Chapter 73

The room went silent in an instant. It was Edward who had spoken. I looked at him in shock. He was here, too? If even he got involved, this had clearly blown up far bigger than I thought. Edward barely ever left home, spending most of his time gardening and fussing over his garden. And now he was here… for Alicia? "Elise, come over here and apologize," he suddenly ordered, cutting through the crowd. His eyes locked directly onto me, his face stern. "Why should I apologize?" I stared back, completely baffled. Before he could respond, Aria shot up from her kneeling position. "What does this have to do with her? I already said—I lost it because I couldn't stand Alicia pretending to be all sweet while wearing my mom's heirloom jewelry! She makes me sick!" She wasn't holding back. "Alicia bumped into my brother's wine bottle and hurt herself—why should he have to apologize for that? I did this for Frederick. Elise? Please. Like I'd go through all this trouble for her." Okay... that s