Chapter 299

Tsk. One pitiful old man, one pitiful girl. Anthony nearly drove them both up the wall.
Charlotte set her bowl down, lifted her chin, and nodded toward a dish a little ways down the table. “Roger, I want some of that.”
Was she forgiving him? Roger seemed to realize it all of a sudden. His face, usually so cold and stiff, broke into a huge grin. He jumped up, eager to serve her, piling food onto her plate. “Is there anything else you want? Just tell me.”
“Mm.” Charlotte nodded and started eating, clearly in a good mood.
Roger let out a breath, relieved. He kept adding food to her plate, doing his best to make up for what he’d done wrong. Robert, Kevin, Samantha, and Kenneth were all watching, completely stunned. Roger was usually the definition of stone-faced, never showing any emotion. But with Lottie, all that icy attitude just melted away. No wonder everyone said Lottie was the family’s lucky charm.
Lunch finally felt relaxed. Everyone chatted as they ate, most of the conversation circling back to Charlotte and her mom.
Robert spoke up. “Lottie, I looked into your father. He’s no good. Honestly, you’re better off not having anything to do with him.”
Charlotte nodded, agreeing without hesitation.
Kevin added, “Your mother was amazing. Gifted since she was a little girl. She could play any instrument, paint, write, all of it. When she was twelve, a secret
government research institute picked her to work on some kind of weapon project His face darkened as he remembered. “When she was seventeen, she went out into the field with her team. There was a sudden storm, the boat flipped, and she disappeared. Nobody knew what happened to her.”
Charlotte had never heard any of this about her mother. She listened, hanging on every word.
Kevin kept going. “We didn’t hear from her again for two years. Then she sent us a single text. She said a man had rescued her… and that she had a daughter. We tried everything to reach her after that, but it was like she vanished. No clues, no messages, nothing.”
They never stopped looking for her. It took eighteen years before they found Lottie.
Samantha reached out and took Charlotte’s hand, her voice gentle. “Lottie, did you ever meet your mom?” It was a painful subject. They call tried to avoid it so soon after she joined the family, scared they’d hurt her.
Charlotte thought for a moment, but there was nothing there. “No. Steven told me she got sick and died when I was five.”
The main branch of the family had moved to Cabinda after her mother passed away. Supposedly, it was her mom’s last wish.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Samantha looked even sadder. She pinched Charlotte’s cheek softly and murmured, “You have us now. No one will ever hurt you again.”
Charlotte felt something warm bloom in her chest. She nodded, her voice soft. “Okay.”
Kenneth saw Samantha fussing over Charlotte and scoffed as he cracked open a crab leg. Anthony treated Lottie like she was made of glass. If anyone ever tried to mess with her Would the Gates family even get a chance to step in?
Robert changed the subject, glancing at Charlotte as he placed a piece of fish on her plate. “Lottie, Kenneth told me you’re staying with one of his friends. How’s that going? Do you like it there?”
Robert never really meddled in his grandsons’ lives, but Kenneth working in showbiz was another story. He worried Kenneth would get mixed up with the wrong crowd.
Charlotte replied quietly, “It’s nice, Grandpa.” Even her eyes seemed softer as she said it.
“Good, I’m glad to hear it.” Robert
patted her hand, then looked over at Kenneth, his expression suddenly serious. Lottie’s going to be staying there for two more months. It doesn’t feel right for her to stay for free. When you leave, take the things I’ve prepared and bring them over, alright?”