005 - Chaos Dinner

I was too stunned when Mr. Hawthorne announced that I was his stepson. Instantly, I looked at Mr. Hawthorne with an uncomfortable feeling. "Mr. Hawthorne, are you kidding me?"

"No, Theo. Haven't you read my message?" Mr. Hawthorne furrowed his eyebrows in the middle.

"No, it's not like that. It is just..."

"Honey, what did you just say?" Victoria stood up from her seat and chuckled a little. "You're kidding, right? Our only son is Spencer." Victoria pointed at their son, Spencer, who was sitting pretty in front of her.

Mr. Hawthorne took his hand off me and walked over to his wife. The dining table atmosphere became so uncomfortable. This was not the dinner I expected; I have not even had time to touch the cutlery on the table. I glanced at Spencer, who was looking at me with distaste.

"Honey, I'm sorry." Mr. Hawthorne put his arm around his wife's waist and then whispered something.

Victoria made an annoyed face and then pushed her husband away. "You're lying, right?"

"Victoria, I'm sorry." Mr. Hawthorne looked very apologetic.

"Don't talk to me!" Victoria's face looked very disappointed, and she then ran away from the dining table. "I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU!"

"Victoria, honey." Mr. Hawthorne tried to persuade his wife. "Wait a moment." Mr. Hawthorne said goodbye to me before running after his wife.

I just gave a nod of the head in response. Mr. Hawthorne left me alone with his son at the dinner table. I didn't dare move an inch from my position; I felt sorry for this situation.

"Hey!" The sound of a chair being moved was loud.

I turned to see Spencer already getting up from his chair. Spencer walked up to me with a haughty, annoying look. Spencer looked at me up and down.

"What's your name again?" He asked me with a sharp gaze.

"Theo." I answered briefly and nervously.

"Where are you from?" Spencer shoved his hands into his trouser pockets.

Spencer wore a black t-shirt paired with shorts above the knee. Although the clothes are very simple, I could see that they had a high price.

"Excuse me?" I didn't understand the meaning of the question; of course I'm from this city.

"Do you think you are a match for us?" Spencer taunted me. "Do you know who Hawthorne is?"

I really wanted to answer it, but my mouth suddenly became numb. Not a single word came out of my mouth. I looked down and held my hands together.

"Oh, apparently you don't know us. We are the 10th richest family in America, and I am the ONLY child of Harrison Hawthorne; that is my daddy." Spencer nudged my shoulder. "You understand?"

I totally understand why Spencer was so mad at me. Nobody wanted all of these things to happen. Who would want to have a poor and ugly stepbrother like me? In fact, I also had no idea that Mr. Hawthorne was my biological father. Even though I really wanted to be the son of a rich man.

"I apologize." Only those three words came out of my mouth.

"Do not ever think that you are the son of Harrison Hawthorne." Spencer looked down and tried to meet my face while pushing my head roughly. "REMEMBER THAT!"

"Spencer!" Mr. Hawthorne's voice Hawthorne was heard from a distance.

Spencer stepped back from my presence while Mr. Hawthorne was back beside me. I still didn't move and lowered my head, embarrassed.

"What did you do to Theo?" Mr. Hawthorne sounded like he was defending me.

"Mr. Hawthorne, I'm fi-"

"Do not say a thing." Mr. Hawthorne stopped me.

Spencer's piercing gaze met mine again. Suddenly, my mouth closed.

"Why, dad? Spencer was trying to tell him not to dream too far of being daddy's son." He glanced at me. "Was Spencer wrong?"

"It is enough." Mr. Hawthorne sounded angry.

"Did Daddy defend him?" Spencer pointed at me.

"Spencer, go back to your room now!" Mr. Hawthorne lowered his tone to a softer one. "Please, I am begging you."

For a few seconds, there was no response from Spencer before he chuckled in annoyance. Spencer obeyed his dad’s word and walked into his room. Spencer nudged my shoulder hard enough to push me backward. I just stared at Spencer's back, who was walking farther and farther from me.

"Theo, I'm sorry about Spencer, okay?" Mr. Hawthorne tried to get my attention.

"It's okay, sir." I flashed a genuine smile. "Sorry, I messed up your dinner today."

"No, no. It is not your fault." Mr. Hawthorne touched my shoulder in understanding. "Maybe I was the one who was wrong to introduce you to them. But don't worry, they will understand all of this later."

I could only reply to Mr. Hawthorne with a crooked smile. I was not expecting much with all this. I also didn't want to break up their family just because of me. It would be unfair if all of those things happened.

"Um, Mr. Hawthorne." I stared at him.

"Yes?" He answered quickly.

"I want to say go home." I smiled again. "Thanks for the invitation, and sorry for messing things up." I bowed before turning away from him.

"Let Preston drive you back to the hospital."

"No need, sir, I can take a taxi." I politely refused.

"Then take this." Mr. Hawthorne stopped me and took out some of his bills.

"No need, sir." I pushed the money away. "I still have my money to go back to the hospital. Thank you very much for the offer."

"Theo!" Mr. Hawthorne raised his tone and made me stop in my tracks. "Let me escort you."

Mr. Hawthorne walked right past me. I could no longer refuse it. In fact, Mr. Hawthorne told Preston to stay home and that he would drive alone. I sat right next to the driver's seat, where Mr. Hawthorne sat.

"Tell me in which direction is the hospital where your mother is being treated." Mr. Hawthorne’s tone suddenly turned very cold.

"Alright, sir." I agreed and gave directions according to what he wanted.

Mr. Hawthorne parked right in front of the hospital entrance. I unbuckled my seat belt and said, "Thanks so much for the ride."

However, Mr. Hawthorne just turned off the car's engine. "I'm coming in with you."

"No need, sir."

"I want to see how Olivia is doing."

When Mr. Hawthorne said my mother's name. At that moment, my brain stopped working. I started to wonder if Mr. Hawthorne and my mother had had an affair this whole time. But for what and how?

"Let’s go!" Mr. Hawthorne woke me up, and we went inside the hospital together.