"No. We settle this right here, right now," Gwh insisted. "I''ll ask you again: is it, or isn''t it?"


    Hawthorne said, his voice heavy with resignation, "Yes."


    Gwh didn''t break down as he''d expected. Instead, she looked him straight in the eye. "I don''t believe you. Not unless you get a paternity test to prove her baby is yours."


    Gwh had meticulously gone over the timeline. Patti had returned to the country while she and Hawthorne were already together. If he and Patti had rekindled their old me, it would have happened before her own rtionship with him had deepened, not sprung up so suddenly.


    Patti had considered every possible scenario, but she never imagined Gwh would demand something like this. The one most shocked by the proposal wasn''t Hawthorne, but James, who stood behind them.


    Just moments before, James had been relishing the drama, wishing he had a bag of popcorn. Now, his face was a mask of sheer panic. The alcohol seemed to evaporate from his system, and the color drained from his flushed cheeks.


    Lanny, on the other hand, was more intrigued than ever. This was far more entertaining than any nightclub. Patti''s smug, triumphant expression instantly vanished, reced by a pale, stunned silence.


    "Hawth..." she stammered, at aplete loss for words.


    Gwh''s eyes were red-rimmed. "Hawthorne, take her for a paternity test. If you can prove that the child she''s carrying is yours, I will never bother you again."


    Even Patti was speechless now. But it was James who couldn''t stand it any longer. He rushed forward, no longer a spectator.


    "Gwh, let''s not make a scene, alright? Hawthorne''s just joking with you. This Miss Yale is... she''s just a fling, nothing more. I know Hawthorne. His heart belongs only to you. He would never mess around with someone else."


    But James''s words had no effect on Gwh.


    "Well? Do you dare take her?" she pressed Hawthorne. "No matter what, I''m your wife. I have the right to know the truth, don''t I?"


    Hawthorne''s voice was low and steady. "Gwyn, I''ll take you home." He then turned to James. “James, could you do me a favor and take Miss Yale home? I need to handle a family matter."


    James, his mind still reeling from Gwh''s suggestion, nodded eagerly like a grateful dog. "Of course. A businessman needs to protect his image. You should take Gwh home. With Mr. Pierce here, a scene would be... unseemly."


    Hawthorne grasped Gwh''s wrist and pulled her firmly toward the exit.


    "Hawthorne, let me go! I want a straight answer. Why wouldn''t you tell the truth in front of everyone?"


    Once they were outside, Hawthorne simply swept her off her feet and into his arms. As he held her, he was surprised to find she felt heavier than before. Still, the weight was nothing to him. He vaguely recalled Butter Parham mentioning her improved appetite recently but didn''t give it much thought. His only focus was to get her away from that toxic situation, especially with James still lurking behind them.


    He had Patti''s baby-James''s baby-to thank for that. Otherwise, James would have stayed to watch the bitter end of their three-person drama. A moment ago, seeing the tears in Gwh''s eyes, Hawthorne had almost lost control and pulled her into his arms. Thankfully, the clever woman he loved had saved them both by demanding a paternity test, scaring the hell out of James.


    Now, held tightly in his arms, the familiar scent she had longed for day and night filled her senses, and she lost control, kicking and struggling against him Hawthorne let her small fists ran down on his chest, her blows having no real effect on him.


    He carried her to the car. As she tried to push him away, he leaned in, pressing his lips to hers in a relentless kiss.


    "Hawthorne, I never thought you were this kind of person," she finally cried out, her voice breaking. “I''m pregnant. I''m having your baby. Two of them. Twins."


    The words hit Hawthorne with the force of a physical blow. He froze, his shock giving way to a wave of overwhelming joy. He pulled her into a fierce embrace.


    "We''re having a baby? We''re going to have our own children? And more than one! Do you have any idea how happy I am?"


    Gwh remained limp in his arms, her eyes vacant, feeling none of his joy.