Chapter 173 Unveiling the Identity: Meeting Victoria (Part 1)
Frederick got back to his apartment early in the morning. He saw a white BMW parked on the street and a crowd taking pictures. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the license plate—it was Charlotte's car.
He parked and rushed over. The BMW's hood was open, soaked from the rain. The driver's door was ajar, and a woman's wallet lay drenched on the seat.
The crowd was buzzing.
"Whose car is this? Why's it just left here?"
"Did the owner commit suicide?"
"Car wreck, poor thing!"
Frederick froze, forgetting to breathe. He pulled out his phone, but it was dead. He grabbed Charlotte's wallet and shut the car door. Someone yelled, "Why are you taking someone else's stuff?"
"It's my girlfriend's car!" Frederick snapped, tense.
The crowd eyed him suspiciously. He hurried back to his car, charged his phone, and called Charlotte as soon as it powered on. After about 20 seconds, she picked up.
"Frederick, we'll talk about our issues later," she said, sounding exhausted, then hung up.
Frederick frowned, guessing she was still mad. He decided to shower and visit her apartment later to make up for Valentine's Day. He didn't want to break up with her.
He called Cherie to arrange a tow truck, then drove home. Charlotte wasn't there. The bedroom was messy, with a half-packed suitcase. He stared at it for a while, then took a shower.
Afterward, Chloe called. Frederick, tired, answered harshly, "Chloe, what's up?"
"Frederick, did you know Charlotte's father passed away?" Chloe's voice was tearful.
Frederick's eyes slowly opened, losing all emotion. He finally understood why Charlotte's suitcase was half-packed, why her car had broken down, and why she wasn't angry with him. Her father had died.
How much had she gone through that night?
Frederick's face went pale. He had a bad feeling that he and Charlotte were over.
He rushed to the hospital. The Russell family and a few friends were there, sending William off. Charlotte sat in a wheelchair, dressed in black, looking much thinner.
Frederick approached, and Charlotte glanced at him quietly, without much emotion. But Oliver couldn't hold back. He grabbed Frederick by the collar and snarled, "You have the nerve to come here! Where were you when Charlotte was helpless? Stop pretending now!"
He gritted his teeth. "I told you before, if you don't cherish her, I'll take care of her!"
Frederick shoved Oliver away. Oliver wanted to fight, his eyes red with anger. He thought of how Charlotte looked last night. A girl like Charlotte deserved better, and Frederick was a jerk.
Charlotte stopped him. Frederick looked at her pale face, wanting to hug her.
Charlotte refused.
She spoke to him lightly and politely, "The fact that my father could die with his reputation intact is all thanks to Mr. Hawkins. Now that he's gone, I'm very grateful you could come!"
Frederick was stunned. They were almost talking about marriage. Not long ago, when he held her, Charlotte had called his name in a moment of passion. Now, she distantly called him "Mr. Hawkins." Those two words stung.
But in the Russell residence, he couldn't say anything more.
Frederick didn't leave. Charlotte didn't ask him to go, but she didn't let him help either. She treated him like a guest. All the busy work was done by Oliver and other Russell family members. Charlotte stayed in her wheelchair.
Early the next morning, they buried William. Charlotte held his photo, and Maria cried sorrowfully. Charlotte gently held Maria. Now, she only had Maria to rely on.
The cemetery was solemn. William was gone, and everyone, whether they had had a connection or not, whether they had kindness or grievances, came. Michael brought Sophie. Ethan came. Even Patrick and Laura brought Chloe. The Hawkins family's intention was clear; they still wanted Charlotte as their daughter-in-law.
Maria, though grieving, asked Charlotte what she thought. Charlotte said calmly, "They are just here to see off Dad."
Maria didn't know what had happened between Charlotte and Frederick, but she understood it was over between them. So Maria treated the Hawkins family with the courtesy of guests.
During the burial, the sky was very gloomy. William's ashes were placed next to his first wife, Victoria, with a spot left for Maria. As Maria watched the stone slab about to be placed, she cried, "Victoria, you and William take care of each other there."
As for Charlotte, she would take good care of her.
Charlotte held her tightly.
At that moment, a tall figure approached quickly from afar. The man was elegant and had an extraordinary presence. It was Elijah. He had learned of Katherine's actions and knew that Charlotte and Frederick had broken up. He wanted to come to bid farewell to William and atone for the Mitchell family's sins.
Charlotte didn't stop him. She said, "Everyone who comes is a guest."
Elijah was about to place flowers in front of the tombstone when his eyes suddenly widened in shock. He saw the woman he had always thought about, his first love, Victoria, whose image and smile were engraved on the tombstone, with a small line of text below: [Beloved wife Victoria — William.]
At that moment, Elijah's blood almost froze. He couldn't believe it and repeatedly called Victoria's name. "Victoria, how could you be here?"
With so many familiar faces around, Elijah disregarded his dignity and threw himself in front of Victoria's tombstone, his fingers trembling as he gently touched the familiar face. It was Victoria! She had become someone else's wife; she had married William!
Elijah suddenly looked at Charlotte. Calculating the age, Charlotte fit perfectly, and looking closely at her face, she had a resemblance to his younger self. Charlotte could very well be his and Victoria's biological child!
And he had personally pushed Charlotte into the abyss! He had even deluded himself into thinking that after Katherine's divorce, she could be with Frederick again. Elijah couldn't accept this blow and spat a mouthful of blood onto Victoria's tombstone!
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