Chapter 41
Charlotte saw Steven’s hand lift as if he was about to strike.
Behind him, Olivia watched with a sly, satisfied grin, clearly hoping their father would slap Charlotte so hard that her face would never be the same.
But the slap never landed.
Charlotte caught Steven’s wrist in midair, her lips curled in a faint, icy smile. Her eyes were sharp and cold, full of warning as she stared him down.
Steven tried to pull free, but Charlotte didn’t budge.
“Are you trying to rebel against me?”
He tugged again. This time, Charlotte suddenly let go. Steven stumbled back, nearly crashing into the sofa.
“Dad, are you alright?” Olivia rushed over to steady him, then shot Charlotte a furious look. “You’ve gone too far. It was bad enough to pick on me and Susan, but now you’d even raise a hand against your own father? Aren’t you afraid of karma catching up to you?”
Elizabeth stepped in too, her words soft but judgmental. “Charlotte, this is really out of line. What on earth did you learn while you were away all these years?”
Steven straightened himself and looked into Charlotte’s chilly eyes. He felt a jolt of disbelief. The daughter he remembered as shy and insecure now dared to stand up to him. He’d assumed that the years apart had just made her colder. He never expected she’d become even more stubborn and fierce.
Rage boiled up inside him.
“Bring me the cane!”
A maid, trembling, hurried to fetch a thick cane and handed it over.
That cane was supposed to enforce family rules, but it seemed like it was always used on Charlotte.
Steven gripped the cane tightly, glaring at her. “Apologize to Olivia and Susan right now and I’ll let this go.”
“Just say you’re sorry, Charlotte,” Olivia said gently, her voice almost sweet. “You know better than anyone how much the cane hurts.”
“Don’t make your father angrier,” Elizabeth added, pretending to be concerned. “If you do, even I won’t be able to help you.”
It was always the same act. First,
mother and daughter would pressure her to admit she was wrong, promising she’d avoid
punishment. But as soon as Charlotte gave in they’d
twist things rile Steven up even more, and the
beating would be worse than ever.
Charlotte sat back on the sofa, looking relaxed, a cool smile on her lips. “You’re
right. Hitting people is wrong. That should be punished.”
Olivia was caught off guard for a split second. Was Charlotte really so scared that she’d given up already?
“Dad, maybe Charlotte really didn’t mean it. I can forgive her,” Olivia said, her eyes filling with tears as she tried to look generous. “But
Susan has watched over menet
was little. She’s like my own
grandmother. Charlotte has to go to the hospital and kneel to apologize to her.”
Steven smiled approvingly at Olivia, then turned back to Charlotte, his face hard. “If
you know you’re wrong, go to the hospital now—”
Charlotte raised an eyebrow and let out a cold laugh.
“Who said I admitted anything?”
“Olivia and her grandmother started it. I was only defending myself. If that’s still wrong, then bring them here too and we’ll all take the cane together.”
Olivia’s face changed. “That’s a lie. When did I ever touch you?”
“You say Olivia started it? Do you have any proof?” Elizabeth blocked Olivia, her voice chilly Charlotte, don’Dmake things up just to avoid being punished.”
“I do,” Charlotte replied calmly. “There’s security footage.”
Elizabeth just smiled. She’d already had someone destroy that footage earlier in the
day. There was no way Charlotte could prove anything now.
“If I can find proof that Olivia hit me first, then what?”
Elizabeth didn’t blink. She was sure Charlotte couldn’t.
“When I made a mistake, I got ten strikes with the cane. Whatever punishment I’d get, she gets.”
“Fine,” Olivia said, acting brave since she knew the footage was gone. “If you can show proof, I’ll take the punishment.”
Charlotte’s lips curved into a small, knowing smile. She nodded to the maid, who turned on the television while she casually took out her phone.