Chapter 167 Charlotte, You Have to Endure Some Grievances
The atmosphere was a bit subtle.
Charlotte knew Frederick somewhat, and she was afraid he might be upset.
Unexpectedly, he wasn't upset. Instead, he walked over to her and gently asked, "What's wrong?"
Charlotte shook her head. She looked up into his eyes with complete trust.
Frederick smiled and turned to Patrick, saying, "Dad, this is Charlotte!"
He then gently held Charlotte. "Say hello!"
Patrick, who was over fifty, was well-maintained, and Frederick had inherited most of his looks from Patrick.
Charlotte respectfully greeted, "Mr. Hawkins."
Patrick slowly came downstairs.
At this moment, Laura also came over. Seeing Patrick not responding, she nudged him. "The child greeted you!"
Patrick's gaze was profound.
He knew Frederick had brought a woman home at Chloe's birthday! But that day, Frederick hadn't introduced her to him, so he hadn't paid much attention.
Unexpectedly, they could actually be together!
Patrick, with his sharp and keen eyes, sized up Charlotte.
She looked quite good and seemed dignified.
He had heard that she was also doing well in her career!
Patrick liked such a woman, but he always kept a calm demeanor. He just nodded slightly and then said to Laura, "This is her first time here, and it's New Year. This is our gesture!"
Laura handed over a thick stack of cash. Besides the thick cash, there was also a heavy gold necklace.
Charlotte found it quite strange.
Laura said lovingly, "I'm giving you a gold necklace."
Charlotte smiled and thanked her.
Frederick glanced at her with a half-smile, which made Charlotte a bit annoyed but also a bit sweet.
Chloe, after playing with the dog, also ran in.
In the hall, only Ethan was unhappy. He knew that Frederick and Charlotte's relationship was pretty much settled.
During dinner, Patrick was in a good mood and drank a lot of wine.
Laura didn't stop him, which was rare.
Charlotte was initially a bit reserved, but Frederick was attentive to her. "Charlotte, this soup is good for your health. This dish is your favorite."
Charlotte was initially quite touched, but when she looked up, she saw Ethan's gloomy face, and she guessed Frederick's dark little scheme.
He was doing it for Ethan to see!
Charlotte was a bit annoyed, but she couldn't do anything about it.
Under the table, Frederick placed a hand on her leg, gently stroking it naturally.
From Ethan's angle, he could see it clearly.
Charlotte removed Frederick's hand, but after a while, he placed it back and even rubbed it a few times.
She looked at him. Frederick's eyes and brows were all marks of a mature man's charm.
He was discussing stocks and gold with Patrick, showing no sign of the indecent things he was doing under the table. Charlotte silently placed her hand on his to prevent him from misbehaving.
After a moment, he gently held her hand, interlocking their fingers.
Ethan's face turned pale.
He had never known that one day, the person he discarded could cause him such unbearable pain.
After dinner, the men talked about business and the market, while the women chatted.
Laura was full of joy. She planned to take Charlotte and Chloe out later.
They would stroll around the mall and then casually sit in a café where her friends often went.
She had to show off her future daughter-in-law a bit.
Laura went upstairs to change clothes, and coincidentally, a servant came to report.
"Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Mitchell is here."
Patrick was a bit shocked. "Elijah? Isn't he in Novaria?"
Despite his surprise, he immediately went to the door to greet him.
Elijah looked haggard and unwell. As soon as he entered the hall, he saw Charlotte, who seemed like the daughter-in-law of the Hawkins family. His expression became more reserved, and he found it hard to speak.
Patrick instructed the servant to pour a cup of water for him.
After drinking the water, Elijah calmed down a bit. But he still hesitated to speak. As it seemed Frederick's relationship was settled, making such a request now seemed a bit excessive.
But Katherine was his only daughter, and no matter how difficult it was, he had to say it.
"Patrick, Katherine wants a divorce! She was domestically abused by her husband and broke two ribs. Her mental state is also not good. Audrey and I brought her back to Syeattel to recover. This marriage is definitely ending, but the other party has a special status. I want to ask Frederick to help with the lawsuit and also to counsel Katherine. She listens to him."
After Elijah finished speaking, his eyes were pleading.
Patrick didn't immediately agree to this matter. Today was Charlotte's first official visit, and he couldn't hurt Charlotte's feelings. Patrick pondered for a long time.
But Elijah couldn't wait any longer.
He looked at Frederick, his eyes filled with tears. "Frederick, please help me. Audrey and I only have Katherine as our daughter. If something happens to her, Audrey won't be able to bear the blow!"
Frederick hadn't spoken yet, but Charlotte was already feeling cold all over! Frederick glanced at her. He smiled faintly. "Mr. Mitchell, do you think it's appropriate for me to handle this case?"
In his urgency, Elijah blurted out, "Frederick, I know you still have feelings for Katherine!"
The air froze. No one had expected Elijah to say such an inappropriate thing in front of Charlotte.
Frederick was about to speak when Laura came down from the second floor.
She had obviously heard everything and spoke gently, "Elijah, I understand your parental concern! But Frederick and Charlotte have already confirmed their relationship. It's not appropriate to say such things."
Elijah opened his mouth.
At this moment, Chloe couldn't help but say, "If Katherine needs a lawyer, we can just pay for it! Why does Frederick have to do it? If you are talking about past favor, then let Katherine jump into the water, and my dad will definitely save her!"
Elijah's face turned pale with embarrassment.
Patrick scolded his daughter, "Chloe, apologize to Mr. Mitchell!"
Chloe reluctantly said, "I'm sorry!"
Patrick softened his tone and said to Elijah, "Chloe is immature. Elijah, don't take it to heart! As for the lawsuit, I'll discuss it with Frederick and get back to you!"
Elijah had no choice but to accept this.
As he left, he couldn't help but look at Charlotte, his eyes filled with a hint of pleading.
Charlotte still felt cold. She wasn't an unsympathetic girl, but she truly couldn't be magnanimous to this extent. She could only choose not to look at Elijah.
Elijah couldn't help but feel disappointed.
After he left, the hall was deathly silent, and everyone felt uneasy.
Patrick slowly finished his water.
He looked at Frederick and Charlotte and said, "You two, come to the study with me!"
After a moment, Charlotte followed Frederick to the study on the second floor.
It was clear that Patrick was not in a good mood either! But when he looked at Charlotte, he was gentle, speaking as if to a family member. "Charlotte, pour some water!"
Charlotte was slightly surprised. But she wasn't foolish; she guessed that Patrick's concern meant he needed her to make some sacrifices and concessions.
At this moment, making a fuss was useless.
Charlotte quietly poured the water.
While Charlotte was pouring the water, Patrick didn't speak. He quietly observed her.
With her lowered brows and gentle demeanor, she seemed well-mannered, much better than Katherine!
Patrick quite liked Charlotte, and he had been young and in love before. He never intended to hurt her, but Elijah had once risked his life to save Chloe!
This favor was impossible to repay!
Charlotte poured water for them, and Frederick's deep gaze fell on her. He spoke to Patrick, "Dad, this isn't appropriate!"
Patrick made a gesture. "Frederick, listen to me first!"
Patrick lowered his head, looking at the water. Judging from his expression, he seemed to fall into memories.
"Back then, Mr. Mitchell saved Chloe. It wasn't necessarily a favor that required repaying with one's life! But Frederick, you don't know that the reason Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell only have Katherine, an adopted child, is not just because Mrs. Mitchell couldn't conceive. Another reason is that Mr. Mitchell's reproductive function was damaged from being in the icy water for too long, and he could no longer have children!"
Frederick and Charlotte were both shocked!
Frederick spoke with difficulty, "Dad, you never mentioned this!"
Patrick gave a bitter smile. Such private matters, unless absolutely necessary, how could they be revealed to others?
He sighed softly. "Mr. Mitchell has a child out there, but even if she could be found, given Mr. Mitchell's status, could they acknowledge each other?"
Frederick remained silent.
Patrick smiled helplessly. "Frederick, it's reasonable for you to help with this lawsuit!"
He looked at Charlotte, his tone quite gentle. "Charlotte, this matter is a bit of a grievance for you! I'm willing to compensate you in other ways! But rest assured, there's absolutely no possibility between Frederick and Katherine. You have to trust him."
Charlotte wasn't ungrateful. For someone of Patrick's stature to treat her with such consideration, it meant he already regarded her as family, practically a daughter-in-law. If she continued to object, she would seem unreasonable.
In her heart, Charlotte was unwilling. But now, she had no other choice but to be magnanimous!
She looked at Frederick, and he looked back at her.
After a long while, Charlotte softly said, "I trust him!"
Patrick indeed liked Charlotte very much. Because of this matter, he felt quite guilty and immediately offered a house to Charlotte, but Charlotte didn't accept it!
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