Chapter 396
It was four in the afternoon when their plane landed at Cabinda Airport.
Charlotte had spent most of the flight half asleep, lulled by the steady hum of the engines and the way Anthony held her close. When the landing chime sounded, she woke slowly, stretching in his arms and savoring the moment. As she moved, a cool touch brushed her wrist, making her pause.
She glanced down. Alongside the carnelian bracelet her mother had given her, she now wore another, one she didn’t remember putting on. This one was coral, the pieces uneven and organic, each about the size of her thumb, strung together on a red cord laced with delicate gold threads. Against her fair skin, the bracelet glowed under the cabin lights, impossible to miss.
Charlotte lifted her wrist, letting the coral catch the light, and then looked up at Anthony. She blinked, pretending to be innocent. “Did you put this on me?”
Anthony’s arm circled her waist, his chin dropping to her shoulder. He studied the bracelet on her wrist, a small smile curving his lips. “Yeah.”
She knew exactly what that meant. Charlotte watched him for a few seconds, her own lips curling with amusement. “Three hundred million, and you just slip it on my wrist like it’s nothing?”
The story behind the bracelet was well known. Over a century ago, it had been found in a mine struck by a meteorite. The coral was clear and flawless, considered priceless, and people said it could soothe the mind and help you sleep. It disappeared from the world for years, only for Anthony to track it down and give it to her as if it were just another trinket.
“Wear it,” Anthony said, his voice low and teasing.
Charlotte glanced at the bracelet again, warmth blooming in her chest. She arched a brow, pretending to think it over. “Alright.”
She couldn’t help smiling. Her mood was bright, lighter than it had been in days.
“Come on,” Anthony said, taking her hand and leading her toward the exit.
She let him hold her left hand while she fished out her phone with her right. The moment she powered it on, her screen exploded with notifications. Missed calls and messages piled up-some from Parrish and Shirley, but most from Andrew.
[Where are you? Anthony’s back this afternoon and told me to pick you up.]
[Help, Charlotte! If you don’t show up, you’ll never see your handsome, sunny, adorable, and gentle friend again.]
Andrew’s messages got more desperate with each one.
Charlotte’s lips quirked into a smile. She glanced at Anthony. “Did you really ask Andrew to pick me up?”
Anthony nodded. “He needed a
wake-up call. As they reached the end of the jet bridge, he gently adjusted her hat, lowering the brim over her eyes Next time he helps.. you pull one of your stunts, I won’t let him off so easily.”
Charlotte laughed softly. She remembered Anthony telling her before they boarded that he’d arranged for Andrew to meet them.
After being unreachable for so long, Andrew must have beenosing his mind.
Out front, at the airport entrance, Andrew crouched in a corner, his school uniform rumpled and his backpack clutched tight. He looked miserable, shivering as he counted down the seconds.
Finally, out of options, he tried calling her again. When the call connected, he shot to his feet, relief washing over him.
She picked up. “Hello.”
Before he could say anything, Charlotte’s voice came through, steady and calm.
“Charlotte, save me—”
“I know. Wait at the entrance.”
And then she hung up, leaving him staring at his phone. In the next moment, a rush of footsteps echoed from inside. Anthony led the way. dressed in black, his presence impossible to ignore as he headed straight for the door.