"I also had a doctor run a DNA test. The report just came in. It seems you are indeed the biological father."


    Mrs. Mercer''s expression was gentle as she spoke, but James knew it was a smile that hid a dagger, and a poisoned one at that.


    At this point, James wouldn''t dare admit he knew anything. He raised his hand and swore to his wife.


    "I had no idea she was pregnant. The time we were together, I was drunk and she climbed into my bed. You know how it is for a man outworking, ying the part. It''s easy to fall into a trap set by a woman like that.


    "All I knew was that she had a history with Hawthorne. And you know Hawthorne and I are mortal enemies. Why would I ever be interested in his woman?"


    Mrs. Mercer calmly studied the man who had shared her bed for over a decade, letting him spin his web of lies. When he finished, she gave a humorless smile.


    "His woman? But you still slept with her. Didn''t you just tell mest time that you were helping Hawthorne by taking this woman to a hotel? You said it yourself. Mr. Everhart''s wife came to you, begging you to take care of this tramp for him.


    "If I hadn''t put a tracker in your car, I would have never known you two were involved. That you two were conspiring to lie to me."


    As her anger red, Mrs. Mercer mmed her hand on the coffee table, startling James so badly he nearly jumped out of his skin. He quickly took her hand, his face a mask of careful deference.


    Patti, seeing James''s pathetic disy, knew she was doomed.


    Sure enough, James shamelessly continued his exnation.


    "When I slept with her, I had no idea who she was! I always thought of her as Hawthorne''s woman. Why would I get involved with her?


    "This woman is a schemer. We''ve been married for so many years. If this gets out, it would be a huge embarrassment. Think of how terrible it would sound."


    James pointed at Patti on the floor and snarled, "You bitch, trying to frame me in front of my wife."


    Mrs. Mercer picked up her teacup, using a long fingernail to flick away the tea leaves floating on the surface. She looked at James out of the corner of her eye.


    "Why are your stories so different? That''s not what she told me. She said you got her pregnant with your child so she could go after Hawthorne, to get his family''s fortune. Is that true?


    "Do you have shit for brains? You think a man as sharp as Hawthorne would fall for your little trick? I''d say a whore like that who sleeps with everyone has probably never even been touched by Hawthorne But, you... you''ll eat any garbage that''s served to you.


    "If you really had that in mind, trying to pull a honey trap on Hawthorne with her, then you were just setting up to fail, James. For all you know this little lut was turned by


    yourselfer


    Hawthorne a long time ago and sent here to mess with you."


    A woman''s mind is often more meticulous than a man''s. James had only been thinking about clearing his own name, but he hadn''t considered that angle. Mrs. Mercer''s words struck him like a bolt of lightning.


    "You''re saying... this bitch conspired with Hawthorne to frame me?"


    Mrs. Mercer took a slow sip of tea and looked at her husband.


    "I didn''t say that. I''m just saying Hawthorne isn''t as stupid as you two seem to think.


    "That cheap whore who''s been with half the city you think Hawthorne would want her? He''s engaged to a Langford, ady from one of Starfall City''s most prominent families. You think he''d throw away a prize like that for a tramp who sleeps around?


    "Even I was suspicious enough about her pregnancy to order a test. You don''t think Hawthorne would be? Would you be suspicious, James?


    "Don''t think you''re so simple-minded. You probably thought you''d wait for the baby


    to be born, run your own test, and if it was yours, you might consider keeping it. If not, you''d wash your hands of her, right?


    "If a dimwit like you could think of that, don''t you think Hawthorne could too? For him


    to fall into your trap so easily... At this point, I really don''t know which of you is telling the truth and which is lying."


    Mrs. Mercer''s speech was a chilling wake-up call. Both James and Patti, whoy in


    a pool of her own blood, shuddered simultaneously.


    Had Hawthorne really been falling for their trap all this time? Patti knew the truth better than anyone.