Chapter 177 How Have You Been?
Cherie was ready.
She whispered, "It's in Manilove. An antique collector bought it!"
"Manilove," Frederick said calmly. "Book me the earliest flight there and get me all the info on that collector—family, friends, company, everything."
Cherie nodded. "Yes, Mr. Hawkins. I'll email it to you before you board."
That afternoon, Frederick flew to Manilove. He stayed for a week before heading back.
By the time he returned, it was March, and spring was in full bloom.
He landed at 2 PM and really wanted to see Charlotte. According to Cherie, she was volunteering at a nursing home today.
Frederick drove over.
Since it was in a remote area, he arrived around 3:30 PM.
After parking, he walked in and heard piano music.
He saw Charlotte.
She was in a white dress, playing an old piano, looking as beautiful as the first time she played Morning Dew for him.
Frederick clenched his fist gently, noticing something different.
It wasn't the piano's quality; Charlotte seemed to be struggling, not playing as lively as before.
He thought, 'Maybe her foot hasn't healed yet.'
When the piece ended, he softly called, "Charlotte!"
She stiffened for a moment but turned around calmly. "Mr. Hawkins?" she said politely, like he was just an acquaintance.
Frederick looked around. Most of the people were elderly, white-haired folks watching him.
He spoke quietly, "Can we talk privately?"
Charlotte agreed.
They went to a small wooden house with large windows, filled with flowers and plants.
Frederick sat with an air of nobility.
Charlotte poured him some tea. "No coffee or wine here. The best we have is tea, so you'll have to make do."
Frederick didn't mind; he wasn't there for the tea.
Charlotte sat across from him.
Steam rose between them.
Frederick spoke first, "How have you been?"
Charlotte sipped her tea and whispered, "Not bad! Pretty good actually!"
Frederick took out a letter from his pocket.
Charlotte recognized it as the invitation from Torontow Music Academy. She remembered throwing it away; how did Frederick get it?
He gently tapped it with his fingers.
"Are you still going to Torontow? I heard you play the piano just now; is your foot not healed?"
Charlotte lightly touched her leg. It would never heal. This relationship had left her with nothing but the injury on her foot.
She could no longer be a top pianist, no need to go to Torontow, and she wouldn't be able to drive in the future either. That was the price she had paid.
But Frederick was unscathed.
Charlotte didn't complain; she still smiled slightly. "Thanks for your concern! I don't think I'll be going."
She said it lightly, but Frederick's heart ached.
Charlotte had said she only wanted a relationship in which her man offered her his everything!
But now, even if he wanted to give her everything, she didn't want it!
Frederick didn't ask more questions; every word would be overstepping. He slowly finished his tea, looked at the sunset, and said gently, "I'll take you home."
He added, "Your car's still in the shop, not in great shape. I'll buy you a new one!"
Charlotte's fingers tightened around the porcelain cup.
She tried hard to keep her emotions in check.
She looked at Frederick and smiled faintly. "Mr. Hawkins, we broke up. I took the breakup fee, moved my stuff out, and Cherie should have checked your things too. We're even. I don't want that BMW or a new car from you."
Charlotte stood up and opened the small wooden door.
She politely said, "I have a class later. Mr. Hawkins, please leave. We have no reason to meet again."
She was asking him to leave.
Frederick's gaze deepened.
He looked at Charlotte, unable to find any trace of the affection she once had.
Was this the same Charlotte who boldly sat in his lap, kissed him, and begged for more? The same Charlotte who blushed at the sight of him and melted with just a touch?
She had withdrawn all her feelings, completely.
Frederick realized that the one who had truly been pampered was him.
Charlotte moved on, but he didn't.
At that moment, Frederick suddenly thought of Ethan. When Ethan had a sudden change of heart, did he feel the same way?
A few days later, Frederick saw Ethan in a high-end private room at the Serene Oasis club.
Ethan was slowly exhaling smoke rings, looking at Frederick. He had been suppressed for a long time and couldn't help but want to cause trouble seeing Frederick down.
Ethan eagerly poured Frederick a drink. "Frederick, you not in a good mood?"
Frederick downed a glass of brandy in one gulp. "I'm fine."
Ethan chuckled lightly, moved closer, and then took out his phone to show a photo from his album.
It was a picture of Charlotte at 22.
She was asleep on a dining table, looking younger than she did now, and the background wasn't her home.
Frederick squinted.
Ethan, holding a cigarette, said eagerly, "She cooked for me too and waited for me at night. So, there's nothing special about us coming and going. Soon, she'll forget you and fall for Oliver. She'll cook for Oliver, tie his tie, maybe even marry him."
Ethan smiled lightly. "You know she's been close to Oliver, right?"
Frederick directly attacked Ethan.
The private room was filled with distinguished guests, and they witnessed a fierce fight. The usually noble Frederick was quite brutal when he fought.
Ethan couldn't match Frederick's physical strength and was beaten badly.
Bradley was also there.
He watched the commotion with interest but pretended to stop Ethan, saying, "Oh, what are you doing? You know he's upset. Why provoke him?"
Ethan might have drunk too much.
He sneered coldly. "Frederick, this is your punishment! I'm bad. I wronged Charlotte, but I genuinely like her! If she said the word, I'd drop everything now. Even if you kill me, I'd still want to be with her. But you hurt her for Katherine!"
Bradley couldn't bear to listen anymore and sincerely advised, "You've had too much. Say less."
Ethan couldn't hold back.
He wiped the blood from his mouth and said harshly, "Every time you went to see Katherine, did you think about Charlotte? I really don't know how someone like her would agree to go abroad for you! Well, she's figured it out now, and I'm just watching you suffer!"
Ethan tried to fight again.
The others couldn't stop them! Seeing that Frederick also had the same intention, they decided to let them fight it out.
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