Chapter 780

Just that one glance at the photo had made her feel dizzy and sick, her emotions thrown into turmoil. The stress caused a faint, aching pain in her abdomen.

The doctor's words echoed in her ears: if she had a miscarriage this time, she would likely never be able to conceive again. Gwyneth didn't dare act recklessly. Patti and Hawthorne were in love; she could choose to let them be. But the year-end divorce proceedings had to be completed, which meant she had to endure for several more months.

During lunch, Patti and Hawthorne kept an eye on James's table. On the surface, James and Hawthorne were still business rivals who frequently crossed paths, so appearances had to be maintained. As soon as Hawthorne arrived, James's party was notified. Patti wasn't worried; she knew James would come over to their private room to say hello.

What did bother her was the message she had secretly sent to Gwyneth. She had expected a response, maybe even a few angry words. But more than ten minutes had passed, and there was nothing like a stone dropped into the ocean without a ripple.

Sure enough, not long after they settled in, James entered their room with two business partners. Seeing Patti and Hawthorne looking intimate, James exchanged a quick, meaningful glance with Patti before turning his attention to Hawthorne.

"Mr. Everhart, you're a lucky man indeed," James said, his voice dripping with insinuation. "A beautiful wife at home and a lovely confidante on the side. It seems we old folks just can't keep up with you young people."

Hawthorne replied coolly, "You're the real master of the game, Mr. Wang. Patti and I are just old acquaintances. I'm a sentimental person."

James's expression flickered. *Hawthorne,* he thought, *are you taking a jab at me?

* But he kept the smile plastered on his face.

"Yes, yes, of course. Mr. Everhart is a very sentimental man."

Seeing Hawthorne's dismissive attitude, James found himself carrying the conversation alone.

"Mr. Wang, why don't you join us?" Hawthorne's offer effectively cut off any further attempts at small talk.

"No, no, that's quite alright. I wouldn't want to be a third wheel on Mr. Everhart's date with Miss Yale."

As he was leaving, James glanced back one last time, just in time to see Hawthorne pick up a shrimp, peel it, and offer it to Patti's lips. A thought flickered in his mind as he pulled open the door and stepped out.

The moment James was gone, Hawthorne put the shrimp down. He picked up a napkin and meticulously wiped his fingertips until every trace of oil was gone.

James had just been stopping by on his way out after finishing his own meal. Hawthorne pressed the service button, and a waiter immediately entered. "Mr. Everhart, how may I help you?"

"The check."

Patti was stunned. The food had just arrived. Excluding the five minutes James was in the room, they had been there for less than fifteen minutes, which included waiting for the dishes She hadn't even had chance to eat the shrimp Hawthorne had peeled for her; she'd been too busy taking photos to send to Gwyneth.

It was an extravagant spread of top-tier seafood flown in from

overseas, easily costing over eighty thousand. Hawthorne had, of

course put on a lavish show of affection for James's benefit For Patti, it was the vanity she craved; for James, it was a display of doting love. For Hawthorne, it was all just a propan expensive one buta prop nonetheless. Making James believe him was more important than anything.

"Hawthorne, I haven't finished eating. And... I'm really hungry."

Hawthorne spoke, his expression flat. "Pack it up."

Patti didn't dare defy him.

The two walked out of the restaurant side by side. Hans pulled the car around. Just

as Patti was about to open the door to get in, Hawthorne beat her to it.

"I called a car for you. It will be here in ten minutes. You can get back on your own."

With that, he slid into the back seat, leaving Patti standing there in utter disbelief. He was just going to abandon her at the restaurant entrance.

"Hawthorne, what if James comes back and sees me?"

Hawthorne didn't fall for her act.

"Then you tell him you sent me away yourself, because you needed to give him the hard drive."

Patti found herself speechless. It was true; the minds of these men operated on a completely different level.

Tears of humiliation welled up in Patti's eyes.

"Miss Yale, you've finished your meal? Where's Mr. Everhart?"

As it turned out, Patti's worry was

not unfounded. Hearing James's voice from behind her, a wave of goosebumps washed over her Herz fingerstrembled as she clutched her new designer handbag, and she took a deep breath before turning around.

James was standing right behind her, his eyes filled not only with ill intent, but with suspicion.