Chapter 833
“He knew,” Granger said.
His tone left no room for doubt.
Deep down, Moran knew Thorne had to be aware of it all.
He just couldn’t believe Thorne had stayed so fiercely devoted to Vesta, fully knowing her connection to Charlene and the dark history between their families.
Ever since Vesta re-entered the picture, Moran had known Thorne cared for her. He just never realized the obsession ran this deep.
Moran didn’t voice those thoughts aloud, but Granger could read him like an open book.
After all…
He was thinking the exact same thing.
He hadn’t expected Thorne to be so profoundly in love with Vesta either.
In truth, most of the guests had drawn the same conclusion about Thorne’s willful ignorance regarding the two women.
It was just that no one had the guts to say it to his face while he was still in the
room.
Meanwhile.
Inside the Hawkins family car, the silence was suffocating. No one dared to speak.
Leah Spencer’s eyes were still red, her mind racing with panic. She wanted to break the tension, but one look at their grim faces kept her mouth firmly shut.
Vesta kept her head bowed, staring blankly at her phone.
Finally, Maureen broke the silence. “Has Thorne messaged you yet?”
Vesta shook her head wordlessly.
Maureen’s gaze darkened.
Leah couldn’t hold back anymore. “He… he just left without even talking to you. Does this mean… is he “
Was he planning to break up with Vesta?
She didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone in the car knew exactly what she meant.
Maureen’s mind was a million miles away. She replied distractedly, yet her voice remained steady. “Given the circumstances. Thome had acknowledged her, he would have just been painting a massive target on her back.”
A spark of hope lit up Leah’s face. “So… he was just looking out for her?”
Maureen wasn’t entirely convinced of that.
After all, if Thorne had spoken up
and taken Vesta with him, their exit wouldn’t have been nearly as humiliating In fact Charlene might have been the one left looking foolish.
Maureen’s silence only fueled Leah’s anxiety. But without Maureen taking the lead,
she didn’t dare say another word.
A heavy quiet settled over the car once more.
The suffocating silence lasted all the way back to the estate.
Georgina Spencer and Katie Hawkins were completely oblivious to the night’s disaster. In high spirits, they greeted the returning group with warm smiles. “You’re back!”
Before anyone could answer, Katie pressed on. “Did Dr. Lucas give a definite answer about taking Vesta under his wing?”
Maureen shook her head, about to break the bad news. Just then, Henley Hawkins’s car pulled up to the entrance. Arraid greeted him as he stepped out. “Mr. Hawkins, a package arrived for you this evening.”
Henley was already in a foul mood, and the mention of a delivery only deepened his frown.
He never ordered anything online.
He was about to brush it off until he noticed the official seal of the court on the
envelope. He froze, then snatched it from the maid and ripped it open.
The moment he read the contents, all the color drained from his face.
Maureen, equally exhausted and irritated, hadn’t cared about the package. But seeing his horrified expression, she frowned and walked over. “What’s—”
The words died in her throat as she caught sight of the document. “Is this… a court summons?”