Chapter 120

“Mr. Blair, hello.”
Eleanor’s greeting made Andrew, who’d been staring at the ground, look up fast. Charlotte’s long lashes fluttered, like she was caught off guard too.
“Please, don’t call my brother in here Andrew pressed his palms together, almost begging.
If Anthony showed up, there’d be hell to pay.
“Yes, Mr. Blair. Thank you for coming all this way.”
Andrew leaned back, looking completely defeated. He glanced at Charlotte and whispered, “My brother’s a handful. Don’t be scared. If he gives you a hard time, I’ll protect you.”
Charlotte blinked, confused. There was a big question mark in her mind as she studied Andrew’s serious face. She couldn’t help but smile a little.
“And how exactly are you going to do that? One hand protecting your head, the other protecting me?”
Andrew went quiet, not sure what to say.
Half an hour later, voices drifted in from the hallway.
Steven was the first one through the door.
“Steven, long time no see.”
Because of Olivia, Steven and Ronald talked pretty often. As soon as Ronald spotted him, he rushed over with a big, eager smile.
“Good to see you.” Steven shook Ronald’s hand, but there was an awkwardness in his voice. “I heard Charlotte got into a fight at school. Is that true?”
“Yes!” Ronald answered right away. “Charlotte’s tough to handle. She’s nothing like Olivia, not even close.”
Steven felt embarrassed just hearing that.
“Oh, and Steven, I heard Olivia has a piano competition coming up. There’s talk she could become Laura’s student, right?” Ronald kept piling on the praise
Congratulations. You’re lucky to have such an amazing daughter.”
Steven’s tone softened as soon as Olivia came up. “Olivia’s always been exceptional. She never gives me any trouble.”
“It’s Charlotte who’s been spoiled. Honestly, she’s a disappointment.”
Eleanor glanced at Charlotte, who stood with her chin up, face blank. It had to sting, hearing your own dad say that.
Once the small talk was over, Steven walked into the office. He spotted Charlotte hanging around a group of boys who looked like trouble. His face turned cold.
“In all these years, this is the first time I’ve ever been called to school because my kid got into a fight!” he barked.
Usually, he only came to school to see Olivia win awards. Now, Charlotte was making him lose face.
“Why can’t you be more like Olivia? Are you trying to drive me crazy?”
Charlotte dropped her head, taking the brunt of the scolding. Eleanor felt awful and
almost stepped in, but then Charlotte spoke up, her voice suddenly sharp.
“Who said you had to come? If you don’t want to be here, you can leave.”
She said it so calmly, without a hint of emotion, but it was enough to make everyone freeze. This was the dean’s officer own dad to Telling get out right in front of everyone
Charlotte was on a whole different level.

“Charlotte, don’t think I won’t do something just because we’re at schooll Steven snapped. He still. hadn’t dealt with the last timeshe smashed things and started a fire at home.

“Steven, please calm down,” Eleanor said softly, trying to keep things from getting
worse.
Right then, another voice came from the doorway. It was Henry Dean, Dennis’s father.