The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

Chapter 573

Victoria arched an eyebrow. "So, you refuse?"

Hawthorne's lips curled into a faint smile. "It's not about refusing. Your brother is alive and well-you don't need me."

Thorpe cleared his throat loudly, a not-so-subtle reminder that he was still in the room. Was respect for elders not a thing anymore?

"Has anyone even bothered to ask what I think?"

The old man finally spoke. Instantly, all eyes turned to him.

Celia was the first to object. "Grandpa, Gwyn's barely in her twenties! How can you even think about marrying her off so soon? Didn't Mom say she wanted us together for a few more years?"

Chris chimed in, just as indignant. "It's not like we're struggling to make ends meet. What's the rush?"

And besides, this guy isn't even from Starfall. Chris had always looked down on men from outside their city, though he had to admit, Hawthorne's imposing presence was hard to ignore. There was something about him—a quiet intensity that reminded Chris, just a little, of their own father, even if he was stuck in a hospital bed and barely opened his eyes these days.

Gwyneth might as well have been invisible; no one even glanced her way, their conversation flowing right around her.

"Yeah, Gwyn said herself she wouldn't get married for at least ten years."

Celia's eyes glistened with tears. She'd waited so long for her big sister to come home. If Gwyn married and left, who knew when they'd see each other again?

"The whole point of this was to find Gwyn a good family if she ever wanted to come back. And now a good family has come knocking on our door, you all start getting picky." Thorpe's gaze lingered on Hawthorne, his approval growing by the second. He prided himself on reading people well, and this young man struck him as the quiet, thoughtful type.

but this Everhart fellow seemed discerning, with just the right touch of

one.

both Gwyneth and Hawthorne seemed entirely out of place-spectators

siblings argued on, voices overlapping in a

"Didn't you say it

Silence.

but this was the first time anyone had seen

in Starfall. You'll have to

past few days that Gwyneth rarely touched meat, but she enjoyed seafood

perfectly with

debate, then,

began peeling shrimp for her, placing them one by one onto

blush crept up Gwyneth's cheeks, and her stomach growled at the worst

a

"Gwyn!"

voice cut through the room. He'd just realized Gwyneth and Hawthorne had

ground to a halt. Thorpe announced, "Well, I'm

her father's

glanced apologetically at her

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