RedNovelRegret 166 Rachel stepped protectively in front of Charlotte, her cheeks flushed with righteous fury. "Don't you dare lay a finger on my daughter!" Charlotte stared at her, stunned.
For the first time, she knew what it felt like to be shielded by her own mother.
So this is what warmth and safety feel like.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Mom..." Rachel's voice trembled with resolve. “I couldn't protect Hiram. I know I failed him. But no matter what, I won't stand by and watch another child be taken from me." Her decision was clear-she would stand against the Sterlings to her last breath if that's what it took.
She'd endured so much herself.
She'd turned a blind eye before, even if she'd had no choice.
But this time, she'd answer to her own conscience.
"Rachel, you can barely take care of yourself, and you're still trying to hold onto your adopted daughter?" Adelaide folded her arms, her true colors in full display. "I've already arranged everything with my cousin. Lottie's getting married, like it or not. I've accepted the dowry, so your opinion doesn't matter." Rachel shook with anger. "You... what you're proposing is illegal!" "Mom, don't get upset." Charlotte laid a steadying hand on her mother's back and turned to Adelaide, her expression ice-cold. She let out a mocking laugh. "You want to marryoff? If bigamy were legal, I'd hardly mind at this point." Adelaide froze for a moment, then scoffed, "Charlotte, your father claims you're married, but we've never even seen your wedding. Everyone knows how much he cares about appearances-if you'd really married someone respectable, he'd have been bragging about it for years." Everyone in the Sterling family knew about Xavier's pride.
He'd split from the family to prove he was more capable than his older brother, but all his efforts couldn't compete with an uncle whose claim to fwas marrying into wealth.
Abigail sneered, “As if she could marry into a good family. Even if she did, it 1/2 14 44 wouldn't last. As long as she can bear children, that's all that matters. Secondhand goods are still goods, after all-the dowry's just smaller." Charlotte's brow furrowed. She'd always known how shameless the Sterlings could be, but this was a new low "Charlotte, be a good girl and cmeet your future husband," Adelaide said, signaling the men behind her to seize Charlotte.
Rachel clung to Charlotte fiercely. "Don't you touch her!" Several of Adelaide's people moved to pull Rachel away, when a luxury car pulled up outside the front gate.
Jonathan stepped out, flanked by bodyguards.
"Jonathan!" Rachel called, hope lighting up her face.
"And you are?" Adelaide demanded, displeased.
Jonathan barely glanced at her before walking to Charlotte's side. "Does it matter who I am?" His bodyguards forced the men to retreat. Standing beside Charlotte, Jonathan asked quietly, “Are you alright?" Charlotte shook her head, gaze searching his face. "Why are you here?" He gave a half-smile. "I heard you and your aunt were in trouble. Thought I'd csee which idiot was causing it."
Adelaide and Abigail's faces darkened. Adelaide snapped, "Did you just call us dogs? Do you know who my father is? He's the chairman of Summiterest Holdings!" Jonathan looked bored. "A company that doesn't even make the top fifty, and you think that matters to me?"
Adelaide faltered, taking in his designer suit, the bodyguards, and the six-figure Mercedes parkedm outside Truth/was, Summitcrest Holdings wasn't even in the top fifty. The Sterlings had money locally, sure-but in the Capital, they didn't even rate among the true elites. Adelaide's tone changed in an instant. "There's clearly been s
misunderstanding, sir. Lottie is my niece. May I ask what your connection is to her?” m action is She wasn't about to make enemies in the Capital, not before she understood exactly who she was dealing with.
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