Chapter 479
“I said, you don’t deserve to be a father.”
Even people who’d only met her a handful of times believed she’d been framed back then. But her own biological dad? What a joke.
Honestly, he was pretty much useless to her. If he served no purpose, he might as well belong with the rest of the trash.
“My mom must have been blind to ever fall for you.” Charlotte’s words hit the air, cold and sharp. Her dark eyes slid over Olivia’s face and a slow, chilly smile tugged at her lips. “If you piss me off, you’re going to regret it. And trust me, you can’t afford that.”
Before Olivia could even process what was happening, Charlotte was already gone, slipping out of sight. Olivia stood frozen, a strange panic creeping into her chest.
What did Charlotte mean by “you can’t afford it”?
On the other end of the call, Steven was still replaying her words in his mind. “My mom must have been blind to ever fall for you.” The shock made his heart race. He curled his fingers, feeling guilty and uneasy.
Did Charlotte know something? Like the truth about who she really was?
Charlotte didn’t pay any attention to the curious stares from the students as she walked back to her classroom. She grabbed her bag and went straight to the office to ask for two days off.
Two days would be enough.
As soon as she left the school gates, she headed for the SUV parked a short distance away.
Jackson and Adonis were waiting and greeted her respectfully when they saw her. She just nodded and slid into the backseat. The second she sat down, her phone started ringing.
Anthony.
Her eyes flickered and her expression darkened.
Jackson and Adonis exchanged a quick, worried glance. Up until now, Charlotte had seemed calm, almost detached. But as soon as Anthony’s name flashed on her screen, something changed. It was like a cloud settled over her, like she only let herself show her true feelings when it was him.
“Anthony,” she said, hesitating for a moment before picking up. Her voice was steady, but there was a softness underneath.
There was a long silence on the other end. When Anthony finally spoke, his voice was rough and strained. “Wait for me at home. Don’t be scared.”
“I’m not scared Charlotte leaned back in her seat, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just… kind of miss you.”
It was the first time she’d ever said that out loud, but Anthony didn’t feel any happiness. Her voice was full of hurt.
Four hours since the news broke… He could only imagine what she’d gone through in that short time.
Anthony went quiet, trying to hold back his anger. He forced his voice gentle, trying to comfort her. “Be good and get some rest. I’ll be there when you wake up.”
“Okay.” Charlotte looked out the window, her voice obedient. When she hung up, her mood seemed to lighten a little.
“I already know who posted the video. You don’t have to worry about
it anymore.” She pulled a slip of paper from her bag and handed it to Adonis Find everyone on this list
Adonis glanced at the names. Doctors, lawyers, therapists… The people who’d worked together to hurt her in the past.
“And Charlotte lowered her eyes, her tone cold and clear. “Crush The Main Group’s stock in the next two hours. I want them bankrupt in two days.”
“Charlotte, where to now?”
“Home.” She closed her eyes, her plans for the day completely changed. “I’m going to sleep.”
Meanwhile, in Frostford.
Anthony sat alone in the cabin of a private jet, phone in hand, glaring at a video playing on his laptop. The air around him was heavy and tense, Shards of broken glass littered the floor by his feet, and his knuckles
were smeared with blood.
“I want every single file from that incident five years ago. Get them to me within the
hour.”
As soon as he finished speaking, another wave of news hit the internet.
The headline screamed: Charlotte’s Mental Illness Confirmed.
There was a video and a photo. When Anthony saw the image of a tiny, dirty girl with a shaved head Something in him snapped Flashes of old memories flickered through his mind.
He recognized her. That was the little girl he’d held for just a moment at the psychiatric hospital, five years ago.