The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

"Alright, I'll definitely go."

Just then, Yvette's assistant managed to get her on the line.

"Miss Yvette, Mr. Everhart would like you to come to his office."

Mr. Everhart looked visibly displeased-though no one seemed to know why.

When Yvette hung up, her face was practically glowing. She immediately shared her plan with her grandfather, who agreed without hesitation to personally arrange a meeting with Hawthorne that very day to discuss their engagement.

She could hardly wait. Even though Gwyneth and Hawthorne weren't involved, who could say there wouldn't be a second or third "Gwyneth" down the line? She was nearly thirty-not exactly young anymore. Hawthorne had never made their relationship official, and as the years slipped by, her sense of security dwindled.

She knocked on the door. Hawthorne was sitting in a leather chair, watching as Yvette approached with careful poise, his gaze cool and unreadable.

"Hawthorne, you wanted to see me?"

Yvette was convinced her grandfather would talk Hawthorne into an engagement that very evening. In her mind, she was already the future Mrs. Everhart, the lady of the company. It was time, she thought, to stop calling him "Mr. Everhart❞—that just sounded too distant now.

But when she called him "Hawthorne," his brow furrowed tightly.

air, but Yvette missed the

just get a call from my

happy about, and frankly, he didn't care to ask about Gwyneth right now-he'd settle all that later, when he visited Yvette's family in the

"I did."

shall we

asked tentatively. Hawthorne's frown deepened, his voice colder than ever. "No,

pick up a gift for her grandfather—after all, it was his first time meeting

keep you then. Honestly, you and my grandfather are practically family already. Don't go overboard with the gift-it doesn't

time he felt an intense

Hawthorne had scheduled a meeting with had arrived. Yvette took

behind her, her

het

that of

a daydream as she returned to her

up, Hawthorne headed home early. Sure enough, he found Gwyneth

suddenly presented a

barely past

Thought I'd come home for dinner with you before