Connor''s re was chilling. Bill forced a dryugh. ''Well, Gwh, looks like I underestimated you. You''re quite the yer yourself. No wonder you kept turning me down. First you snag Hawthorne, now you''ve got Connor on the hook. You''re really something else.'' He gave Gwh a sarcastic thumbs-up. ''You and I have nothing to do with each other,'' Gwh said calmly. ''Who I''m with is none of your business.''


    Connor had brought several men with him, who were waiting downstairs. He''d just been passing by when, by a stroke of luck, he spotted Gwh sitting alone by the window and felt an inexplicable pull to go up. He hadn''t expected to find her being harassed. Seeing that his posturing was useless, Bill slunk away like a dog with its tail between its legs.


    Unluckily for Gwh, Connor had overheard everything. He sat down in the seat Bill had just vacated. ''You''re pregnant with Hawthorne''s child?'' he asked directly. Gwh looked at Connor, her expression awkward. But this was Max. Could she trust him? ''Yes,'' she nodded softly. ''Two sacs. It might be twins.''


    Connor stared at her, his expression freezing for a moment. Pregnant. And Hawthorne had cheated on her. A wave of irritation washed over him. He picked up the cup of tea in front of him and downed it in one gulp. Finally, he spoke. ''What are your ns?''


    Gwh hesitated, unsure if she should tell Max about the doctor''s warning—that if she terminated this pregnancy, she might never be able to have children again. ''Have the baby, Gwyn,'' Connor said suddenly, his tone decisive, as if he''d just made up his mind. ''...?'' ''If you''re really going to divorce Hawthorne and you''re afraid the baby won''t have a father... marry me. My offer still stands.''


    Connor didn''t remember much, but he remembered being raised by his uncle. He had no memory of his own mother''s face. His family had been broken, and he couldn''t stand to see others suffer the same fate, especially not the woman who had captured his heart.


    Gwh was moved by his words, but she couldn''t ept. She believed Max was sincere, but... ''Max, I''m done eating. Let''s go,'' she said, needing to escape the conversation. ''Gwyn, I''m serious. Don''t you believe me?''


    She had believed Hawthorne, and he had betrayed her. She also felt that Max was different from the boy she remembered. They were only six back then, but he had been so optimistic, so full of hope despite losing his parents. The Connor before her now was filled with a darkness that manifested in his rebellious behavior. She didn''t think Max truly loved her; it felt more like he was using her to defy the world.


    Fate had been unfair to him, so he was trying to rewrite it himself. Marcus Green had taken him from Starfall City, hoping a new environment would give him a fresh start but he had only be more arrogant than the other rich kids. If she were ever to marry again, to find a father for her children, it would have to be a mature, responsible, and truly dependable man. Not someone like Connor, who was still nursing old wounds like a petnt child, his eyes forever tinged with cynicism. Everyone has scars.


    ''I believe you, Max,'' Gwh said gently, looking at him with regret. ''But would your family ept it? Mr. Green, your whole family... would they ept me like this, marrying into the Green family while carrying another man''s children?'' Connor grew impatient. ''I''m the one getting married, not them. It''s none of their business.''


    Gwh let out a smallugh. That statement alone was proof of his immaturity. In the adult world, you couldn''t just do as you pleased. She had misjudged Hawthorne and thrown herself into an abyss she couldn''t drag her children into another unknown. She had to choose a safe world for them, one that could bring them happiness and joy, and Max was definitely not the right choice for a husband.


    ''Max, in my heart, you''ll always be my wonderful childhood friend, my big brother. Our rtionship ends there. I''m so grateful for your concern for me and the babies, but it''s impossible for us.'' She wouldn''t choose anyone as a pir of support for herself and her children. She would be her own champion.


    A helpless look crossed Connor''s lips. ''You''ve turned me down so many times. I''m asking onest time. This is a limited offer, you know. Can''t you at least consider it?'' Gwh shook her head firmly. ''No'' Connor sighed in resignation. ''Fine. Then let your kids call me their godfather when they''re born.''