"Uncle."


    Leonie couldn''t believe her eyes. Was her uncle actually protecting this woman?


    "That''s enough. Your aunt is already in Connor''s car. You should go home too. It''s gettingte, don''t make your father and Gwh worry. A girl like you shouldn''t be out thiste. I already called your father and told him you were with me. I won''t be driving you back."


    Leonie couldn''t believe what she was hearing from Hawthorne himself.


    "Uncle, are you insane? Has that woman, Patti, put some kind of spell on you? You just married my aunt, and now you''re involved with this woman and she''s pregnant with your child?"


    At that moment, Leonie was even more heartbroken than Gwh. In her eyes, her uncle had always been a god-like figure, and gods weren''t supposed to have ws. How could such an upright man be like this?


    "Enough. Don''t say another word. Go home now. And from now on, you are forbidden from bringing your aunt to this ce ever again."


    Leonie looked at Hawthorne in disbelief. “Uncle, I never thought you were this kind of person. I was wrong about you."


    Leonie bit her lip, her heart filled with disappointment. With onest look at


    Hawthorne, she said, "Uncle, you''ve disappointed me so much. But it''s not just me you''ve hurt. You''ve hurt Aunt Gwh deeply."


    Leonie turned and ran.


    Patti put on an innocent face and looked at Hawthorne. "I''m sorry, I had no choice just now. Your niece came up and kept provoking me. was afraid of hurting the baby s had to lie to her hose things Leonie said could drive anyone mad. She was also afraid Hawthorne


    might have overheard.


    Hawthorne, however, wasn''t thinking about what grievances Patti might have or what games she was ying. Everything was under his control. There wasn''t much time left. Once James was dealt with, everything would be resolved.


    “Lying is better than telling the truth,” he said tly. It waste, and he had to leave. He needed to go and smooth things over with Gwh. No matter what, he was not willing to lose his wife.


    Patti watched Hawthorne leave, scoffing internally. Just you wait, she thought. One day, I will be Mrsz Everhart. A girl like Gwh, all loud and dramatic, was no match for her. She had no experience. Any other wealthy family''s wife would never stoop so low. Besides, they had only just married and thrown a huge wedding. If this got out, it would be the Langford family of Starfall Who would lose face. Patti wasn''t worried. The baby in her belly would keep Hawthorne concerned for a while longer. All she had to do was pray that Hawthorne didn''t get rid of James too quickly. Seeing how that righteous Gwh acted, they might not even make it to their end-of-year wedding ceremony.


    Before getting into Connor''s car, Leonie wiped all the tears from her face. "Aunt Gwh, I''m with you on this. Whatever you do to my uncle, he deserves But really think that woman seduced him. Her reputation in Greenvale ispletely ruined. How could my uncle possibly like someone like her?"


    Connor snorted. "Maybe she''s just good in bed. Men like that, you know?"


    If Leonie had a knife, Connor would have died a hundred times over.


    "Gwyn, I''m serious. Since things aren''t looking good here, why don''t you consider me? I would bepletely loyal to you."


    Leonie spat at him from the side. "You''re no better than my uncle. At least my uncle doesn''t sleep around like you. He''s had two girlfriends at most. Can you even count your exes on both hands?"


    The two started bickering in the car again. Gwh''s temples throbbed, but the antics of the two jesters in front of her seemed to wash away some of her earlier distress.


    "I''m not considering anyone. Connor, just make sure you get Leonie home safely. Her parents must be worried."