Hawthorne thought for a moment before adding, "And you''ll need to watch what you eat for a few days."


    Patti sighed in frustration. She had been nning to go shopping for clothes, but now she was trapped indoors.


    The moment Hawthorne left, Patti started smashing things in the apartment, terrifying the maids he had hired into silence. Of course, she only dared to throw inexpensive items, like soft pillows.


    Halfway back to the office, Hawthorne''s phone rang. It was Gwh. He connected it to the car''s Bluetooth without a second thought.


    "Gwyn?"


    "What did you mean when you told me my father was in Greenvale?" Gwh had been thinking about it all night, and it felt suspicious. What was Hawthorne trying to imply?


    Hawthorne paused for a few seconds. "I was mistaken."


    Gwh scoffed. "No way. Hawthorne, we may not have known each other for long, but you''re not the type to make things up. What''s really going on?"


    "Someone used your father''s name to take Patti away."


    Gwh''s immediate reaction was, "Impossible." Then she asked, bewildered, "Why? What would he want with Patti?" The first person who came to mind was Victoria, but that didn''t seem right either. If her mother really wanted to stand up for her, she wouldn''t have resorted to such a roundabout method. She would have simply forbidden her from marrying Hawthorne, not gone after Patti. It wasn''t her mother''s style.


    "He wanted to know if there was any truth to the rumors about her and me."


    "Isn''t it obvious?" Gwh retorted coldly. "Did you go rescue her? Did you see the person who impersonated him? Who was it? Someone I know? Or..." Gwh bit her lip. “Was it someone my mother sent?"


    "I wasn''t the one who rescued her. Patti was released. As for why, you can ask her yourself, because you might not believe me if I tell you. I didn''t see the man, but I saw a photo. If I''m not mistaken, it was Stein." Hawthorne told her everything, holding nothing back.


    Gwh was stunned into silence. Her uncle?


    How was that possible? She hadn''t seen her uncle in years. She barely saw her own family, let alone this uncle who lived all the way in Echo City.


    Hawthorne had already arrived at hispany building. Gwh hadn''t hung up, and he kept the phone to his ear until he heard the dial tone. Only then did he put the phone away Patti wouldn''t be in any trouble for the time being. He imagined Stern had gotten what he wanted, and far from being angry, he was actually looking forward to them presenting the evidence to Gwh. The truth,ing from the Langford family, would be far more convincing than anything he could say. Gwh wouldn''t publicize his affairs, and neither would the Langfords. His n was safe. It could proceed.


    His mind kept drifting back to Gwh. After waiting at a red light, he almost turned


    into oing traffic before correcting his course back onto the main road.


    Back in his office, Hans came in. "Mr. Everhart, Mr. Pierce''s side is asking for an update on our interest in the project we discussed."


    Hawthorne kept his eyes on the document in his hand, asionally signing it. “Tell him we''re not making any arrangements for now. He should explore other options."


    Hans looked troubled. "Mr. Pierce made it clear that if we don''t give them a definitive answer, they''ll partner with James''s team. Of course, he said they''d much rather work with us."


    "Rather work with us?" A barely perceptible smirk touched Hawthorne''s lips. "We''re the ones who would rather not work with them."


    That project was a disaster waiting to happen-cutting corners, inting costs, exploiting loopholes, andè relying on high-level connections. On the surface, it looked fine, but if a major investigation were everunched and the backer fell, everyone involved would be ruined With stricter oversight, they wouldn''t make a dime of those billions and would instead face aplete wipeout. Hawthorne had seen this from a mile away and wanted nothing to do with it.


    James''s father''s connections were solid for now, which made this high-risk, tow-investment,


    high-reward project perfect for him. Because when it all came crashing down, it would be a total


    annihtion, dragging everyone..


    down with him. There would be no escape.


    Hans received his boss''s directive and guessed there must be some hidden catch Hawthorne had seen. Naturally, as a subordinate, he didn''t possess that level of strategic insight. He would do as Hawthorne said.


    "Yes, Mr. Everhart."


    Hans ryed the rejection to Mr. Pierce, who, furious, immediately dialed James''s number.