Chapter 808
Charlotte looked up, her cheeks flushed, and grinned at Anthony, her gaze locked on his tense, handsome face. She tilted her head, a teasing smile playing at her lips. “What, you thought I’d find out the truth and end up crying in the bathroom?”
Anthony didn’t say a word. He just scooped her up and carried her back to the bedroom.
He settled her in his arms, then picked up the hairdryer, gently running his fingers through her hair as he dried it, treating every strand like it was something precious.
“I was worried about you,” he admitted softly.
Even seeing her frown made his heart twist. The thought of her in tears was unbearable.
“So you think I’m that delicate?” Charlotte reached up, hooked her finger under his chin, and gave him a carefree, mischievous smile. “Anthony, have you ever seen me cry?”
Her eyes were so bright and clear, with not a hint of sadness anywhere on her face. Of course. The head of N Organization wasn’t someone who fell apart so easily.
He realized he’d worried for nothing.
“Actually, I have seen it,” Anthony said.
He set the hairdryer aside and, in a sudden move, rolled over, pinning her gently beneath him. He brushed his nose against hers, his voice rough and low. “Don’t you remember?”
Charlotte blinked, confused for a second.
But then she caught the spark in Anthony’s eyes, and it hit her. She wriggled, trying to escape his arms.
“I’m really tired. I need to sleep,” she said, half-laughing.
Watching her duck and hide, Anthony couldn’t help but smile. He lay down, pulled her close again, and kissed her neck softly. “Go to sleep, Lottie. I won’t tease you anymore tonight.”
He waited until she was sound asleep before slipping out from under the covers and heading to the study.
When he walked in, Hans greeted him respectfully. “Anthony.”
Anthony threw on a jacket. The warmth he’d shown Charlotte disappeared, his face turning cool and sharp. “How’s the investigation into A1 Research Institute going?”
Hans answered, “Still working on it. So far, it’s just like Charlotte said. The A1 Research Institute ran into trouble right after leaving Solenia. So…..”
Anthony took a slow drag from his cigarette, his eyes dark and thoughtful. “You think Lottie’s biological father is probably there?”
Hans nodded.
No one knew if Charlotte’s father was good or bad, what kind of man he really was.
But one thing was obvious. Solenia was the biggest lead they had.
Finding someone in a place like that, crawling with powerful people and hidden dangers, was going to be tough.
Anthony leaned back in his chair, cigarette between his fingers, staring out the window, silent for a long time.
Finally, he spoke up. “Keep digging into A1 1 Research Institute. into Lottie’s gene mutation too.”
He needed to make sure Lottie was safe first.
Once they figured out what happened with the institute, they’d find clues about her father.
The next morning, the group returned to Cabinda.
As soon as Charlotte got home, she received Patricia’s bloodwork results.
The report was thorough, more than twenty pages of tests and numbers. Charlotte sat cross-legged on the carpet, reading every page carefully.
Just as she expected: Somer’s syndrome.
She needed to find Covid-X, and fast.
Thinking it over, Charlotte pulled out her phone and called Newell.
He was in the middle of lunch, eating with his usual elegance, when her call came
in.
Seeing her name pop up on the screen, he choked and spat out his coffee.
“Newell, are you okay?” Charlotte asked.
He waved her off, grabbing a napkin
to wipe his mouth, then tried to look
serious? Did someone steal
phone?
What?
His assistant glanced at the screen, eyes wide in shock, like he’d just seen a ghost.
would
hi
hey’d have believed Nine Newell be net
Charlotte would ever call
herself.