The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

Chapter 589

Victoria was left speechless. How could someone so young already see the world this way? After a moment's thought, she decided it must be the Langford blood— this innate instinct to weigh pros and cons above all else.

Even if these children came from her own womb, there was nothing she could do about the Langford knack for strategic thinking. In fact, Victoria found herself wondering if her own retirement might be closer than she imagined.

Old Mr. Langford idly rolled the walnut in his palm, silently hoping his great- granddaughter hadn't chosen the wrong person after all.

Fate, he mused, truly works in mysterious ways.

Gwyneth spent several days with Chris and Celia, making sure to visit all the places she'd promised them over the phone. She bought gifts for her younger siblings, too. But when evening came, instead of returning to Victoria's house, she went back to the new home she shared with Hawthorne.

The days were filled with noise and laughter, passing in the blink of an eye. Yet each night, as she stepped into the quiet villa and the garden lights flickered on, a strange emptiness would settle in her chest.

Sometimes she'd chat with Leonie Everhart, but Hawthorne always called promptly at eight. Their conversations weren't long or complicated-he'd ask about her day, and she would do most of the talking, while he listened, occasionally chiming in. Oddly enough, Gwyneth realized they talked more now than when they were actually together.

Hawthorne never rushed her off the phone-if she didn't hang up, he'd stay on the line, quietly keeping her company. More than once, Gwyneth had drifted off to sleep mid-conversation, only to wake and find Hawthorne still there, the call still connected.

only then would he

asleep with their phones pressed to their ears, and the days no longer felt quite so

by now, her little brother and sister were no longer bouncing off the walls with excitement every time she

still not back yet?" Celia blurted, a

at first she hadn't liked Hawthorne at all-resented how he'd suddenly become a part of Gwyneth's life, even felt a bit hostile toward him. But now that their marriage certificate

he run off?" Chris asked, frowning. At sixteen, he was already well over six feet tall, with a lean, athletic build and an air of effortless composure as he sat

good as

Hawthorne, sometimes over video chat. She

not in a

'e'

the little things: the warmth of his

bed with him once, but

in the end, nothing did. Whether she felt disappointed or simply wistful, she wasn't

now-what would come,

found herself