Chapter 175 Frederick, We Will Never Meet Again
Before bed, Maria put a warm compress on Charlotte's feet.
Holding her feet, she said, "Take care of yourself. Don't let this get worse!"
Charlotte shrugged it off. "It's just a small injury. No big deal!"
Seeing Charlotte could walk slowly, Maria didn't worry much.
She kept applying the compress and hesitated. "Frederick's been waiting downstairs for a while. Want to see him?"
Charlotte was surprised.
After a moment, she shook her head. "Maybe in a few days. Not feeling up to it now."
Maria didn't push.
She patted Charlotte's head. "I don't know what happened, but I'll support you. Take your time finding the right person. If this doesn't work out, someone else will come along."
Charlotte smiled faintly.
Maria felt a bit relieved.
Time flew by, and soon it was the seventh day after William's burial. Charlotte's foot was almost healed.
She went with Maria to visit William.
The cemetery was full of blooming flowers.
In front of William and Victoria's tombstone was a bouquet of fresh lilies.
Maria guessed it was from Elijah. Charlotte, expressionless, tossed the lilies aside and placed roses instead.
Maria sighed softly.
They stayed at the cemetery for a long time and left around noon.
A gold Bentley was parked at the gate. Frederick was leaning against it, smoking. He looked gloomy despite the sunlight.
He had lost some weight but still looked handsome.
Charlotte didn't avoid him; she knew they needed to talk.
As she approached, Frederick's gaze deepened.
He said, "I'll drive you back."
Maria saw Charlotte wanted to end things, so she took the initiative. "I'll take a cab. Charlotte, you should talk to him."
Charlotte nodded and reminded her to be careful.
Maria quickly got into a cab and left.
Frederick stubbed out his cigarette, opened the car door, and gently said, "Please."
Charlotte sat in the passenger seat.
She could walk but wasn't very agile, and her foot still hurt sometimes.
Frederick got in, closed the door, and slowly fastened his seatbelt, his gaze on her foot. "Does it still hurt?"
Charlotte looked down and smiled faintly. "It's much better, thanks."
Frederick didn't start the car right away. He turned to her and, after some thought, said, "Charlotte, I like you. I don't want to break up. Let's start over. I won't see her again, just the case agent."
Charlotte listened quietly, feeling neither joy nor sorrow, like an outsider.
She even smiled faintly. "Frederick, let's find a place to talk."
Frederick's fingers curled on the steering wheel. After a long pause, he smiled. "Alright."
Half an hour later, he took her to a high-end restaurant. It was reserved just for them.
Charlotte didn't eat, only ordered a coffee. Her pale fingers gently stroked the cup, feeling bitter inside.
In the past few days, she had understood Frederick's intentions. He was trying to win her back again. But wasn't it too hypocritical to hurt someone deeply and then try to win them back?
He always gave what he was willing to give, while she had given her all, knowing it was like a moth to a flame, yet she still went ahead without hesitation.
Their backgrounds were so different that she picked up hobbies she didn't even like.
His first love was Elijah's famous daughter, so she had planned to go abroad for further studies, just to be more worthy of him.
Looking back, Charlotte found it laughable.
After drinking half her coffee, she softly said, "Frederick, let's end this."
Frederick's gaze fell on her face.
After a long pause, he slowly said, "Let's take a break and cool off for a while. That might be good."
Charlotte didn't avoid his gaze and smiled lightly. "I mean a real end, no more contact."
Frederick suddenly called a waiter, "Two set meals, please."
The waiter smiled. "Yes, Mr. Hawkins. Your meals will be ready in ten minutes!"
Charlotte couldn't help but say, "Frederick?"
Frederick was firm. "Let's talk after lunch."
The meal was served, but only Frederick ate. It felt tasteless.
He was waiting for Charlotte to regret and take back her words, but once said, words can't be unsaid. Since Charlotte had already decided, how could she easily change her mind?
Frederick wiped his lips with a napkin. He asked calmly, "Have you thought it through? Do you really want to end this?"
They had lived together for a long time and had been intimate countless times. They were happy together, and Frederick felt there was no reason to break up completely because of Katherine.
Charlotte nodded lightly. "I've thought it through. Let's end it."
Frederick was a privileged man, and besides Katherine, the only woman he had ever tried to win over was Charlotte. Now that she proposed a breakup, he could see that her mind was made up.
He thought, if this relationship made Charlotte uncomfortable and unhappy, it would be better to let go.
What followed was an unpleasant conversation.
He was a wealthy young man, and breaking up with a woman always required some compensation, to be fair to Charlotte for her time with him.
Frederick thought for a moment. "I'll give you that apartment."
The apartment was worth millions, and an ordinary girl would be delighted.
Charlotte had never been after money while with him. But when he offered it, she wasn't angry. She just calmly said, "I don't want the apartment."
Frederick was slightly stunned.
Charlotte continued to look at him.
Frederick understood, so he took out his checkbook and wrote a figure of five million dollars. Then he gently pushed it to her.
He said calmly and gracefully, "Charlotte, let's consider this chapter closed. If you need any help in the future, you can contact Cherie."
Charlotte didn't refuse.
She folded the check and put it in her bag.
She thanked him sincerely and made one last request. "Mr. Hawkins, I still have some things in the apartment. I'd like to take them."
Frederick took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a long drag.
His gaze was deep, and he smiled faintly. "Alright. I won't be staying there for the next few days, so it's convenient. Once you're done, just give the keys to Cherie."
Charlotte thanked him politely.
She got up to leave, and Frederick, still somewhat gentlemanly, offered to see her out.
Charlotte shook her head. She stood up and smiled faintly. "No need to see me out, Mr. Hawkins. Thank you for your help with my father during this time. Let's never meet again."
Charlotte slowly walked out of the restaurant.
Frederick remained seated, watching her slender figure through the glass. Suddenly, he felt a pain in his eyes.
He thought, 'Maybe the sunlight is too harsh.'
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