The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

Gwyneth was completely absorbed in her reading when her phone buzzed with a new message. Her first thought was that it might be Connor-she dreaded the idea, so she didn't dare check it right away.

Several seconds passed before she finally, almost reluctantly, fished out her phone. It turned out the message was from Hawthorne.

“There's an auction in Greenvale tomorrow. I need you to attend for me.”

Her curiosity was instantly piqued.

An auction usually meant expensive jewelry or antiques.

She'd wandered through his villa several times, and aside from a few valuable artifacts, she hadn't noticed any particular obsession on his part for collecting things.

"Is it a gift for someone?" she replied, thinking that was the only reasonable explanation.

He sent back a brief, indifferent "Yeah."

Gwyneth agreed right away. After all, she'd been tagging along with him like a freeloader for so long; it felt good to finally do something helpful.

They chatted for a while longer, until he suddenly asked, "It's late, why aren't you asleep yet?"

She hesitated, just about to reply, when another message popped up: “Get some rest. Goodnight."

For some reason, Gwyneth felt a little let down. It took her several minutes before she texted back a simple, "Okay."

Hawthorne exited the chat and stared at the day's news

for nearly half of it, the camera was fixed on

sharpened, almost slicing through the screen, as the shot froze on

this was why Gwyneth hadn't come to

the surge of jealousy rising inside him. Right now, he had half

end, he restrained himself. Women were trouble when they had too much free time, and men-like flies-never missed a chance

his wife get bored; he needed to keep her occupied with things that

who'd moved to Greenvale from Starfall City more than a

narrowed. Starfall City-Gwyneth's hometown

the time; he'd been sitting on the hotel sofa for over three hours, and

turned off his phone

***

while Leonie was still fast asleep, Gwyneth was

coming downstairs, especially since

aver

formal, brows drawn

left yesterday and wasn't

had been wearing a simple work outfit. Now, at this

she was so impeccably put-together-where

affairs

place to question. Instead, the butler showed his- professionalism: ten minutes later, a lavish breakfast