The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

When Hawthorne stepped inside, Yvette's grandfather was sipping his tea. The moment he saw Hawthorne, he stood up with a broad, genuine smile lighting up his face.

"Hawthorne, you're here-please, have a seat!"

Hans stepped forward, presenting the gift he'd brought. Yvette's grandfather quickly waved for a servant to take it. As the servant retreated toward the door, Yvette quietly called her over.

"Let me see that."

She was curious about what Hawthorne had chosen for her grandfather; it would show how much he valued her.

But when she unwrapped the fancy packaging, all she found was a box of old- fashioned health supplements-something like dried ginseng. Disappointment washed over her.

The servant looked uncertain, caught between staying and leaving. "Is there a problem, Miss?"

Yvette waved her off, clearly annoyed. "No, take it away."

Instead of heading to the sitting room, she slipped aside, hiding just out of sight to eavesdrop on the conversation between her grandfather and Hawthorne.

"You look well, sir," Hawthorne said, opening with a polite, if predictable, remark. Yvette's grandfather chuckled warmly. "I'm holding up. Might just make it to a hundred at this rate. You're a busy man-it's not easy getting you to visit."

He wasn't just being polite. In truth, it had been ages since he'd last seen Hawthorne. This was a chance to catch up, but he was old enough to know that topics in common with young people were getting scarce.

man as accomplished as Hawthorne was the target of every eligible woman in Greenvale's upper crust. Yvette's grandfather had cashed in an old friendship with the senior Everhart, asking Hawthorne to arrange a job for Yvette-a favor he didn't

were equals. Now, they lagged far behind. After a lifetime of pride, with one foot in the

would only test the waters. If Hawthorne showed

all," Hawthorne

and accepting a cup of tea. The aroma

invitation to stay

he had no intention of getting further tangled with Yvette's

repaid them through

the end, and as a

supposed he'd visit now

my wife before coming. Your tea's excellent; I might have

stared at him in shock, his eyes searching

listening from the

did he

to clarify, hesitantly,

didn't shy away. "My wife. I recently

the most oblivious listener would realize Hawthorne was already

longer. She

"Hawthorne, what's that supposed