Chapter 147

"Edward!" Robert Hawthorne’s eyes flared as he shoved Susan Hawthorne aside and stormed toward Edward, fists clenched. Alice's body tensed in a flash. Almost instinctively, she stepped forward and shielded Edward with her own body. Before anything could explode, a dry cough echoed from the end of the hallway. "Ahem! Robert, Edward—both of you, come in here." Mr. Hawthorne's calm but firm voice cut through the air. Robert froze mid-step, threw a sharp glance at Edward, then walked straight into the study. That left just Alice and Susan in the corridor. Alice pressed her lips into a tight line, gave a helpless smile, then softly said, "Auntie, I’ll go with you to the charity auction tomorrow." She was clearly forcing herself—for Edward's sake. Susan had been wiping tears from the corner of her eye with her fingertip. Upon hearing that, she suddenly let out a snide chuckle. She glanced at Alice with barely hidden smugness and replied in a low, throaty tone, "At least you know your place."