While Leonie chatted with Gwh and served her the light porridge, Hawthorne was dealing with his car. After leaving the hospital, he went straight to the Traffic Department, where his vehicle had been towed. As soon as he arrived, two police officers approached him.
"There was an assault yesterday, Mr. Everhart. We''d like you toe down to the station to give a statement."
Hawthorne wasn''t sure what had happened, but he was certain it involved Patti Yale. He had tried calling her, but she didn''t answer, and now the police were here.
Hawthorne offered no resistance and went with them. At the station, the officers were polite and didn''t give him any trouble, simply asking questions about his car and his connection to Patti Yale.
Through their questioning, Hawthorne learned that Patti had been severely beaten the day before but was taken to the hospital by a good Samaritan. She was currently in emergency surgery. He had a good idea who was responsible but didn''t tell the police, as it had nothing to do with him. He had warned Patti not to drive around recklessly. Knowing her impulsive nature, he suspected James wouldn''t let her off the hook. Besides, it wouldn''t be long before Mrs. Mercer discovered the affair between Patti and her husband. In any case, he had already ensured Patti delivered the contract to James; now, it was just a matter of waiting to close the trap.
"Mr. Everhart, we found that Patti Yale has been living in an apartment registered under your name. Could you rify your rtionship with her?"
Since it was part of an official investigation, Hawthorne answered directly, stating they were friends. When asked why he had given her the apartment, he exined truthfully that she had no one else to rely on in Greenvale and that he was helping out an old acquaintance. Because Hawthorne had no alibi, but Patti had caused the ident by driving drunk on her own, the police found nothing suspicious connecting him to the assault. After a few more questions, they let him go.
As he was leaving, Hans called him.
"Mr. Everhart, Miss Yale is in the same hospital as Mrs. Everhart. She was beaten so badly she had a miscarriage and is still in emergency surgery.”
Hawthorne had just finished his business and was heading to the hospital to be with Gwh anyway. This was a chance to kill two birds with one stone.
"Alright, I understand."
Hawthorne steered the car steadily, arriving at the hospital shortly after. He went to find Patti first. After
nearly ten hours of surgery, she was finally awake with only a caregiver. by her side. When she saw
Hawthorne, she broke downpletely.
“My baby is gone! The baby is gone! It was James and his wife—they did this to me!"
Patti wasn''t crying over the lost child, but over her lost leverage. She had been exposed to James, and Hawthorne would never want her now.
Hawthorne watched her with a cold expression, waiting until she had cried her fill before handing her a tissue.
"Focus on getting better. Once
you''re discharged, I''ll give you a sum of money. You can go wherever you.
want. You can goad, back to
your father, whatever you like."
Patti looked at him nkly. "Back to my father? But my father''s people are still in prison. What''s the use of going back? I can''t do anything."
Suddenly, her eyes fixed on Hawthorne. “We had something, Hawthorne. Now that my baby is gone... will you marry me?"
Hawthorne''s face remained impassive. “You''re tired from the surgery. Get some rest." He then took out a check for five million dors and tossed it onto the bed.
"Only five million? After everything
I''ve done for you, you''re trying to send me away with five million
I told
dors? Are you kidding me? you before, I want one hundred million. Give me that, and I''ll disappear from your life
Immediately. And don''t you forget Hawthorne, your wife doesn''t trust you at all. All I have to do is insist to her that the baby was yours. Do you really think you two will stay together then?"