Chapter 650
Just as the rumors said, Yvette was stunned. It really was Gwyneth—the person she’d thought the least likely of all.
How could a girl who still looked like a college student possibly win Hawthorne’s heart? Yvette seethed with indignation and disbelief.
“I promised my wife I’d take her to a movie tonight, so I’ll leave you to your tea,” Hawthorne said politely, glancing at the gift box lying abandoned on the floor. “Hans.”
Hans stepped forward immediately.
“Since Miss Yvette isn’t interested, let’s take the gift with us,” Hawthorne instructed.
Yvette swayed unsteadily, and her grandfather hurried to his feet, leaning on his cane, stooped and frail, respectfully seeing Hawthorne out the door.
Only after Hawthorne’s car had disappeared from sight did her grandfather, trembling, shuffle back inside.
Yvette’s eyes were red with fury. She glared at the old man, clearly displeased. “Grandpa, why did you speak to Hawthorne like that? I don’t believe he’d really marry that little tramp.”
The words were barely out of her mouth before a sharp slap landed across her face. Her grandfather might have been old, but he still packed a punch-Yvette’s cheek instantly swelled, red and burning.
“Grandpa-!”
“Don’t call me that. I don’t have a granddaughter like you. If it weren’t for the fact your parents died young, I’d have sent you off to the countryside long ago. I should never have brought you back to raise myself-look at what you’ve become, so arrogant and clueless.”
Yvette, stubborn as ever, retorted, “All I did was fall for Hawthorne. Is that so wrong?”
Her grandfather actually let out a bitter laugh. “Do you even understand the meaning of ‘aiming far above your station’? That’s you, Yvette. The Everhart family’s status now-how does it compare to ours? What makes you think someone like him would look twice at you?”
He nearly told her to go find a mirror and take a good look at herself.
“What about us, though? Didn’t our family and the Everharts used to be close?” Yvette protested.
Her grandfather had to fight the urge to slap her again. If he hadn’t just swallowed his pride and bowed his head to Hawthorne, the little that remained of their family’s assets would be gone by tomorrow.
“Do you have any idea who Hawthorne is? The kind of man who can pull a family back from the brink of bankruptcy isn’t some fool. He plays his cards where everyone can see them. Do you really think he stayed single because he’s some hopeless romantic waiting for you? Give me a break.”
He was so angry he could barely breathe. “Gwyneth-she’s from Starfall City: Have you ever bothered to find out what the Langford family is like over there? The Everharts of Greenvale are already out of our league, but the Langfords of Starfall City-they’re worth ten Everhart families put together. If anyone’s marrying up, it’s Hawthorne.”
Yvette was left speechless, but still refused to believe it.
“She dresses so plainly, though. At work she’s completely unremarkable-how do we even know she’s the Langfords’ daughter? She doesn’t look like the spoiled rich type, either. If she really were she could just flaunt it. Why would she put up with me at work, or keep her marriage a secret?”
Yvette was convinced her grandfather’s analysis was off. The old man just shook
his head and laughed in exasperation.
“You and I are nothing compared to people like them. If you were
capable of understanding their
world, we wouldn’t have endedet
with you working for someone else just to get by. If you have what it takes, go start a business, or marry a man even more powerful than Hawthorne. But don’t waste your time analyzing what goes on in their heads-you and I couldn’t figure it out in ten lifetimes.”
He finished, chest heaving, and waved her off, no longer willing to waste his breath on such a clueless granddaughter.
If he said any more, he feared he’d end up joining his son and daughter-in-law in
the grave before the year was out. All he could hope was that, if she was lucky, Yvette might still marry a decent man someday. That would be the best outcome she could hope for.