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.

the truth. "He had a bad accident-was street racing with a rough crowd back then. He was still

a pool of his own blood. He'd been there when his sister and brother-in-law died too,

back to that grim moment, a

she managed, her hand

everything-even his parents' deaths. So I lied to him. Told him his mom and dad moved far away, that they didn't really care for him. He never missed them, never mourned-just carried

Max's memories. Better a little anger than the agony of loss

quite describe how she felt-just an aching sympathy for

run into each other?" Marcus asked,

aunt rear-ended your nephew's car," Leonie piped up, unable to hold back any longer after listening in for so

by the way, your nephew's got a thing for my aunt. You'd better

Connor's feelings for Gwyneth

said bluntly. He knew Leonie was Hawthorne's niece and

said quietly. "He always treated me like

her of the only brotherly bond she had left with

anymore. These days, he's a real ladies' man. New girlfriend every three months-he won't be hung up on you

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

refused to accept it, but now he'd come to terms. He didn't remember much, but even if

could go back to the way he was. She could never see him as more than a brother-just like she did