the face. The sound of the p was startlingly clear in the night air.


    "Ah!"


    Leonie and Patti both gasped in shock. Patti rushed to Hawthorne''s side, gently touching his cheek. "Hawthorne, are you okay? Mrs. Everhart, you shouldn''t treat Hawthorne like this. He hasn''t done anything to wrong you. You''ve truly misunderstood."


    Hawthorne''s voice turned colder. He looked at Patti, his tone unusually calm but firm. "Didn''t you hear me? I told you to go inside."


    To the onlookers, hismanding tone sounded like he was protecting Patti. She yed the part of the frail victim even more convincingly, lowering her voice and bowing her head like a child who had done wrong, yet still appearing meek. "Okay, I understand. But please, don''t fight because of me."


    After saying this, she gave Gwh a deep, meaningful look before turning and heading into the house. Leonie immediately chased after her, leaving Gwh and Hawthorne in a tense standoff at the door.


    "Gwyn, I can exin," Hawthorne said, a bitter taste on his lips.


    "There''s no need. Isn''t it obvious enough? You''re still treating me like a fool, Hawthorne. You


    underestimate me. Just because loved you once doesn''t mean let you trample on my dignity


    noviet


    indefinitely. Do you think our family owes you something, so you have to treat me this way? If you don''t love me, you could have just said so. Why get married only to drag your lover into our e? Since you two in love, you could have just gotten married. There''s no point in me being with you, and my family has nothing left for you to exploit.”


    are


    The moment she saw them together, her heart had shattered. Before, she could deny whatever she found, telling herself it was all fake. But now? They were living in the same building, and Hawthorne had brought her home sote. If she hadn''t shown up, would Hawthorne have stayed the night?


    "What did you tell me before? You said we are still husband and wife. As a married couple, thew states we are a family. Your rtionship with this woman is a sordid affair. ording to thew, couldn''t I sue her? I could even recover every penny you''ve spent on her."


    At this, Hawthorne''s eyes turned icy. "Gwyn, don''t be rash. It''s not what you think. You can''t sue her, at least not right now."


    Gwh almostughed in fury. Even now, he was still defending that woman, Patti Yale. How could he stand there and im there was nothing between them? He was contradicting himself, pping his own face with his words.


    "Fine. I''ll ask you now: me or her? You choose."


    Gwh gave Hawthorne an ultimatum, but he was overwhelmed with a pain that


    he couldn''t articte. He couldn''t make a choice, not now.


    "Gwyn, I''ve already told you, just give me some time."


    Gwh sneered, staring at him. "Fine, you want time, I''ll give you time. How long? A month? Two? A year? Or maybe ten or twenty years? After your children with her are born, do you expect them to call me ''Mom''? Hawthorne is it because can''t have children that you had to find some woman on the side to give you an heir? Or are you trying to secure my position as the primary wife by having a bastard child and bringing him home for me to raise under my name?"


    How much more cliché drama did she have to endure? Gwh didn''t want to think about it anymore. Hawthorne, for his part, had no idea she coulde up with such wild scenarios. But now, caught red-handed with Patti, he was at a loss for words.