RedNovelRegret 52 Director Fontaine's face dropped. He hadn't expected Charlotte to not only cup with an excuse but to dig her heels in, either.
By now, all the department heads in the room could read between the lines.
Of course, in their eyes, this kind of workplace bullying was mere child's play. As long as it didn't impact their own interests, they were more than happy to look the other way.
Tricia clenched her fists beneath the table, biting her lip before finally letting out a breath. "It was my oversight. Sorry, Dr. Sterling. I'll have someone add you to the group chat after the meeting." Charlotte nodded, accepting the apology without making things awkward. "Thank you, Director Winthrop. I appreciate it." Tricia's smile faded. She turned away, her expression growing stormy.
After an hour, the meeting finally ended. Charlotte returned to her office, and not long after, Tricia's invitation to join the group chat popped up on her phone.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe glanced at it, ignored it, and went back to sorting through her reports before transferring out.
Then her phone rang.
It was her mother, Rachel.
Charlotte hesitated for a long moment before answering. "Yes?" "Lottie, do you have stthis afternoon? I'd like to talk.
A few seconds of silence passed before Charlotte finally replied, "Alright." That afternoon, Charlotte met her mother at a restaurant.
Rachel smiled at her, trying to sound warm. "Lottie, what would you like to eat? I'll order for you." Charlotte was about to refuse, but changed her mind at the last second. “Anything's fine. I'm not picky." If her mother really cared, she would already know what Charlotte liked a disliked. The question itself made the answer clear.
1/3 09:39 Chapter 2 Rachel hesitated, a flash of guilt crossing her features.
"If you have something to say, just say it," Charlotte said, cutting to the chase. She knew perfectly well her mother wanted something from her.
Rachel lowered her eyes. "Lottie, I know this marriage has been hard on you. But.... could you wait to file for divorce until Hiram gets a secure job? Just a little longer?" This was, in her mind, the best solution-a way to have it both ways.
Charlotte had already guessed there were only two reasons her mother would ask to meet: both would cdown to Hiram's future, and both would require her to endure a little more.
So even as she heard the plea, she felt nothing at all. Her heart was numb.
Rachel looked at her with hope, then hurried to add, "Lottie, I promise. Once Hiram's position is set, we won't ask anything else—" "You said the sthing last time," Charlotte interrupted, her voice calm and distant. The cool detachment pricked at Rachel's conscience.
"Lottie, we're family. Do we really need to draw such harsh lines?" "Family?" Charlotte rolled the word over in her mind, searching for the warmth and affection she'd always longed for in that concept. But there was nothing.
"All these years, you've cared more about my brother than me. You say we're family, but I've always felt like an outsider. If you loved him so much, why didn't you get rid ofwhen I was born?" "He's not like you!" Rachel snapped suddenly, drawing the attention of everyone in the restaurant.
Realizing she'd lost control, Rachel's face went pale. "Anyway, you're just... not the sas your brother...” Charlotte let out a laugh, her eyes rimmed red. "We're both your children. What exactly makes us so different?" Rachel looked away, offering no answer.
Charlotte didn't bother pressing. Her mother's attitude said it all.
Maybe, in a couple of months, she could finally walk away from all this without a second thought.
09:39 Chapter DZ
Charlotte smiled to herself. When the food arrived, she didn't take a bite-just drained her water glass, stood up, and said, "You have two months. After that, if Hiram hasn't landed his job, I want nothing more to do with the Sterling family."
"If you want to go to Evander, or anyone else, that's your business! Just don't cto me. You won't be able to find me." She picked up her bag and left, a bitter smile on her lips.
Rachel sat there in stunned silence, unable to make sense of Charlotte's final words and, in truth, not daring to think too deeply about them.
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