This apartment was supposed to be a gift from Hawthorne back when he tried to impress her. She''d turned it down, saying it was too small for her taste. Now, the fact that she''d finally deigned to move in should''ve been enough to save his pride.


    Rent? What did he mean, rent?


    As if she needed to rent this ce. James could toss her the keys to any one of his houses, and they''d all be bigger than this shoebox.


    What a joke.


    "Hawthorne, what on earth do you mean by this?"


    Patti Yale was fuming. She cornered Hawthorne, demanding an answer.


    He sat half-shrouded in shadow, coolly pulling a cigarette from the pack and lighting it with a sharp flick.


    Hans continued for him.


    “There''s also this itemized statement, Miss Yale, showing your recent purchases at various department stores. All charged to Mr. Everhart''s card. If it''s convenient, you can settle the full amount now.


    If you''re short on funds, Mr. Everhart is willing to ept installment payments. But we''ll need to add a thirty percent interest on the total."


    Patti stared, dumbstruck.


    She thought that card was hers to use freely. Now Hawthorne was not only demanding repayment he was charging interest.


    She''d expected a windfall today, but instead, Hawthorne had smacked her with reality so hard she nearly cked out.


    Hawthorne flicked his cigarette ash, unfazed.


    "My two-million-dor card-Miss Yale has already spent more than a million on it. How did it feel, using my money?"


    The way he said "Miss Yale" drove a wedge between them-cold, distant.


    "Hawthorne, we''re a couple. Is this how you treat me? In front of all these people, you''re actually asking me to pay you back? And this apartment-this is where we used to live together, remember? Now you want me to pay rent?"


    Had he lost his mind? Or was she just drunk and hallucinating?<fnac4d> Newest update provided by find?novel</fnac4d>


    "Miss Yale, watch your words. I got marriedst month in Starfall City. My wife has already met you. If you insist on calling yourself my girlfriend in front of witnesses that''s defamation: You might want to think before you speak."  s


    He exhaled azy spiral of smoke, the white haze drifting softly upward, filling the air with the pungent scent of tobo.


    Patti trembled. There was no way she could pay back all that money-not in a few months, not ever. Even in installments, she was hopeless.


    “I—I don''t have the money," she stammered, her bravado gone.


    "Oh? You never thought about paying it back when you were spending so freely?


    Did I ever say you could use my money?"


    Patti couldn''t read Hawthorne anymore.


    He''d used to be so considerate, attentive-houses, gifts, always at her beck and call, fawning over her.


    Now, overnight, he''d turned into someone she didn''t recognize.


    She had no idea what he really wanted.


    Hawthorne tapped his fingers on the table. Hans understood and quietly ushered the bodyguards out, leaving only the two of them in the room.


    Hawthorne took out a recorder and pressed y, letting Patti hear it for herself.


    At first, she didn''t realize what was happening. But then, James''s voice red from the speaker, and Patti started shaking like a leaf.


    "Hawthorne, let me exin. It''s not what you think. My father ran into trouble abroad-James helped me out... But I never meant to hurt you. He forced me I''m telling you the truth."  s


    Heh...


    Hawthorne''s smile was ice cold.


    "Forced''? Did he force you into bed, too? He didn''t just want you to steal business secrets. He wanted you to help him take over the entire, Everhart family.”  s