Gwh had no desire to waste her breath on someone like Bill Crawford. He red at her, his voice dripping with malice. ''You''re just pathetic, Gwh. Even with all my girlfriends, I treated you like a treasure, cherished you so much I couldn''t even bring myself toy a finger on you. And what about Hawthorne? He used you up and then tossed you aside, and yet you''re stillpletely hung up on him. Tell me, how desperate can you be?''


    His eyes devoured her, as if he wanted to swallow her whole. He grabbed her wrist, his grip so tight she winced in pain. ''We''re over,'' she said, trying to wrench her hand free. ''And since you have so many girlfriends, why don''t you go find one of them? Wasn''t that beautiful woman waiting for you? Why bother with a married woman like me? Besides, who I''m with is my business, not yours.''


    But Bill held on tight. He was consumed by regret. He never would have imagined that Gwh was the eldest daughter of the Langford family of Starfall City. While his Crawford family had some standing in Greenvale, it was nothingpared to the Everharts. He cursed himself for being so blind. If he had be the Langford family''s son-inw, he would have had the world at his feet.


    The Qi family would have been nothing; his family could have crushed them. He would have been limitlessly powerful, fabulously wealthy. With his phndering nature, he could have easily yed the part of the devoted husband, keeping Gwh happy at home while he continued his escapades. Women these days were so understanding, weren''t they? As long as the husband didn''t abandon the family, they''d turn a blind eye to his affairs. And with the title of Langford son-inw, his family would have been unstoppable in the business world.


    Bill was drowning in regret. When he''d heard on the news that Hawthorne was cheating, his first feeling was glee. As the ex-boyfriend, it was the perfect opportunity to swoop in. After all, he and Gwh had a history. A heartbroken woman needs a strong shoulder to cry on, right?


    ''Gwyn, I''m serious about you,'' he pleaded. ''Just agree to be my girlfriend again, and I swear I''ll break up with all the other women. I''ll even sign a contract, just for you. There will never be another woman. If I break this promise, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death.'' Gwh could onlyugh. Such a childish oath wouldn''t even fool a kid, let alone her.


    ''Bill, I suggest you get your head checked.'' She didn''t want to argue; the man was ruining her meal. ''Gwh, you can do this the easy way or the hard way.'' Gwh''s patience wore thin. A peaceful meal was apparently too much to ask for.


    ''Easy or hard, I''m not interested,'' she snapped, her face hardening. ''I''m pregnant. If you''re so inclined, you can y the doting father, but I have one condition: your family''s entire fortune goes to my child.'' Bill''s face twisted in disbelief He couldn''t believe the Gwh he hadn''t seen in months had be so sharp-tongued.


    ''Gwh, stop talking nonsense.'' He couldn''t help but nce at her stomach. Now that he looked closer, she had indeed filled out. The slender, innocent college graduate was gone, reced by a woman with a softer, fuller figure. The baby fat on her cheeks made her look even younger and cuter.


    ''What are you staring at?'' Gwh


    said coldly. You know it''s nonsense, so kindly get out of my sight and let me eat in peace. The secret she had guarded for so long had just tumbled out. How ironic, she thought, that the first person to know she was pregnant wasn''t a friend, a loved one, or even the man responsible, but an insignificant man she despised.


    Bill''s eyes smoldered with resentment and frustration. He opened his mouth to say more, but just then, Connor arrived. Connor and Hawthorne were both men Bill couldn''t afford to cross. Between the Green family and the Langford family of Starfall City not to mention her connection to the Everharts in Greenvale, Gwh was well-protected. All he could do was act like a paper tiger, puffing his chest to save face.


    ''Bill Crawford,'' Connor''s voice was low and dangerous. ''Get lost. Now.''