Chapter 401 Can't I Look at My Own Wife
Charlotte picked up the phone.
Matthew, all worked up, rushed over and asked, "Is this Tina thing gonna mess with Landon?"
"Nah," Charlotte said with a slight smile. "What Tina did has zilch to do with Landon. Chill out, Matthew."
Matthew still looked worried.
He sighed. "Charlotte, Landon's all I got left."
Charlotte wasn't feeling great herself. But she had promised Landon, so she pulled herself together to deal with Matthew. She said, "If he's that important, you better take good care of him."
Her words had a deeper meaning, and Matthew got it.
He mumbled something and hung up.
By now, Lily had calmed down.
She suddenly realized Tina was really out of the picture, and she and Charlotte wouldn't have to deal with her again.
Lily gritted her teeth. "She finally got what was coming to her!"
Maybe she was too excited, but Lily stepped forward and hugged Charlotte.
She cried and murmured, "Charlotte, thank you! Thanks for getting rid of her."
Charlotte knew her well.
She gently patted Lily's shoulder and wiped away her tears. "No need to thank me!"
Lily's eyes were still teary.
Over there, Frederick and Bradley exchanged looks and then walked out together.
Bradley pulled out a pack of smokes, shook one out, and handed it to Frederick. "Sorry you had to see that."
Frederick took the cigarette and lit it, smiling faintly.
He had known Lily for years.
People came and went around Charlotte, but her best friend was Lily, at least among the women.
Among the men, it was Oliver!
As he was thinking, Bradley nudged his shoulder and asked, "The third kid's almost here. You thinking about a fourth?"
Frederick glanced at him. "After this one, we're just gonna enjoy life together!"
Bradley was pretty envious.
He and Lily had always wanted a little girl, but it just hadn't happened.
Frederick patted his shoulder. "Let's grab a bite together!"
It was actually a celebration.
After the meal, Frederick took Charlotte back to the villa.
Charlotte was used to taking afternoon naps.
He stayed with her until she fell asleep, then quietly got up to go to the study to handle some work.
Patrick was getting old and liked to spend time with his grandkids.
Frederick was now not only managing Vertex Innovations Group but also part of the Hawkins Group's business. He was super busy and wished he could have more sons.
Yeah, sons. In his view, little girls were to be cherished.
The study was quiet, and he looked down at the materials Cherie had sent, unable to finish reading them.
The door creaked open.
A little head of golden curls peeked in.
Frederick saw it but pretended not to notice. "Who's at the door?"
"Shh, Daddy."
Lola tiptoed in, made a gesture for him to keep quiet, and then crawled under Frederick's desk. He stretched out his legs, and Lola naturally sat on them.
Lola's voice was soft. "I'm playing hide and seek with Johnny and Kingsley; you can't tell them I'm here!"
She was really beautiful.
Just like Charlotte!
As long as Frederick looked at her, he felt joy.
He reached out to touch her golden curls and said gently, "I won't tell."
If it weren't for work, and if Lola weren't playing hide and seek, Frederick would definitely pick her up, but for now, he had to hold back.
He continued working.
Lola didn't move.
Maybe Daddy's legs were just too cozy, and Lola slowly drifted off to sleep.
At the door, there were light footsteps coming and going.
That was the sound of Johnny and Kingsley.
Frederick glanced down at Lola, who was out cold.
He reached for a blanket and covered her up.
Right then, Kingsley wobbled at the door, pointing inside. "Lola!"
Johnny was holding his chubby little hand. He knew Frederick was working and didn't dare to disturb him.
Frederick looked up at Johnny and the goofy Kingsley.
He smiled gently. "Johnny, bring Kingsley in."
Johnny hesitated but still brought Kingsley in and plopped him on the sofa.
Frederick asked him to find a picture book for Kingsley.
Johnny was pretty nervous. He liked Frederick but was always a bit scared of him.
Frederick pointed to the chair opposite and said softly, "Sit here."
Johnny sat up straight.
Frederick tossed a document over; it was a recent investment by Vertex Innovations Group, not a huge amount, about $40 million.
Frederick said softly, "You handle this."
Johnny was at a loss. He counted the zeros behind the number, there were seven.
Frederick continued to read the documents, his tone indifferent. "When Kingsley is your age, he should start looking at these too!"
Johnny was still a kid. He couldn't understand but didn't dare to cry, so he desperately searched for information.
In a short time, he learned to search for various index information. He couldn't do business, but he could bear much more than his peers.
During this time, Kingsley was still looking at the picture book.
Lola was sleeping on Frederick's lap.
When Lola woke up, she saw Johnny diligently reading documents, sitting up straight, while her dad looked very strict.
Lola rubbed her eyes and leaned into Frederick's arms.
Why did she feel like Johnny was a servant Daddy had brought back, having to work at such a young age?
Lola looked at Frederick.
Frederick knew what she was thinking, but he pretended not to know, kissed Lola, and said, "Go wash your face and take Kingsley downstairs for a snack."
Lola's eyes were teary.
Only Kingsley went downstairs happily.
Charlotte slept well.
Suddenly, a soft little figure appeared under the blanket, gently rubbing her neck with its fluffy head.
She woke up and saw a small, tender face.
"Mommy." Lola hugged her neck and gave her a soft kiss.
Charlotte gently touched her small body. Lola snuggled in her mother's arms, acting spoiled and also complaining, "Johnny is helping Daddy with work!"
Charlotte was surprised, both angry and amused.
She knew Frederick loved the children but also had high expectations for them. However, she didn't expect Johnny to start his business elite training so young, and in actual practice no less.
Charlotte kissed Lola. "Tell your Daddy to come to the bedroom, say I need him."
Lola was thrilled to get the order. Afraid to lift the blanket and make Mommy cold, she crawled out from the foot of the bed.
She ran to the study and shouted loudly, "Daddy, Mommy wants you to come over."
Frederick closed the document.
He looked at Lola, understanding that she had complained.
He looked at Johnny and smiled.
As he passed by Lola, he patted her head and said, "Take Johnny downstairs to eat something, and don't come back up for two hours."
Lola's eyes sparkled, and she dragged Johnny downstairs.
Frederick shook his head, chuckling.
He strolled back to the master bedroom and, with a touch of formality, knocked on the door, asking, "Mrs. Hawkins, may I come in?"
He was dressed to the nines and looked incredibly dashing.
Charlotte was already up.
She had changed into a comfy wool dress and was lounging on the sofa in the living room, reading a parenting book. Hearing his voice, she looked up and smiled. "Since when have you been so formal with me?"
Frederick had a charming smile on his face. He walked behind the sofa and gently wrapped his arms around Charlotte's slender shoulders, deliberately exhaling warm breath behind her ear. "When have I ever be intimate with you without asking first?"
His words had a double meaning.
Even though Charlotte had been married to him for a long time, she couldn't withstand such teasing.
Her cheeks turned slightly red.
But she didn't want to show weakness, so she cleared her throat and pretended not to care. "I need to talk to you about something serious!"
Frederick chuckled.
He let go of her and walked to the water dispenser to pour himself a glass of water.
After taking a couple of sips, he raised his eyebrows slightly. "Did Lola complain to you?"
Charlotte didn't deny it.
She watched her husband.
He would be 36 after the New Year, but he kept himself in great shape. A gray shirt and dark gray trousers looked extremely good on him.
And his appearance was something she loved very much.
At this age, with his hair occasionally slicked back, Frederick exuded an indescribable mature charm.
Charlotte shifted her gaze and focused on the parenting book.
"Johnny is very sensitive! Don't be too harsh on him. At least wait until he's 16 before letting him get involved in business matters."
As she spoke, Frederick kept looking at her.
Charlotte couldn't stand his gaze, so she put down the book and said softly, "I'm talking to you about something serious. What kind of look is that?"
Frederick also put down his water cup.
He leaned against the back of the opposite sofa and chuckled. "Can't I look at my own wife? Do you think I'm too harsh on Johnny?"
Charlotte nodded.
Frederick came over again and hugged her from behind, this time more firmly.
His attractive thin lips were close to her neck, as if speaking and kissing at the same time. "Charlotte, do you consider Johnny as your own child?"
Charlotte was slightly stunned.
Frederick gently said, "You don't! That's why you want to favor him!"
Charlotte instinctively wanted to refute, but Frederick's slender fingers lightly touched her lips, continuing, "If it were Kingsley at this age, and I trained him to get involved in business, you wouldn't object! Just because Johnny isn't my biological son, you're afraid he'll feel uncomfortable, right?"
Charlotte felt he was right.
But something seemed off.
In any case, Frederick was eloquent, and she couldn't argue against him.
Objecting to his decision would mean not treating Johnny as her own son!
It took Charlotte a long time to react. "You want Johnny to take over Vertex Innovations Group?"
Frederick nodded. Although he was holding her, he was quite serious.
He said, "I don't want Lola to enter the business world. She is smart and clever. Charlotte, among the children, I favor Lola the most. I want her to live a carefree and free life."
In other words, let her to do whatever she wants.
This was Frederick's bias!
Charlotte wasn't foolish; she had long known Frederick's favoritism towards Lola, but she hadn't expected it to this extent.
Frederick knew she was overthinking.
He whispered, "The one in your belly too! She's a girl."
He would raise girls as princesses!
Johnny and Kingsley, being boys, were destined to be trained from a young age. Johnny was already a bit late; Kingsley would start elite education at five.
Charlotte understood his meaning.
She felt quite sympathetic towards the children, but she also knew that Frederick was very domineering in this regard.
Charlotte compromised!
Frederick kissed her tender cheek and softly said, "You are so generous and understanding."
Charlotte had no way to deal with him.
At the same time, she felt his kisses were too passionate.
"Frederick? The kids are all at home!"
Frederick turned up the air conditioning a bit, opened her dress, and kissed her, his voice muffled. "They won't come upstairs for two hours."
Charlotte half-heartedly resisted.
She only felt that he was full of energy.
An hour later, Charlotte lay in his arms, biting her lip. "Frederick, you're a jerk!"
But he was satisfied.
He held her hand and gently massaged it, very tenderly. "Your belly isn't very big yet. When it gets bigger, everything will be inconvenient."
Charlotte wasn't really angry.
She loved Frederick deeply, and he was in his prime.
She also wanted him to be comfortable and satisfied.
She lightly traced his handsome face with her fingers and softly said, "How will I explain this to Lola later?"
Frederick kissed her. "I'll handle it! You need to be a good mom."
His teasing words made Charlotte blush.
No man was as flirtatious as he was all the time. Yet she liked it.
Charlotte didn't know how Frederick explained it to Lola, but after that, Johnny had to spend two hours every day working with Frederick in the study.
Even Charlotte felt it was tough, let alone Lola!
In the evening, Charlotte was teaching Lola to play the piano.
A guest arrived at the house; it was Andrew.
Charlotte was quite surprised.
Lola, who was at the piano, jumped up and ran into Andrew's arms, giving him a big kiss.
He patted Lola and smiled at Charlotte. "She's well taken care of."
Charlotte poured him some water. "Why did you suddenly come here?"
Andrew's face showed a gentle smile. "I came to take Chloe and Gavin to Copenhegan."
Charlotte had planned for the Hawkins family jet to take them.
She didn't expect Andrew to come and pick them up.
She thought of the hardships Chloe had endured and the difficulties Andrew had faced, and she couldn't help but tear up. "That's great to spend some time together! By the way, where's Chloe?"
Andrew smiled. "I came over first to check things out, and then I'll go pick them up."
He not only cared for Chloe and Gavin but also for Charlotte and her children.
Andrew came specifically to bring gifts. One for each child, and even one for Charlotte.
Charlotte smiled. "Thank you."
Andrew patted her head.
At this moment, Frederick came downstairs and saw Andrew. "Are you leaving tonight?"
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