Chapter 200

“Hmm?” Charlotte was half asleep and trying to get her coat off, but her fingers kept fumbling with the buttons. She’d tried a few times already and still couldn’t get it undone.
“Have you ever thought about moving back home?” Anthony’s voice was gentle as he took her hands away and started unbuttoning her coat himself.
“Are you trying to get rid of me?” Her eyebrows scrunched together even more. She looked up at him, her eyes cool and guarded.
“Of course not.” Anthony slipped her coat off, then reached up, smoothing her hair where it had gotten messy. He leaned in closer, his voice low and soft. “Because honestly, I don’t want you to go.”
She stared at him for a few seconds, then looked away, barely awake enough to care. With a small yawn, she muttered, “I can’t sleep anywhere else. I’m staying.”
Can’t sleep anywhere else? Anthony couldn’t help but smile, a mix of exasperation and affection. Since she moved in, she’d barely slept through the night in this bed.
“You’re exhausted. Go wash up and get some rest.” He saw her fighting to keep her eyes open and didn’t have the heart to keep her talking.
“Okay.” Charlotte nodded, her voice barely a whisper.
Anthony picked up her coat and headed for the door. Just before leaving, he paused and turned back. “Nothing you want to tell me?”
“Hm?” Charlotte blinked at him, not understanding.
“Anything about school, maybe?”
She pressed her lips together, still looking lost. Was he going to scold her for not doing her homework or falling asleep in class?
When she didn’t answer, Anthony’s smile faded a little and he let out a quiet sigh. “Never mind. We’ll talk tomorrow.” He walked out, closing the door behind him.
His mood was definitely off tonight. Charlotte frowned, wondering what on earth Hans had done to get Anthony so worked up.
Half an hour later, Charlotte finished her shower and came out wrapped in a towel. She grabbed her phone from her school uniform pocket and checked her family group chat, “The Loving Family.”
Jackson: @Nine, Charlotte, we managed to make a small batch of your medicine in a hurry. It should last about a week. Adonis already put it in your bedroom drawer.
Drawer? Charlotte pressed the towel
to her wet hair and opened the drawer. She found the small box, took out a pill and swallowed it without thinking. Then she dried her hair, crawled under the covers, and closed her eyes.
Anthony came back to his room after finishing some work. He left the hallway light on and his bedroom deer open After his shower, he lay back in bed, eyes glued to the clock on the wall, counting the minutes.
Midnight. Lottie should have been here already.
Twelve thirty. Still no sign of her.
One o’clock. One thirty.
By two, Charlotte still hadn’t shown up like she always did. Ever since she moved into Imperial Heights, she’d come to his room every night at midnight, like clockwork. Tonight was different.
Remembering the messages on her phone, Anthony pressed his fingers to his forehead, feeling a little down.
Was there someone she liked in
those texts? Was that why she was subconsciously keeping here
distance from him?
He stood there in silence for a few seconds, then threw off the covers and walked to
the big window. He stared at his reflection in the glass, a crooked smile on his lips. Was he really getting old already?
Maybe it was time to start taking better care of himself. If he didn’t, someone might actually steal his Lottie away.