The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge novel Chapter 777

"What was it? Butler Parham saw it while cleaning. Was it something important of yours, like a drawing or a manuscript? He accidentally threw it away."

The only things Hawthorne could think of were her artworks. She spent her days at home, tinkering with her paintings and seals, which was one thing that gave him peace of mind. Many women in her situation would resort to tears, tantrums, and threats, and while Gwyneth had her moments, she was mostly composed, which worried him even more. It wasn't a normal reaction.

Gwyneth heard him say he didn't know what was on the paper and realized it had been a false alarm.

"I'm not sure. I don't know what it could be. You didn't see it?"

But Hawthorne wasn't interested in discussing a piece of scrap paper.

"Gwyn, about Patti and me—"

Gwyneth held up a hand to stop him. "Enough. If you want to confess, go to a priest. If you want to lie, find someone else to listen."

Without another glance, she headed upstairs.

Hawthorne watched her go, about to follow, when his phone rang. It was Patti.

"James wants me to get my hands on the hard drive for your company's project. Hawthorne, do you have it?" Patti was being direct.

"I do. I'll go to the office and get it for you now."

Patti bit her lip. "Won't that seem too easy? Will he believe it?" She felt Hawthorne's trap had too many holes. She added, "James asked if you really trust me. He said if you did, why do you still go home to your wife every night?"

James had actually said that, so Patti didn't feel like she was stirring up trouble by relaying it truthfully.

Gwyneth's attention fixed on the word "repaired," and it all clicked into place. Hawthorne would never give her a defective gift. The pearl necklace must have broken and scattered on the floor. No wonder Hawthorne said Butler Parham found a piece of paper under the bed. If he hadn't been looking for the pearls, he never would have stumbled upon her pregnancy report.

The irony was bitter. A man as shrewd as Hawthorne should have known if he'd dropped something under the bed. She was the one living in this room. If he had paid even a sliver of attention to her, how could he not have guessed that paper was a pregnancy report?

Butler Parham opened the box in front of her. Inside lay a string of pearls, each one perfectly round, lustrous, and full-bodied—clearly of the highest quality. Even though her relationship with Hawthorne had hit rock bottom, she couldn't help but linger her gaze on the necklace for a moment.

"Ms. Everhart, I have never seen Mr. Everhart so angry and hurt. I watched him grow up. I can see you're angry with him, and I can tell he's desperate, completely at a loss for how to win back your favor."

Facing the elderly butler, Gwyneth couldn't bring herself to say anything that would cause him distress or embarrassment.

She simply said to him, "Just leave it here. I'll take it."