Chapter 291 He Keep Brenda in Syeattel
Charlotte shot back, "No need."
She tried to hop out of the car, but Frederick was quicker, blocking her in.
His eyes were intense as he stared her down. "I messed up last time. Shouldn't have treated you like that. But please, don't ice me out, and don't say stuff to rile me up, okay?"
Charlotte gave a faint smile.
Looking at him from inside the car, she said softly, "Brenda came to see me today. She said she wants to stick around you! Frederick, do you know how grossed out I am? If it weren't for you playing hero and staying with her in the hospital for a few days, where would she get the nerve to come to me?"
All of this was on him.
Frederick was visibly stunned.
He hadn't expected Brenda to be so shameless. He had paid her medical bills and, after confirming she was out of danger, had cut off contact and blocked her.
He lowered his voice. "I'll handle it, okay?"
Charlotte looked down and smiled faintly. "No need! I'll take care of it!"
Frederick thought it was just a catfight and that Charlotte would just send Brenda packing, so he didn't step in.
He felt a bit emotional tonight and wanted to be with Charlotte.
He whispered, "Stay in my room tonight. I won't do anything, nothing that would make you uncomfortable."
Charlotte wasn't interested.
Even though she had her own needs as a woman, she was genuinely disgusted.
She directly refused him.
Under the faint moonlight, Frederick leaned in, trying to kiss her.
Charlotte moved towards the opposite door. But Frederick quickly followed, grabbed her arm, and pressed her into the back seat, trying to kiss her.
Outside the car, there was a light cough.
Then, Patrick's voice came. "What are you doing, Frederick?"
Frederick's body stiffened.
He looked down at the woman in his arms, his handsome face showing some discomfort.
Charlotte's slender throat tightened, her voice slightly hoarse. "Dad, how about I take a walk with you?"
Patrick waited outside the car.
Frederick let go, allowing Charlotte to straighten herself and get out of the car.
Seeing her, Patrick smiled warmly. "Charlotte, let's go."
Charlotte put on a coat and walked beside Patrick.
They had a very good relationship, like father and daughter.
After a while, Patrick's voice was gentle and loving. "Laura and I know you've been wronged. Frederick's past behavior was hard for us as parents to control."
Charlotte's voice had a slight nasal tone. "It's been a bit tough."
Patrick patted her shoulder and walked with her.
He actually knew that Charlotte was unhappy. If it weren't for their past relationship and the fact that Charlotte now had children, why would she endure such grievances?
Life went on uneventfully.
In a evening a week later, Charlotte was playing the piano in the living room.
Felix quietly came over and said that Ella was here again and wanted to see her.
Charlotte said calmly, "Let her in."
It was Ella's second time at the Hawkins Mansion. She didn't dare sit down and stood cautiously beside Charlotte, saying, "Mrs. Hawkins, please let Brenda go."
Charlotte continued playing the piano.
Ella's voice was tearful. "Brenda was expelled from school. Your two bodyguards follow her everywhere. She's suffocating and about to go crazy! Mrs. Hawkins, she has a pitiful background. I'm begging you to let her go!"
Charlotte stopped playing. She looked at Ella and smiled faintly. "Tell her that if she goes back home, I won't ask for the $30,000."
Ella's face turned pale. She said softly, "Brenda worked hard to get into Syeattel. She can't go back. If she does, her life is over! Please show some mercy!"
Charlotte sneered. "It's her own fault."
Ella wanted to plead further, but footsteps sounded at the door.
It was Frederick.
His face was grim, and it was unclear how much he had heard.
Ella begged him again, but Frederick wasn't having it and told her to scram.
After she left, he leaned against the piano, a faint smile on his face. "Mrs. Hawkins, we live in a society governed by law now."
Charlotte knew he was pleading.
She lowered her eyes slightly, her heart aching intensely.
"Feeling sorry? Then, Mr. Hawkins, figure out a way to keep her away from me and stop her from trying to call my husband."
Frederick stared at her.
After a while, he said softly, "You know I have no interest in her. Why do this?"
He knew Brenda's past.
Her environment was terrible, and her upbringing was tough. So even though Brenda had designs on him, he thought as long as he had no interest, Brenda wouldn't become a problem in their marriage.
Charlotte was overly concerned.
Charlotte kept playing the piano. After finishing a piece, she whispered, "Frederick, I just want to protect the people I care about."
Frederick's gaze was deep, and he stared at her for a long time.
He slowly loosened his tie and walked upstairs.
During dinner and while putting Lola and Kingsley to bed, they didn't talk at all. Though they lived in the same house, they were more like strangers.
Charlotte no longer cared.
Late at night, they each went back to their rooms.
In the dimly lit hallway, Frederick grabbed Charlotte's hand. "We need to talk!"
Just as he said that, Charlotte's phone rang. She answered it.
It was a bodyguard she had sent, speaking hesitantly, "Ms. Russell, Brenda jumped out of a third-floor window and broke her leg!"
Charlotte calmly said, "Send her to the hospital. Keep watching her."
Frederick knocked the phone out of her hand, his tone urgent and harsh.
"She's already been expelled from school. What more do you want? Charlotte, are you doing this because you don't trust me or because you don't believe in your own charm? Or was our marriage like this from the beginning?" He questioned her repeatedly.
Charlotte was a bit dazed, then she smiled faintly. "Yes. I can't tolerate her staying in Syeattel. I don't care whether she lives or dies."
Frederick glared at her, his eyes filled with rage.
He walked to the end of the hallway and made a call to Lucy, giving some instructions.
Lucy was a bit surprised but went ahead with it anyway.
Charlotte stood under the hallway light, hearing what he said. He was going to reinstate Brenda's school enrollment and cover her medical expenses.
He was keeping Brenda in Syeattel.
At that moment, Charlotte felt utterly exhausted.
She felt that the pain she had experienced, the fears in her heart, were something Frederick could never truly understand.
The crystal chandelier shone brightly.
Charlotte's face was pale as she sent out a Facebook message: [There is no need to watch her anymore!]
After finishing his call, Frederick turned around.
Charlotte was no longer there.
Frederick realized his words had been too harsh.
He didn't want to be at odds with her and was somewhat willing to soften up and coax her a bit. If they each took a step back, the issue with Brenda could be resolved.
He knocked on her bedroom door. "Charlotte, open the door!"
After a while, there was no response from inside.
She clearly didn't want to communicate with him.
Frederick patiently waited for a moment, then said in a restrained voice, "Open the door so we can talk. It's late, and you don't want to wake the elders, do you? Charlotte, be reasonable, okay?"
She never came out.
Frederick stood there for a long time before returning to his bedroom.
Their marriage had hit rock bottom.
They rarely saw each other, and Charlotte almost never gave him a chance, nor was he willing to apologize.
In the dead of night, only his physical and emotional desires reminded him that he was deeply attracted to her and still wanted her very much.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
