Chapter 534
Anthony never thought he’d live to see the day he’d get jealous over a woman, not just other men. Lottie really had a way of keeping him on his toes.
“Hi.” Anthony flashed a quick smile as he walked over to Charlotte, coming to stand right by her side. His eyes landed lightly on Stella and he gave her a polite, almost effortless grin. “I’m Anthony. Lottie’s boyfriend.”
Boyfriend?
Stella’s lashes fluttered as she turned to Charlotte, searching her face for confirmation.
Charlotte nodded, a little awkward as she answered, “Yeah, he’s my boyfriend.”
Stella had heard about Charlotte’s boyfriend before, but seeing him in the flesh was something else. Honestly, she never thought there was a man alive who could be good enough for Charlotte. Looking at Anthony now, she figured he must’ve gotten Charlotte’s attention with his looks first of all.
“Hello,” Stella said, her voice a little tight.
“No need to be nervous. If you need anything, just let me know.”
As he spoke, Anthony quietly pulled Charlotte closer to his side. He leaned down, his voice soft and teasing at her ear. “I’m heading out. Try to behave, okay?”
He was leaving already?
Charlotte’s long lashes trembled. She reached up and tugged gently at his tie, her big eyes shining as she looked right at him. “Okay,” she whispered, but she still didn’t let go.
He liked that. He liked it a lot.
Stella watched the whole scene unfold, completely stunned. The Charlotte she knew was always so distant, like some rare flower on a snowy mountaintop, impossible for anyone to get close to-especially men.
But now, in front of Anthony, Charlotte was like a different person. She actually seemed soft, trusting, almost… vulnerable.
“I’ll come by again tomorrow morning,” Anthony promised.
Charlotte arched her brow and walked him to the door, hands shoved into her pockets. “I want Helen to make breakfast,” she said, almost like a command.
“Of course.” Anthony grinned, giving her chin a gentle little squeeze. Then he glanced over at Stella, who was still watching him like he was some kind of puzzle she needed to solves, Your friend’s giving me quite the look,” he joked.
Honestly, who could blame her? Back when Anthony had gone after N Organization,
he hadn’t held back at all. The group Charlotte had worked so hard to build almost didn’t survive because of him.
Thinking about it made Charlotte
feel a pang of regret. Anthony was already struggling with guilt about everything that happened at the sanatorium. If he ever found out he’d nearly destroyed Organization too, he’d probably fall apart.
And the people in N Organization? They hated Anthony. If they found out about her and him… who knew what kind of mess would follow.
Charlotte really didn’t have the energy to deal with any of that right now. So, as long as she could, she’d keep it all under wraps.
Later that night, Charlotte and Stella lay side by side in bed, talking quietly about the days they’d spent together at the sanatorium.
“If Grandma were still here, she’d be so happy to see how good your life is now,” Stella murmured. “If she hadn’t taken us in, we wouldn’t have made it this far.”
“Yeah.” Charlotte tucked her hands
.n
behind her head and stared up at the ceiling, her eyes going dark as she thought of Lamplighter Village.. “Grandma and the kids… We’ll make their dreams come true. We we
them that We’re the hope of the whole village, remember?
Once Stella drifted off to sleep, Charlotte carefully slipped out from under the covers
and made her way to the living room.
“Charlotte.”
Jackson and Adonis were waiting on the couch for her.
“Well? What’s up?” Charlotte dropped onto the sofa, rubbing at her temples, her expression cold and tired.
“Someone’s been asking about Stella,” Adonis said, his face serious. “Looks like it’s her family.”