Chapter 17: Was She Trying to Drive Charlotte to the Edge?
Charlotte got back to the restaurant just in time to take the stage and play the piano.
Oliver didn't bother her and waited until she finished work. Charlotte agreed to teach Sophie because she was so well-behaved.
Oliver paid a hefty tuition fee, covering two months in advance, so Charlotte had some money now.
She knew Oliver was helping her in his own way. In the past, Charlotte might have declined, but now she couldn't afford to let pride get in the way of accepting help.
When she got home after work, Maria wasn't there.
Charlotte called her, and Maria said she'd be back soon.
About half an hour later, Maria returned. Just as Charlotte was about to cook for her, she noticed Maria's arm was swollen.
"What happened to your arm?" Charlotte asked, helping Maria sit down.
Maria said casually, "I'm getting old and useless. I just did a bit of work, and my arm swelled up."
Charlotte's heart sank.
She immediately checked Maria's hand.
The once well-maintained palm was now covered in several shiny blisters.
Charlotte stared in shock. Maria had always lived a life of luxury and had never done such hard work before.
After a long moment, tears began to flow. Unable to contain her emotions, Charlotte tended to Maria's wounds and handed her $10,000.
No way was she letting Maria go out to work again.
That night, Charlotte cried under her blanket for a long time.
The next morning, she woke up with noticeable dark circles under her eyes, which even a lot of concealer couldn't hide.
During breakfast, Maria advised her, "Don't push yourself too hard. Take care of your health. If it gets too tough, I can sell that small apartment."
Charlotte reassured her, "No need; things will get better soon. I'll take care of myself, Maria."
Maria didn't say anything more.
After breakfast, Charlotte headed to work at the music center.
As soon as she walked in, a colleague whispered, "Miss Hawkins is here to see you! If you don't want to meet her, we can tell her you're on leave."
Charlotte was taken aback and then saw Chloe sitting in the reception area.
Charlotte didn't hate Chloe but didn't want to interact with her either, so she asked her colleague for help.
But Chloe saw her.
Chloe walked over with a playful expression. "Charlotte, why won't you play the piano at my birthday party? Do you not like me?"
The room fell silent.
Everyone at the music center knew Charlotte had dated Ethan.
Now, Ethan's fiancée was asking if Charlotte liked her. It was too cruel for Charlotte.
Sympathetic and pitying looks made Charlotte feel extremely uncomfortable.
She quietly told Chloe, "I'm already booked that day, Miss Hawkins. Sorry, you'll have to find someone else."
Chloe wouldn't give up.
When Charlotte went to work, Chloe waited outside, drinking coffee until Charlotte's lunch break.
"Charlotte, let's grab a coffee!" Chloe insisted.
Charlotte was usually patient, but she couldn't stay calm around Chloe. She headed straight to her usual lunch spot.
Chloe, dressed in designer clothes and high heels, followed closely, saying, "If you can't come to my birthday party, at least help me pick out a wedding dress. Oliver says you have great taste. Please help me out, and Ethan will join us for lunch. We can all chat, okay?"
Charlotte's face went pale.
Ethan had betrayed her, framed her father, and forced her to be his mistress.
But Chloe knew nothing and still expected Charlotte to treat her like everyone else.
Everything good seemed to happen to Chloe. Was she trying to drive Charlotte to the edge?
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