Chapter 43
Steven and Elizabeth stared in shock, completely speechless.
“Charlotte, Olivia is your sister. How could you do something so harsh?”
Every strike had landed perfectly, not breaking the skin but leaving swollen, shiny welts. Olivia’s front and back were covered in marks. She couldn’t even lie down comfortably. Any hint of warmth made the itching unbearable, turning every moment into misery.
Charlotte straightened up, walked to the fridge, and grabbed a little cake. She took a bite, her eyes narrowing with a cold spark. “When you hit me, Dad, you never held back either.”
Steven just watched her cold silhouette disappear, at a total loss for words.
Elizabeth held Olivia close, clenching her teeth. “If Charlotte keeps acting like this, she’ll ruin the entire Main family.”
“I still don’t get how she got into Vanguard High School,” she added, looking at Steven. “You don’t think she’s going to pull the same stunt as five years ago, do you?”
Steven’s face went dark and his eyes flickered. She wouldn’t dare. That girl is hopeless.
Charlotte went back to her room and opened her social media app.
Two new notifications.
The first was a paternity test report for her and Steven. The match was 99.99 percent. Charlotte frowned. Her mom must have been truly blind back then.
The other was a friend request. Charlotte tapped her finger on the screen, hesitated a few seconds, and accepted.
Almost instantly, a message popped up from Anthony.
Hey, kid. You left something at my place.
Left something? Charlotte rested her chin in her hand, trying to remember, but nothing came to mind.
I’ll wait for you at the school gate tomorrow afternoon. I’ll bring it then.
Charlotte scooped up a big bite of creamy cake. The sweetness filled her chest and made her smile just a little. She replied, Okay.
Anthony saw the single, frosty reply and couldn’t help but smile. The usually cold, disciplined look on his face softened for a moment.
Clear my schedule for tomorrow.
Hans glanced at his boss’s phone and felt his eyelid twitch. “Yes, Anthony.”
Is Anthony really catching feelings for this girl? He could practically smell romance in the air.
The punishment clearly worked. The next morning, Olivia limped away as
soon as she saw Charlotte, r
not
daning to look her in the eye. The
servants were extra polite, making sure not to cross her.
“Miss Charlotte, Mr. Steven asked you to wait for him in the living room. He wants to go to school with you.”
“Does he not know how to get there?” Charlotte finished her breakfast, grabbed her bag, and walked out without a second thought.
Only after Charlotte was gone did
Olivia finally look up, her eyes icy.
Oway someone like
There’s no way
Charlotte could get into Vanguard High School on merit She must have done something shady Wait until Dad finds out-Charlotte’s in for it.
Vanguard High School.
Charlotte wore her uniform today-a crisp white shirt, a fitted black blazer, and a red bow tie that made her look both smart and playful. Her red-and-black plaid skirt showed off her long, straight legs. In theo sunlight, she looked like the
definition of youth. Contént belongs
The moment she stepped onto campus, everyone stared. Her photo had already made the rounds online yesterday. The whole school knew a gorgeous new girl had arrived.
“She’s really pretty, but she’s in major trouble,” a girl whispered nearby.
“Why’d she have to help that stammerer? Now she’s got all of Class A against her. She’s not going to get out of this unscathed.”
“Just stay away from her. Don’t get caught up in her mess.”
Charlotte heard the whispers but just smiled coolly and kept walking toward the main building.
Right as she reached the entrance, someone suddenly darted out from behind a tree.
“Charlotte!”
Charlotte paused and looked up, meeting Shirley’s beaming smile.