The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

"So, Gwyn, what brings you to Greenvale?" Marcus asked, genuinely puzzled.

He'd expected Gwyneth to stay put in Starfall City.

Since it was rare for old friends to meet up, Marcus invited her out to a café. Leonie, determined to keep an eye on her uncle's friends and with her usual stubbornness, insisted on coming along.

Naturally, Hans tagged along too.

Marcus didn't mind.

"I'm getting married," Gwyneth announced.

Marcus set his cup down on its saucer with a sharp clink.

"No wonder," he said. "Word's all over Greenvale. Mr. Everhart's got the papers signed and the wedding's set for the end of the year."

Gwyneth had thought only the family knew-but apparently Hawthorne had managed to make it Greenvale's hottest gossip.

She just nodded. There was no need to elaborate. What she really wanted was news of Max.

"He's not quite the same as he used to be," Gwyneth ventured, choosing her words carefully.

rough crowd back then. He was still a kid. I tried to get him away

calm, but only he knew the despair that had swallowed him the day he saw Max lying in a pool

to that grim

after?" she managed,

I lied to him. Told him his mom and dad

rewriting Max's memories. Better a little anger than the agony of loss and guilt. Some

she felt-just an aching

how did you two run into each other?" Marcus asked, a little

piped up, unable to

by the way, your nephew's got a thing for

see that Connor's feelings for

Marcus said bluntly. He knew Leonie was Hawthorne's

"He always treated me like a

rob her of the only brotherly bond she had

same boy anymore. These days, he's a real ladies' man. New girlfriend every three months-he won't be

every three months? Uncle, keep this up and I'll post your number online for blind dates," Connor shot back as

Hawthorne. At first, he'd refused to accept it, but now he'd come to terms. He didn't remember much, but even if he and Gwyneth couldn't be a couple, being like siblings wasn't so

She could never see him as