Chapter 80
Anthony was worried she might get cold after her evening classes, so he made sure to give her a coat before she left.
Charlotte draped the trench coat over her arm, slung her backpack on one shoulder, and walked toward her classroom with her phone pressed to her ear.
“One of the herbs is being a real pain,” Adonis said quietly on the other end. “It might take a couple of days before I can make the pills. Do you want me to find you a villa out in the suburbs to stay for now?”
It couldn’t be anywhere near the city. Without her meds, if her condition flared up, she could cause some serious damage.
“No need. I’ve got a place to stay,” Charlotte said, glancing at the coat on her arm. Her brow relaxed a little. “Just get the medicine sorted as soon as you can.”
“Got it.” Adonis paused, then added, “By the way, when are you planning to go after the Main Family and that bastard?”
Charlotte pressed her lips together. The warmth in her eyes vanished, replaced by something cold and hard. Her fingers curled tightly around her phone. “No rush. We’ll take our time.”
They deserved to find out what it felt like to wish for death but not get it.
She ended the call and slipped her phone into her bag. As she unzipped it, she spotted a carton of milk inside and hesitated for a second, her brows twitching.
Right then, someone slammed into her shoulder, hard. Charlotte stumbled before finding her balance again.
Before she could even look up, a loud, sharp voice rang out.
“The courtyard’s huge. Did you really have to run into her? Was that on purpose?”
Charlotte zipped her bag shut and raised her head slowly. When she saw who was in front of her, her eyes went cold.
“You bump into someone and can’t even say sorry?” Nancy stood there in her Vanguard High uniform, arm looped through Olivia’s, looking down her nose at Charlotte.
“Figures. Someone from the middle of nowhere, with no manners at all.”
“Nancy Olivia gave Nancy’s sleeve a gentle tug and spoke softly, “Maybe she’s just having a bad day. I’m sure it wasn’t on purpose.”
“A bad day?” Nancy blocked Charlotte’s way, even though she was still half a head shorter, platform shoes and all. “I heard you got kicked out by your dad for messing around. Is it true?”
Nancy’s voice was loud enough that students nearby stopped to stare, eyes wide, all focused on Charlotte’s silence.
Messing around? With who? Was it what everyone thought?
“I heard her dad lined up Pathfinder Academy for her,” someone whispered, “but she turned it down. Then somehow she got into Vanguard High on her own.”
A girl nearby added under her breath, “With grades like hers, she must have some serious connections to get in here.”
“Maybe she did something for someone to get in, and that’s why her dad kicked her out when he found out.”
“Probably. One daughter is perfect, the golden child. The other one just causes trouble. The difference is huge.”
Olivia’s lips curled into a faint, hidden smile as she listened. She moved closer to Charlotte, hugging her books to her chest you should go home and apologize to Dad,” she said gently. “If you admit what you did, I know he’ll let you come back.”
Charlotte didn’t move. Her cold gaze locked onto Olivia, sharp and unwavering: She was tall and slender, her beauty striking, and among the other students she stood out effortlessly. Even without saying a word, just standing there in front of Olivia, Charlotte’s presence was impossible to ignore.