"Do you really care?" she asked, slowly pushing him away, her face a mask of disappointment. "You care about me and our children, but what about Patti? Isn''t she pregnant with your child, too?"


    "I told you to take her for a paternity test, and you didn''t even question her im. It seems you truly do love her." Gwh had heard from Leonie about Patti''s past— the multiple boyfriends, the messy private life. How could Hawthorne not have a single doubt about a woman like that?


    Hawthorne didn''t want to exin. He knew that no matter what he said right now, Gwh wouldn''t believe him.


    "My pregnancy test result fell under the bed," she murmured, more to herself than to him. "You didn''t even see it. How little do you care about me? So all your kindness before the wedding was a lie, wasn''t it? Just a tactic to get me to marry you."


    "No," Hawthorne said, his voice hoarse as he pulled her back into his arms. "I have only ever been sincere with you. There were never any calctions."


    If there had been calctions, he never would have married her the daughter of his enemy. He hated himself for falling in love with Gwh. Not only had he failed to get his revenge, but he had also ended up with that man as his father-inw. Then again, McNeil ending up in a vegetative state had perhaps paid for all his sins.


    “If there were no calctions, then why did you marry me? Just to hurt me again and again? Hawthorne, I''m in so much pain."


    She sobbed in his arms, her breath catching in her throat. She was furious with herself for being so weak. She knew he was with another woman, yet she couldn''t stop herself from seeking him out. She knew he was seeing that woman every day, enduring the taunting messages Patti sent, and still, she had run to that restaurant today. She thought she could drag Patti to get a paternity test, hoping for a different oue. Maybe the baby wasn''t his. Maybe Patti was lying to him, and Hawthorne had been deceived.


    Men always put their first love on a pedestal, ignoring all their ws, preferring to deceive themselves rather than believe their first love could lie.


    Gwh realized with a sinking feeling that she had be the very person she despised most. Years ago, watching her mother, Victoria, constantly chase after her father and make scenes, she had hated it. Violet had once told her that when a man no longer loves you, the smartest thing to do is disappear from his sight; making a fuss is the cheapest move of all. She had agreed back then, but now, a decadeter, she had be the second Victoria.


    She didn''t want to be this person. She knew that when a man stops loving you, all your tears just be fodder for his silent mockery.


    "Gwyn-? Hawthorne whispered, holding her as his own eyes reddened.


    He was so close. His Gwyn. He owed her so much.


    "Hawthorne, forget it," she said finally. "Let''s cancel the wedding at the end of the year. We''ll get a divorce. Tomorrow."


    She couldn''t hold on any longer. Even after learning she was also pregnant with his children, he had shown no sign of breaking up with Patti to give her an answer. She was tired. She didn''t want to go on.


    Her sobs gradually faded into silence. Consumed by regret and pain, Hawthorne called her name, only to realize she had fainted.


    He rushed Gwh home and carried her upstairs. Butler Parham saw them and hurried over in a panic. "What''s wrong with Mrs. Everhart?"


    "Call the family doctor. She''s pregnant."


    Butler Parham was stunned, then overjoyed. He quickly called the doctor. It was nearly dawn when the physician arrived and put Gwh on a glucose drip.


    "Mrs. Everhart seems fine physically, but her constitution is weak, and she can''t handle stress," the doctor exined. “Mr. Everhart, she needs plenty of rest."


    Hawthorne stood by the bed, silently watching Gwh''s sleeping face, his eyes filled with anguish and regret.


    "I understand."


    After seeing the doctor out, Butler Parham went downstairs and used thendline to call Mr. and Mrs


    eart,


    Everhart, his voice trembling with excitement. "Sir, Madam! The young madam is pregnant! With twins!"


    He had overheard the conversation between the doctor and Hawthorne and couldn''t wait to share the news. In the middle of the night, Mr. Everhart gathered the family preparing to go to Hawthorne''s house.


    Leonie was so shocked she almost fainted, a mix of joy and terror swirling within


    her.


    "She''s pregnant? With twins? But... but Uncle is cheating on her!”