The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

Hawthorne's intentions couldn't have been clearer.

"Mr. Sutherland, this is my wife, Gwyneth. I think you must be mistaken."noveldrama

Hawthorne gave a gentle nudge to the Pop Mart figurine beside him, and Leonie took the hint, striding over to Ethan with a look on her face that said she wanted the floor to swallow her up.

For Ethan, it felt like the sky had just fallen. He'd finally met someone who truly stirred his heart-only to find out she was already married.

"Why don't you get to know my niece? Gwyneth and I need to be somewhere else."

Without hesitation, Hawthorne left Leonie behind. She hadn't expected that. Usually, whenever a man so much as looked her way, Uncle Hawthorne would whisk her off immediately. Today, he just walked away.

"Uncle Hawthorne, aren't you worried I'll run into someone sketchy?"

Leonie sounded genuinely aggrieved, torn between embarrassment in front of Ethan and guilt for dragging her aunt into this mess.

Hawthorne snorted. "If you do, maybe it's just what you need—”

He didn't wait for a reply, simply took Gwyneth by the hand and led her to his car, never glancing back at Leonie.

Gwyneth quietly slid into the back seat; Hawthorne got behind the wheel.

The ride was silent until they hit a red light. Hawthorne braked and looked straight ahead.

"Don't you have something to say to me?"

He was clearly waiting for an explanation. Gwyneth hesitated, then met his gaze in the rearview mirror. "Weren't you supposed to be at a meeting? Why'd you come back?"

"If I hadn't, you'd be halfway to a fraud conviction for a fake marriage," Hawthorne replied dryly.

Gwyneth felt a pang of injustice. She didn't want any of this either, but she'd been afraid Leonie would catch all the blame.

"I just wanted to help Leonie," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Help her?" He scoffed. "That guy was interested in you. If I hadn't come, what was your plan?"

Honestly, Gwyneth hadn't thought that far. Even if Hawthorne hadn't shown up, she never would've accepted Ethan's confession.

"I already told him," she said, voice so soft it nearly faded away.

"Told him what?"

Hawthorne wasn't about to let her off the hook, and Gwyneth could practically see the jealousy flickering in his eyes.

"Leonie said she wasn't interested, so I told him it wouldn't work."

Her voice grew even quieter, barely audible at the end.

"And if she had been interested? Would you have married him on her behalf? Because he's interested in you."

With every word, Gwyneth found herself more at a loss.

She stared at his face, then whispered, "I couldn't marry him. I'm already taken with you."

Hawthorne heard that loud and clear; his foot pressed hard against the brake. "What did you say?"

Back at home, Gwyneth let Hawthorne lead her inside without protest.

They climbed the stairs to their room. Hawthorne closed the door behind them, and Gwyneth's heart pounded in her chest.

"Let's talk," he said.

Her cheeks flushed bright red as she stared down at her feet.

"Talk about what?"

Hadn't they already covered everything on the drive home?

"About what you just said—you're taken with me."

The way he pressed her, her face was burning.

Gwyneth had no idea how to

answer. Hawthorne's gaze, cool and intense behind pursed lips, was intimidating enough to rattle anyone, whether at home or at work. She always felt a bit on edge standing next to him.

But after being spoiled by him these past

ys, she'd found a

courage. Now, at least, she could

t his eyes. Content bebe

"Come here."

He reached out, and Gwyneth obediently stepped closer.

She braced herself for a lecture, but instead he pulled her into his arms.

Startled, Gwyneth pressed her hands against his solid chest. They'd

hugged plenty of times beforeul neos

the familiar scent of him made her heart race wildly all over again.