"This is The Keaton Estate, your cousin’s place. Why shouldn’t he be here?"
Although Victor Hawthorne’s mother, Helena Astor, maintained a perfectly composed smile, she was somewhat uneasy.
Though Kyle Keaton was her cousin, they seldom had opportunities to meet since Kyle Keaton had been involved in formal training as The Keaton Family heir from a young age.
Additionally, Kyle Keaton had a personality that kept strangers at bay, so even as his cousin, Helena Astor was rather intimidated by him.
"But why does he have to sit at the same table with us? Shouldn’t he be sitting over there with the old lady and them?"
Kyle Keaton’s expressionless, ice-cold face was enough to almost make Victor Hawthorne cry.
He had just been sent home by July Quinn and immediately dragged by his parents to wash up and dress up, changing into a sharp suit and bowtie.
He wondered why his usually laissez-faire parents suddenly had a whim today.
As a result, he was brought to The Keaton Estate and placed at a seat next to Kyle Keaton. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NoveI(F)ire.net
Had he known it would be , he would have never come, no matter what.
After all, this cousin was the person who scared him the most since he was young, without exception.
"It’s an honor for you. You should secretly enjoy it. Others dream of sitting next to your cousin but never get the chance."
Helena Astor spoke the truth.
Basically, everyone who comes to The Keaton Estate hopes to take the opportunity to meet Kyle Keaton.
If one can make their presence known in front of this gentleman, they would be set for life.
However, it’s not something anyone who wants to sit with him can simply arrange.
He’s seen as the ultimate authority in Esteria and even the country, and no one dares to defy his wishes.
So when others saw Kyle Keaton seated among The Hawthorne Family, they could only envy and resent without daring to interfere or change seats on their own.
"This honor can go to whoever wants it; I don’t want it!"
Victor Hawthorne protested vehemently, but seeing Kyle Keaton glancing at him with an unreadable expression out of the corner of his eye, he immediately covered his chattering mouth and placed his hands obediently on his lap.
At this moment, his phone rang.
Victor Hawthorne quickly pretended to pick it up to avoid the deadly awkwardness.
It was a message from Leo.
[Captain Hawthorne, did your confession fail again today?]
Victor Hawthorne’s mood instantly sank to the bottom, feeling both gloomy and hopeless.
[Yes. Joy said she still wants to focus on her studies, afraid I might affect her learning.]
Since they had supported him all along the way, Victor Hawthorne felt it was necessary to inform them of the result of his confession.
[But Captain Hawthorne, have you ever thought that Joy saying she wants to focus on her studies is just an excuse, and she’s keeping you around as a backup?]
[Leo, considering we’ve been friends for many years, I’ll let it slide this time. But if I hear you doubting Joy again, we won’t even be friends anymore.]
He’s confessed multiple times and been rejected, and many buddies said Joy Quinn was keeping him as a backup.
But Victor Hawthorne was always unwilling to accept that he was becoming a professional backup.
So he usually warned those buddies who talked nonsense, and afterward, no one dared to speak ill of Joy Quinn in front of him.
Soon, Leo sent a reply.
But he didn’t admit he was talking nonsense, instead...
[I’m not doubting; I have evidence.]
Accompanied by the text message, there were screenshots of the conversation between Leo and Joy Quinn.
[Leo, are you feeling better? Which hospital are you in now?]
[Sis-in-law, I’m much better, thanks for your concern.]
[Don’t tease me. Victor and I are just friends. If you keep calling me that, what if someone I care about misunderstands?]