LOGINNobody from the family is home?
Just the cousin-in-law…
After going upstairs, Phoebe personally led Charlie to the master suite on the third floor, while the butler took Candice and the others to the guest rooms on the south side of the second floor.
The two areas were so far apart they practically needed a “taxi ride.”
This arrangement wasn’t wrong, really.
After all, Candice and the rest were only subordinates tagging along. The fact that they were even allowed to stay in the Hawthorne residence was already generous enough; having the young madam herself accompany them would’ve been strange.
Charlie’s room was the same as before.
the Hawthorne family had always kept their daughter Beatrice’s room, and later prepared another for their grandson Charlie. Beatrice loved visiting her parents’ home, and when Clemens was little, she often brought him along to Shandor. the Hawthorne elders do
My heart jumped into my throat.I’d thought I’d already talked Mom and Grandma out of coming—and knowing Mom’s cautious personality, she wouldn’t stir up trouble anyway.But Grandma? That fearless, hot-headed old lady? She absolutely would.If they really came to Shandor…If they showed up at that birthday banquet…Wouldn’t the whole city find out overnight that I’m James’s illegitimate daughter?“Candice? Candice?”Sophia waved a hand in front of my face.“Huh? What?”I snapped out of it, pressed my phone face-down on my lap, and forced a smile at the sight of her pink gown.“Mm. Looks good. Really nice.”“…”Could I be any more perfunctory?Sophia gave me a look. She figured I was just feeling pressured by all the Clemens family attention.“You already planned to
He pressed his lips together.This woman’s tongue was sharp enough to cut glass.Candice shot him a look that said: Go on, bully your brother again, I dare you.She knew perfectly well that Charlie would always cover for his younger siblings—but honestly, did they have to keep making his life harder just because of it?Ever since she’d heard that story from Jim, she couldn’t help feeling sorry for Charlie. What kind of siblings were these? One called him brother while trying to date him, and another—his actual brother—treated him like an enemy. And all because he was the eldest, so everything had to fall on his shoulders.But back then, he hadn’t even been that old himself.If it were her, she’d let them fend for themselves.Now that Jessica Barnes had already let go of the past, why was Charlie still holding a grudge? Wasn’t that a little too much?Charlie faltered under he
Anyway—she wasn’t going.Absolutely not.No matter how fate tried to push her toward the Lawrence family, she would fight it to the bitter end.Of course, Candice knew that opposing them now was useless. They’d keep persuading her until she agreed—especially Charlie. There was no winning against that man.So… better to play along for now.“Fine,” she said sweetly, pretending to give in. “I’ll go.”The birthday banquet was two days away. When the time came, she’d just say she wasn’t feeling well. Knowing how anxious they were about her condition, no one would dare push her. A banquet wasn’t worth a life—surely they’d let it go.When the discussion wrapped up, Charlie left with Candice first.Afterward, Beatrice was summoned by her mother to a private room—clearly, Mrs. Hawthorne had plenty to say.Cody and Vanessa went to spen
Vanessa couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Why?”Everyone was dying to know — why did Denise want Miss Hale dead?Beatrice opened her mouth, ready to speak, but suddenly thought of something and swallowed the words back down. After taking a moment to steady her tone, she said, “It’s actually my fault. Back in Vanclyn, I ran into Denise. That wretch could talk and act like she was born for the stage — I couldn’t win against her. Luckily, Candice was with me at the time and helped me put that woman in her place. I suppose she’s been holding that grudge ever since.”She picked the smallest, least important reason to tell them.Earlier, anger had made her speak without thinking. But the two real reasons — even if they were only her own guesses — weren’t suitable to say aloud now, especially since her mother and sister-in-law didn’t know Candice well.The first reason was tha
"Thank you."She lowered her head and ate the food he’d put in her bowl, avoiding eye-contact.But even so, Charlie’s manner had already shocked Grandma Hawthorne and Vanessa.They weren’t blind—no boss treats a subordinate with that kind of care and intimacy. The two were obviously… *that* sort of relationship.So he hadn’t escaped the common male failing after all."Charlie is certainly good to his staff," Vanessa remarked, gaze flicking between them, smile laced with meaning. When her eyes landed on Candice they carried a faint disdain.Candice could read minds now: *Scheming bed-climbing sprite—thinks she can turn into a phoenix? Dream on.*She almost laughed.Just then Charlie’s lazy voice floated across the table: "Being good to one’s *girlfriend* is only natural."He added another piece of food to Candice's bowl as if it were the most ordinary thing.She looked up, helple
"Miss Hale, don't be nervous."Cody seemed to read her thoughts; he offered the reassurance then slowly withdrew his gaze. Six years older than Charlie, he was upright, handsome, mature—an utterly rational man who put clan interests first. His marriage to Phoebe had been pure business: a bridge between the Hawthorne and Harrison families. No talk of love; they had always been courteous strangers.Phoebe's accident left him regretful—but only that. His mind was already on damage-control and how to explain matters to the Harrison family.Candice understood and exhaled. *The cousin's still reasonable.*What seemed normal to her took on a different colour in Vanessa's eyes. Her son and husband were cut from the same patriarchal cloth—never bothering with trifles, never this gentle even to their wives. Yet here he was, considerate to a woman he'd just met?She studied Candice again. Beautiful—radiant whether glimpsed or scrutinis







