Gwh spoke with such confidence and poise that her coworkers were left variously stunned, skeptical, or just in bewildered.


    The way she carried herself, it was clear she hadn''te just to see the exhibit- she owned the room, as if she were the host.


    Patti Yale froze, while someone nearby couldn''t help but chuckle. After all, Patti had been away from Greenvale for years; the Yale family had long since faded from the town''s social circles, and hardly anyone remembered her anymore.


    "Her bodyguards aren''t just for show, right? Maybe she hired them to pretend she was someone important, just to get in and steal some artifact designs. She could be a spy for all we know."


    Patti had no real interest in the exhibition. She was just following James''s orders: take some photos and bring them back to him.


    "I-I''m not lying. I can''t reach Hawthorne right now, but if any of you can, go ahead. Once he gets here, the truth wille out."


    Of course, Hawthorne would take her side. He always had.


    Gwh smiled coolly. "Mr. Everhart did ask his wife toe today. But that''s not you."


    She''s Mrs. Everhart? Then what did that make the marriage certificate Patti shared with Hawthorne?


    A flush crept up Patti''s face. Could the real Mrs. Everhart actually be here?


    No. Impossible. She''d just made a huge scene and nobody had stepped forward. Maybe this staffer was just trying to scare her.


    Everyone—the gawkers, her colleagues from the games department—all stared at Gwh. Did Gwh actually know Mrs. Everhart?


    Suddenly, it all made sense. Gwh was close friends with Mr. Everhart''s niece -that''s how she''d gotten her job at thepany. Of course she''d know Mrs. Everhart.


    "And who are you to say that? If I''m not Mrs. Everhart, who is? Why don''t you bring her out? Or is she too much of a coward to face me?"


    Patti''s voice rose, her anger mounting. "Hawthorne and I practically grew up together. I don''t know how this so-called Mrs. Everhart even met him—probably some blind date. Why don''t you ask her if her husband even loves her?"


    Gwh watched Patti''s brazen provocation with perfect calm.


    "Call security."


    This woman was impossible-Gwh had no intention of wasting any more time arguing with her.


    Patti let out a coldugh. "I''d like to see you try. What''s wrong, is Mrs. Everhart a fake too?"


    Gwh''s smile didn''t waver. "She''s as real as it gets-because I am Mrs. Everhart."


    A hush fell over the room.


    Every single person from the games department was left speechless, except for the staff who''d known all along.


    Gwh was Mrs. Everhart? That couldn''t be.


    She was always so low-key, even after Miss Yvette tried to set her up. She hadn''t made a fuss or retaliated.


    No, that wasn''t quite true-Miss Yvette had been transferred soon after, hadn''t she?


    But still, why had Gwh kept silent until now?


    Patti studied the young woman before her―no, the girl, really.


    She was trim and elegant, younger than Patti by far, with the fresh face of a college student. She looked nothing like the Mrs EverhardPatti had pictured.  s


    "You?" Patti nearly burst outughing.


    "I have the marriage certificate if you want to


    pullinde it," Gwh said calmly,


    gup a digital copy on her<fnf4fd> Readplete version only at fι?dnοvel</fnf4fd>


    phone.  s


    It showed their wedding date-just~st month. The names and ID numbers were unmistakable. Even, their official wedding photo was there, side by side.  fo s


    "Gwyn, you''re really Mrs. Everhart? Oh my god..."