NovelOnlineChapter 565 She couldn't bear the thought of losing someone a second time.
"Gwyn, sweetheart, none of us-not me, not anyone-have ever blamed you, do you understand? You can't keep blaming yourself. None of this was your fault." If anyone was to blame, it was herself for not seeing Violet's schemes in time, for letting things with McNeil get so out of hand that even Gwyn couldn't stand her back then.
Gwyn had never just been a child; it was unfair to lay the burden of childish ignorance and being misled all on her shoulders. Gwyn didn't deserve that sort of guilt.
"Mom-" Gwyn was trembling head to toe, lost, completely unsure what to do next. She didn't want to go home. She couldn't face everyone.
She wanted to run, to hide-anything but go back to pretending life could be normal again.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Stop pushing her," someone said quietly. "She's not a little girl anymore. She can think for herself. Let her decide what to do with her future." Gwyneth was too distraught to reply, and Victoria's heart was already breaking.
Years had passed. Victoria herself had made peace with it all, but her daughter was still trapped, unable to move beyond her own private hell.
Hawthorne stepped forward, pulling Gwyneth gently into his arms-almost stealing her away from Victoria's embrace.
Only then did Victoria notice the man standing in the corner of her father's hospital room. She had no idea when he'd arrived, and it unsettled her that she hadn't noticed sooner.
She stared at him, momentarily taken aback. But Gwyneth seemed to melt into the man's arms, her breathing finally slowing, her panic ebbing away.
"And you are...?" She'd never seen him before, but his cool, commanding presence left no doubt- he wasn't someone to be taken lightly.
Hawthorne's reply was measured, almost dismissive. "No one important. You don't need to remember me." Victoria frowned. If there was someone of his caliber in Starfall City, she would have known-but his face was completely unfamiliar.
Gwyneth caught her mother's look and hurried to explain.
"Mom, he's someone I met in Greenvale " She'd meant to say "friend," but with Hawthorne's age, that sounded ridiculous. So she quickly corrected herself. "My uncle." "Uncle?" Victoria's eyebrows shot up. This man, with his impeccably tailored suit and expensive taste-one glance told her his wardrobe alone was worth a small fortune. He was no ordinary acquaintance. But how did someone like him know Gwyneth? Did he have an agenda? Plenty of people wanted to get close to the Langford family.
Victoria had only realized, after marrying into wealth herself, why people placed so much importance on matching social status. It wasn't about tooking down on others; it was about protecting your children from being used or hurt. The bigger the gap, the more suspicion there was that someone was just trying to climb the social ladder.
This man, on every level, seemed impressive-except, he was far too mature for Gwyneth.
Hawthorne gave a soft, almost amused snort. Uncle? This girl really knew how to make him feel ancient.
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Sensing she'd misspoken, Gwyneth leaned in and added quietly, "I mean, he's Hawthorne He's my friend's uncle from Greenvale, so I call him 'Uncle' too." Victoria finally understood, though she couldn't miss the sudden blush on Gwyneth's cheeks. That told her plenty.
"Well, you're our guest, Mr. Everhart. If you don't mind, perhaps you'll stay for dinner?" Victoria's invitation was cordial, but her eyes were sharp, gauging him.
Gwyneth had never been one to let people get close. In Starfall City, she had no real friends Xunless you counted Max, whom she'd known since childhood. She'd hardly made any friends at school, either. Yet she'd found someone in Greenvale.
Victoria glanced at Hawthorne again, not sure whether to feel relief or worry.
Gwyneth, meanwhile, remained o nestled in his arms, making no move to pull away. Maybe it was the sense of security he gave her-or maybe, without even realizing, she'd already grown attached to that feeling.
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