Chapter 74

"Got it, Mr. Hawthorne." Though the driver was a bit thrown off by the sudden change, he didn’t miss a beat as he turned the wheel and made a smooth U-turn, heading straight toward Edward’s private villa. Wednesday, 7 a.m. Alice stirred awake in the large bed, her eyes fluttering open with a dazed look. As her vision cleared, the room’s interior slowly came into focus. Dark matte tones, sleek lines—elegant and understated. Definitely not the soft, cozy colors of her own place. A jolt of panic shot through her, and she sat up abruptly, eyes darting around. She’d seen this style before. This was Edward’s place. After she freshened up and walked out to the living room, she spotted him sitting on the sofa, reading the business section and sipping coffee like he had all the time in the world. A crisp white shirt, tailored black slacks, every inch the polished elite. His posture was laid-back, one leg crossed over the other, those long, slender fingers raising the coffee cup to his lips now