The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

The concert lasted three hours, but the two of them spent two and a half eating hotpot, then another half hour sipping tea and nibbling on fruit.

It was Gwyneth Langford's first concert, but she hardly heard a note. By the time her stomach was satisfyingly full and she was finally ready to pay attention, the musicians on stage were already bowing, signaling the end.

"Let's go."

Hawthorne Everhart took Gwyneth's hand, leading her out as she stared at him in confusion. "It's over already?"

He nodded. "We'll leave through a different exit. The car's waiting outside."

By the time they left the concert hall, night had fallen, and a cold rain drizzled from the sky. Hawthorne shielded Gwyneth from the downpour, keeping her tucked safely under his arm as they hurried to the car.

Even after settling into the backseat, Gwyneth still felt a pang of regret. She'd been looking forward to this concert for ages, and this certainly wasn't how she'd imagined it. Especially since several of the pieces performed tonight were classic themes from the cartoons of her childhood-music that defined a generation. As the old composers slowly faded from the public stage, each event like this became more precious, another chance slipping away forever.

"Here "

Hawthorne sat beside her in the back, while his assistant drove.

"What's this?" she asked, taking the package from him. It was stiff and heavy, wrapped in thick cardboard.

"These are recordings of tonight's classic pieces. I had someone press them onto vinyl for you."

Gwyneth hadn't expected anything like this. Her eyes filled with tears.

The car flowed through a sea of city lights, like a fish joining the current on the main road. Hawthorne reached over, gently brushing away her tears.

"You're so easily moved. Good thing I married you first."

Otherwise, would any simple gesture from another man have her in tears, he wondered.

Gwyneth hugged the record to her chest, her eyes shining with memories and affection for a youth already slipping away.

back home, the two

breakfast ready. They ate together, and he announced he'd take her

wrong idea. "It's better if people don't know about us just yet. Otherwise, who'd ever let

home, which would have felt no different from

to become

but he didn't press her. Instead, he tapped her

at the mention of cars, though she tried to hide her

up around race cars. Just the thought

she'd won several rally championships. The last time she'd driven him

car never gave her the same thrill-nothing beat being in

how much she was looking forward to it, Gwyneth nodded as if

instantly on the red Ferrari. Her blood thrummed with excitement as

butler gave her a sidelong glance. "Ma'am, would

she

nothing more. Before she could get in, her phone rang-Leonie

Gwyn, has Uncle Hawthorne

hear Leonie, who usually seemed terrified of

about him. Gwyneth figured she must need

"He's gone," she answered.

Leonie groaned on the other

"What's wrong?"

to get to the theater for rehearsal. My brother ditched me early,

a

was it just looking for

come get you,"

was a pause.

uncle let me take a car.

down Greenvale's tree-lined avenues for the first time, letting the wind whip through the open window. The morning