The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

Gwyneth nodded. Honestly, she didn't mind if her identity was out in the open- anything was better than running into someone as unhinged as Yvette. Just trying to fly under the radar at work had been enough to make her a target for jealousy and malice. She'd rather embrace her role as Mrs. Everhart.

Safety first.

It was a rare morning when Gwyneth had breakfast alone. The butler glanced her way, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Wasn't the master joining his wife for breakfast today?

Upstairs, after Gwyneth had gone down, Hawthorne lifted his arm and caught the faint trace of women's perfume on his sleeve. He recognized the scent immediately it was Patti Yale's favorite brand. That was his slip-up from yesterday. He'd come home, shut himself in the study, and spent the whole night going through the files Hans had sent over-years' worth of information on Patti Yale's life overseas.

He knew Patti well. Even in her twenties, she'd been coldly strategic about her future—she wouldn't have come back to the country unless something had gone seriously wrong.noveldrama

Hans's investigation confirmed his suspicions.

The Yale family had moved abroad years ago. Patti's father was a government official back in Greenvale, and he'd built up enough of a fortune for the family to live comfortably for generations. But last year, disaster struck. Darius, Patti's father, got caught up in a Chinese financial scam, lost nearly all their overseas assets, and even ended up in prison.

With nowhere left to turn, Patti first latched onto a man old enough to be her father-he paid her tuition for a while. But after a few months, the man got bored and passed her off to someone else, almost like she was a social media hand-me- down. After being traded around and repeatedly downgraded, Patti's reputation was shot; no one in those circles wanted her anymore, and she had no choice but to return home early.

She didn't have any close relatives in the country. Maybe after all her wandering, she decided Hawthorne was the easiest mark. She cleaned herself up and came knocking.

Even back home, she'd always had a string of boyfriends. Overseas, she'd gone through at least five or ten men. Patti knew exactly how to play with men's hearts.

To be honest, before he learned all this, Hawthorne couldn't claim he felt nothing when he saw his first love again. Anyone would be lying to say otherwise.

But he wasn't that naive boy anymore. He'd clawed his way through the business world, carving out a place for the Everhart family with blood, sweat, and ruthless determination. Patti could have fooled the old Hawthorne with a few sweet words and a pout, the man he was now-she'd never get past his armor. To this day, there was only one woman who truly had his heart, and that was Gwyneth.

This little woman always managed to tug at his heartstrings.

He scrubbed himself clean inside and out, then ordered a servant to throw but his clothes-he couldn't stand the lingering scent of Ratti Yale on his skin.

When Hawthorne finally came downstairs, Gwyneth looked over the table at the meager remains of breakfast. "I forgot to save you

some."

"I already ate," he replied.

His phone buzzed in his pocket-he felt it vibrate.

"Are you finished? Go upstairs and get changed. We'll head to the office together."

Gwyneth nodded and headed up to their room.

He waited until she was gone before pulling out his phone.

It was Patti Yale.

"Hawthorne, you weren't here when I woke up. Where did you go? Could you come keep me company for breakfast?"

Her voice over the phone was soft, almost helpless.

Hawthorne paused, then replied coolly, "I need to deal with something first. I'll come by later."