As the second Young Master of the Smith Family, he doesn't need to please anyone. As a child, people tried to please him; as an adult, people still tried to please him, leaving no room to develop any emotional intelligence.
Moreover, being engrossed in his research, Edward handles other matters, and he doesn't need to meet people, which led to his "my way or the highway" personality.
Once he believes something is right, he won't compromise.
No matter the occasion, if he feels hostility towards someone, he'll express it unreservedly.
Like now, he originally didn't want to come to recognize Helen Melendy as his sister, his heart filled with anger. Only fearing his elder brother's anger towards Olivia forced him to come.
But once here, whether he's willing to go out of his way to please this sister, that's beyond his elder brother's control now.
