Falling For My Accidental CEO Husband
Chapter 117: A Dinner

Chapter 117: A Dinner

"Where is Serena?"

The entire table fell silent, all eyes turning to Edwina Dawn as her question hung in the air. Confusion flickered across their faces as they exchanged glances, uncertain who would answer first.

"Why do you all look so clueless?" Edwina Dawn asked carefully, "Surely, you know who Serena is. Or have you all forgotten? Ava?" She turned her sharp gaze toward her granddaughter who almost jumped from her seat.. "Serena is your age. And I made sure to place her in your class.. I specifically told you to look out for her, help her. Surely, you know where she’s gone by now? With your friendly nature, I would have thought the two of you sisters would be thick as thieves by now."

Ava stiffened, feeling the heat of her grandmother’s scrutiny. She glanced up briefly, her eyes meeting Edwina’s before quickly dropping back to her plate. She poked at her food as if it held the answer to the question and spoke in a small voice. "She doesn’t want to be friends with me, Grandmother. So... I don’t know where she is."

"You’re saying you tried to befriend her and she rejected you?" Edwina’s voice was casual, almost indifferent, as she sliced into the meat on her plate.

"Yes, Grandmother." Ava’s throat tightened. "She doesn’t like me." The lie slipped out, and with it, a half-truth that felt like a shield. "I don’t know why. She even caused a scene at my birthday party." Ava’s words tumbled out faster now, trying to fill the silence before Edwina could ask more questions. "She refused to come inside because she didn’t get a formal invitation. Then my friend had to offer to share his invite just to get her in."

Edwina paused, her fork hovering just above her plate as she gave Ava a long, piercing look. The room felt suddenly colder. Ava shifted in her seat, lowering her gaze again, pretending to be engrossed in the arrangement of her food. Her fingers tightened around her fork as she fought to keep her expression neutral, praying the lie would hold.

"I see," Edwina said at last, her tone contemplative as she resumed eating. "How strange that she would behave that way. So, no one knows where she is now?"

The silence that followed her question was palpable. Everyone at the table shifted uncomfortably, clearly unwilling to be the one to speak next.

"Lydia. Surely you know where your niece in law is. After all, you take care of everything in the house. Has she settled in well? Does she have any problems? What do you think of her?"

Lydia exchanged a glance with her husband before shaking her head," She... she is a rather rude child mother. Doesn’t talk much. But I think it is okay to give her a bit of time, after all she has grown up without proper instruction from her parents..."

"Are you saying my son did not teach his daughter well?" Another question, and this time, the silence was deafening. Because everyone knew that Edward Dawn had been the apple of his mother’s eyes. And until the day he had rebelled against his mother to marry the woman of his choice, Edwina had refused to listen anything against him. And then later, even his name had been forbidden... The last time they heard the name was when they had been informed of his death and his last will.

Hearing Edwina Dawn refer to him as ’her’ son, made everyone feel unprepared.

Finally, it was Matthew, the eldest who spoke up," Of course that is not what Lydia meant, mom. Just that Serena grew up without a mother so she is a bit rebellious. She will come around slowly of course. Maybe by this time next year, she will even be having breakfast with us like a part of the family."

"Not ’like’ a part of the family, Matthew. She is a part of this family! Like Lucas, Ava and Sophia, she too is my grandchild."

"Lydia, go and bring the child right away. I would like to have a talk with her."

"Now, mother? But you will be late for office..." Lydia started to protest but instead Edwina bit out, " What is it, Lydia? Are you in a hurry to send me away? So what if I go late one day? The corporation is not going to collapse. Go and bring her now...."

Lydia hesitated, her mouth half open as if searching for another excuse. "Mother, Serena isn’t exactly... well, she’s not the best company. She’s uncouth, to say the least, and with her attitude, I’m afraid she’ll just ruin the peace of this morning. You know how she is. Always sulking, never saying a proper ’thank you,’ and—"

"That’s enough, Lydia," Edwina’s voice was sharp, cutting off any further complaints. Her piercing gaze was enough to silence the room. "I won’t have you speaking about her that way. She’s a part of this family, and I expect you to treat her as such."

Lydia’s lips pressed into a thin line, but before she could protest further, Edwina turned toward the maid standing by the doorway. "Jane," she called out, her tone commanding. "Go and fetch Miss Serena. I want to speak with her immediately."

The maid, hesitated before stepping forward. "Fetch who, ma’am?"

Edwina’s brow furrowed, her eyes narrowing in disbelief as she looked at those on the table and then at the maid. "Are you new here?"

Jane swallowed, shaking her head quickly. "No, ma’am. I’ve been working here for almost a year."

"Then how on earth do you not know the youngest granddaughter of the house?" Edwina’s voice was low and dangerous now and while the children did not know much, the adults were practically squirming in their seats. In fact, Lydia was holding Matthew’s hand so tightly that her nails were practically digging into his hands...drawing blood.

Jane shifted nervously. "I... I’m sorry, ma’am, but as far as I know, Miss Ava is the youngest. I’ve never heard of anyone named Serena."

A heavy silence fell over the table again, the only sound the faint clink of Edwina’s fork against her plate as she set it down with more force than necessary. Her eyes slowly moved from Jane to Lydia, her expression darkening.

Lydia fidgeted, her face pale as she stammered, "I-I’ll go and bring Serena myself, Mother. I must have overlooked—"

"No," Edwina interrupted, her voice cold and final. "I don’t trust you to handle this properly, Lydia. You’ve made your feelings about Serena abundantly clear. "I’ll have the housekeeper fetch her right away."

Taking her cue, the woman hurriedly raced away... This was her last chance to save herself after all.