She called Maynard, her former father''s assistant, and asked him to look into someone named Patti Yale.


    The reply came quickly. Maynard''s efficiency andpetence were beyond question—he faxed Gwh a full dossier on Patti Yale, from birth all the way to her current circumstances.


    As a consummate executive assistant, Maynard didn''t ask a single unnecessary question.


    "Mr. Maynard, I need you to keep this a secret for me."<fn5916> Find the newest release on Find?Novel</fn5916>


    Gwh knew that anyone who''dsted over a decade working for the Langford family had to be exceptionally sharp.


    Afraid he might report back to Victoria, she reminded him in time.


    "Yes, Miss," Maynard replied smoothly.


    But not five seconds after giving his word, Maynard had already included a detailed ount of Gwh''s recent activities in his daily report to Victoria.


    He''d always followed Victoria''s instructions to keep an eye on Gwh, no matter where she was.


    Gwh had no idea; her trusted "Mr. Maynard" had already betrayed her without a second thought.


    Every three days, Victoria received aprehensive report on Gwh-every bit of it the result of Maynard''s covert investigations, all at Victoria''s behest.


    After all, this daughter was different from the others; Victoria had always worried about her.


    Even now, knowing Gwh had apparently found happiness, Victoria couldn''t stop herself from wanting to know about her daily life.


    What she never expected was that this marriage she''d pinned her hopes on


    would hit a major obstacle before it had even begun.


    Victoria dialed her daughter''s number. The moment Gwh saw "Mom" sh on the screen, her eyes welled up with tears.


    She hesitated for a moment, but finally answered.


    "Mom..."


    She''d barely managed to get the word out before her tears spilled over.


    Thankfully, Victoria couldn''t see her face through the phone.


    "Gwyn, you haven''t called me in days. How are you? When are youing home?"


    For Victoria, the absence of calls was actually a good sign-it meant Gwh was happy, living her life without being haunted by guilt for her mother.


    "It''s not the fall festival yet, is it? I''lle back then," Gwh said, doing her best to sound yful, as if nothing was wrong.


    But Victoria, ever perceptive, saw right through her. She didn''t address it directly; instead, she circled around the topic and Gwh still lost in grief and anger-didn@notice a thing.  s


    "All right, sweetheart. I''ll be waiting. If anythinges up, don''t try to handle it alone, do you hear me?"


    Gwh''s throat tightened, but she forced herself to sound cheerful so her mother wouldn''t worry.


    "I won''t, Mom. Hawthorne... he''s very good to me."


    She lied-right through her teeth. For the first time, Gwh found herself talking


    to Victoria for over an hour before finally hanging up.


    Victoria didn''t press her about her rtionship with Hawthorne; she just asked about her daily life, about the little things. Gwh didn''t suspect a thing.


    After their conversation, Gwh felt a little lighter.


    She''d rented a small ce on an old street Rain was falling, the sound of droplets tapping on the roof tiles soothing her restless heart ima way she couldn''t exin.


    belongs to s


    She set her phone to "Do Not Disturb" for everyone except her family; no one else


    could get through.


    "Gwyn, where are you? Can we talk?"


    "Gwyn, you''re in a new ce where you don''t know anyone. Please don''t make me worry. If you have something on your mind, let''s talk it out face to face. Hiding like this just makes me even more anxious."  s


    She managed to block Hawthorne''s calls, but there was no stopping his texts from<ping through, no matter how many times she deleted his number.