Chapter 255 Take a Risk For Lola
Frederick's shamelessness? Oh, Charlotte knew all about that.
She blushed a bit. "You jerk!"
Frederick yanked her onto his lap, laughing. "C'mon, who was it this morning in the bathroom, clinging to me like a koala?"
Charlotte didn't bother to answer.
She shoved him away, ready to get back to the sofa and sort her stuff when Frederick's phone buzzed.
It was Patrick.
"Elijah just kicked the bucket," he said, straight to the point.
Patrick's message was clear. Elijah was Charlotte's real dad, and Frederick should be the one to break the news.
Frederick got it.
He hung up and pulled Charlotte back into his arms.
He kissed her hair and whispered, "Elijah's gone."
Charlotte froze.
She didn't say a word, just leaned on Frederick's shoulder, quiet as a mouse.
Frederick knew she was hurting. No matter what, that guy had been with Victoria and had Charlotte.
He asked softly, "If you wanna go, I'll go with you."
After a long pause, Charlotte shook her head. "I'm not going."
It wasn't that she didn't care, but going meant facing the Mitchell family. In what role would she go?
With all this, Charlotte was naturally in a funk.
Frederick stuck by her side.
The next day, Elijah was buried.
Charlotte went to Victoria's grave. She looked at Victoria's young, smiling face, placed a bunch of lilies, and softly said, "Mom, that guy's gone."
Frederick stood next to her, holding her shoulder, silently comforting her.
Charlotte leaned into him and whispered, "Four years ago, when William was buried, Elijah coughed up blood right here. It was like his fate was sealed! Elijah let Mom down. I think he's had a rough time all these years, or he wouldn't have gotten sick."
Frederick murmured in agreement.
He hoped Charlotte could let it go. Letting go would make things easier.
By noon, Frederick had her in his arms as they walked out of the cemetery. Once in the car, he said, "Patrick wants us home for lunch. Chloe's already taken Lola over."
Charlotte's heart softened. "Lola really digs Chloe."
Thinking of Lola, Charlotte thought of Andrew and sighed.
Frederick gently pressed the gas pedal.
He grinned. "Let them sort their own mess. One's not a kid, and the other's getting old!"
Charlotte found his words a bit harsh.
Frederick grabbed her hand, shamelessly saying, "You don't seem to mind when you're comfy."
Charlotte turned her head away, feeling awkward.
Half an hour later, they pulled up to Hawkins Mansion.
In the hall, Patrick was sipping coffee. Seeing Frederick and Charlotte, he asked them to sit.
Patrick's feelings were all over the place.
He really felt for Charlotte.
With Elijah's death, the Mitchell family had come to inform them, and Savannah had thrown a fit, demanding Charlotte show up. Of course, Patrick had shut that down.
He knew Charlotte was down and gave a faint smile. "You didn't have much of a bond, so don't sweat it."
Charlotte nodded.
Patrick switched gears. "When are you two tying the knot?"
'Tying the knot?'
Frederick looked at Charlotte and smiled. "Dad, we just got back together. It's too soon for marriage! Let's give it a couple more years."
Patrick scoffed. "A couple more years? You think you're still young? Besides, does marriage stop you from having fun?"
Frederick rubbed his nose.
Charlotte, however, took the lead. "Let's wait until Lola's a bit older."
Patrick nodded. "Now that's a proper answer! Unlike Frederick, who thinks cheesy stuff is funny. Only Charlotte would put up with you!"
His words made everyone laugh.
Charlotte's mood lifted a bit.
On the way back, Frederick held Charlotte's hand and gently asked, "When will you marry me?"
Lola, in the back, perked up her ears.
Charlotte saw this in the rearview mirror and smiled. "Next fall."
At the red light, Frederick stopped the car. He turned and teased her with a smile. "You're not getting any younger, Ms. Russell! If you wait too long, no one might want you!"
Charlotte didn't fall for it.
She snorted lightly. "Plenty of people want me!"
Frederick didn't say anything, but his gaze softened as he looked at her.
Charlotte felt all kinds of awkward.
No matter how many times he looked at her like that, she couldn't handle it.
That night, after tucking Lola in, Frederick pinned Charlotte down and had his way with her twice. Afterward, he held her close and whispered, "Gotta head to Lumina for a business trip tomorrow, about ten days. If Lola didn't have school, I'd drag you both along."
Charlotte was tempted, but she didn't wanna seem too clingy, so she kept quiet.
Maybe 'cause they were gonna be apart, Frederick just couldn't hold back. He made love to Charlotte so intensely that she cried and begged him to stop, which he finally did.
She conked out in his arms, totally wiped.
When she woke up early, there was a white rose on the pillow next to her. Frederick had already bounced to Lumina.
Charlotte lay there for like ten minutes before getting up to handle Lola.
Lola was a little angel, dressing and brushing her hair all by herself.
Charlotte took her to preschool and finally saw Johnny, the boy Lola always talked about. He was a real cutie.
Charlotte winked at Lola.
Lola got all shy, lifted her little face, and walked into preschool.
Charlotte hopped back in the car.
She shot Frederick a message on Facebook: [I saw Johnny.]
Frederick was swamped, and it wasn't until almost noon that he replied: [Is he better looking than me?]
Charlotte couldn't help but laugh.
With Frederick away, Charlotte hit up the music studio to settle some accounts with Brian.
In the afternoon, she grabbed coffee with Lily.
Lily was late and burst in, "There was a murder in San Francisco! The whole place is locked down. My car was stuck forever. The poor guy bled out from seven stab wounds!"
Charlotte couldn't help but ask, "Did they catch the murderer?"
Lily shook her head. "Not yet! What kind of beef makes someone kill like that? Bet it was a crime of passion!"
'A crime of passion?' Charlotte felt uneasy.
She stirred her coffee, trying to shake off the bad vibes.
Lily kept talking, but Charlotte zoned out.
That night, lying in bed, she felt spooked and called Frederick. They talked for half an hour before she felt sleepy.
In the morning, she had slight dark circles and had to cake on the foundation.
After dropping off Lola, Charlotte got back in the car.
The driver had stepped out for a sec.
Just then, Charlotte's phone rang. It was Lily.
Charlotte answered with a smile, "We just met yesterday, and you want coffee again?"
Lily's voice was tense. "No! Remember that case in San Francisco yesterday? It's still unsolved, and last night there were three more. They say it's the same person!"
Charlotte was stunned. 'Four people!'
Something felt way off!
Lily sighed. "And all four had rare blood types. Isn't that weird?"
Charlotte's blood ran cold! 'Rare blood types!'
In Seattle, all the people with rare blood types had been killed, and the last target was Lola!
Just then, there was a commotion at the preschool entrance.
A gaunt woman in red, reeking of blood, was screaming!
Katherine stood in the crowd.
She held a sharp knife, the blade sliding across Lola's calf, blood dripping down her pale leg.
Everything froze.
Charlotte's heart almost stopped.
Through the crowd, Katherine smiled slightly. 'Rare blood type, and coagulation disorder; just one cut could kill your daughter!'
And Katherine was mentally ill. She wasn't legally responsible!
'Charlotte, if I can't have it, neither can you!'
The preschool teacher quickly gave Lola a coagulant, but the wound was too deep.
The bleeding wouldn't stop.
She needed a blood transfusion.
Katherine looked at Charlotte with a sinister smile. All the rare blood donors had been killed by her!
She turned and fled.
Charlotte clenched her fists, trembling all over!
After a moment of chaos, her mind suddenly cleared.
Katherine had a rare blood type! She was the only one who could quickly give Lola a transfusion!
She had to stop Katherine; she had to draw Katherine's blood to save Lola!
Charlotte jumped into the driver's seat and kicked off her high heels!
Years ago, her foot had been injured, and the doc had told her never to drive again. She hadn't driven in five years, but now she had to take a chance for Lola.
Charlotte fixed her eyes on Katherine and floored it.
The black car sped towards Katherine, and with a thud, knocked her to the ground.
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