It was utterly unbelievable.

Patti Yale simply couldn't accept it. Gwyneth was supposed to die. She had watched her struggle in the water-a pregnant woman had no chance of surviving that.

Hawthorne just watched her meltdown in silence. The police had cleared the room, leaving the two of them alone in the interrogation cell. It was an unspoken invitation; if Hawthorne wanted to make her disappear, no one would ever know. But that wasn't his plan.

"The fact that Gwyneth is alive... isn't that just fate?" Hawthorne said coolly. "You underestimated me, and you underestimated her. You underestimated us. I was the one who pulled her from the water. Patti, have you ever heard the saying, 'You reap what you sow"?"

Patti still refused to accept the outcome. It was impossible. How could Gwyneth be alive?

"If you had done your research on my wife, you would know she's one of the few-if not the only top female race car drivers in the world. Her daily fitness regimen is ten times more intense than that of an average person. The only reason she needed my help was because she's pregnant. Otherwise, even if you'd tied a bolder to her, she would have walked out of that ocean unscathed, just like me.

“Patti, I didn't want to waste my breath on you, but I want to know one thing: why did you want me dead? We have no deep-seated grudge. I even helped you."

After he finished, Patti let out a miserable laugh. "It looks like I really did underestimate you. My mistake. I should have done my homework. I should have made sure Gwyneth died in my apartment that day instead of ever letting her go." Hawthorne flicked the ash from his cigarette. "Whether she lives or dies is not up to you. You can't kill her, and you can't kill me. Now, I just want the reason."

There was no logical reason for her to try to kill them. Once they were dead, she would have become a fugitive with a nationwide manhunt on her tail.

Patti stared at Hawthorne for a full minute before breaking into a chilling smile. "It was James. Didn't you know? James offered me one hundred million to take you out How else was I supposed to lure you in without kidnapping Gwyneth?" James was behind it all. If you don't believe me, check my phone. The record of his transfer is right there. Who can say no to that kind of money? For a hundred million, you'd do the same thing."

Hawthorne just watched her, his expression unreadable, before speaking, "All of your accounts have been frozen, and that money is now evidence. Besides the twenty five million I gave you there ispan extra penny in your accounts. In other words, if James really diebpromise you a hundred million, it was an empty promise. You were holding nothing but a worthless IOU. And are you sure he told you that you'd get the money only after I was dead?"

It was obvious Hawthorne didn't believe a word she said. The police had also found

a trove of information related to James on her phone. She had enough blackmail material on him-proof of his affairs and illegitimate children—to extort him for a fortune. There was no need to resort to murder.

"What did you say? James's money isn't in my account?" Patti's face contorted with rage. James had played her for a fool again, feeding her empty promises just like before.

Hawthorne gave a faint, cold smile. “The only person who ever gave you any real money was me. Now, you can tell me why you wanted me dead. If you don't, the charges against you will be severe. Extortion, kidnapping, attempted murder. Any one of those is enough to keep you in a cell for the rest of your life.”

At that, Patti finally snapped. She slammed her hands on the table and shot to her feet. "That's bullshit! I'm in this mess because of you! It was both of you, Hawthorne, you and James, conspiring against me! Janges wanted you dead, but I wanted you dead even more. It

weren't for you, I would never have

gone down this path."

Her composure was gone, her hatred laid bare.

Hawthorne remained impassive, calmly extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray.