Chapter 346

After the butler left, Mara Hawthorne kept her usual calm expression, but her mind was racing like crazy—deep down, she was freaking out. She’d ordered someone to drug Cassandra Taylor last night, and now Cassandra suddenly showed up at the Hawthorne house? Chances were, she came for her. “Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Ethan... you guys go ahead and eat. I’m not feeling too well, so I’ll head back to my room,” Mara said with a forced smile and gentle tone. She quickly set down her utensils and got up from her seat, ready to head upstairs. Gerald Hawthorne just nodded—he figured she didn’t want to see Cassandra, since they didn’t get along, and assumed this was her excuse to leave. “Mara, what’s wrong? Should I take you to the doctor?” Ethan Carter looked up and asked with concern, setting down his chopsticks too. “No need, I think I just need a bit of rest,” Mara replied with a soft smile, tinged with shyness. “You stay and finish dinner with Grandpa and my parents. I’ll be fine.” But right at th