Chapter 212

“Thank you.”
Stella took the box with a polite smile, opened it, and used the little fork to nibble at her cake, each bite tiny and careful. Charlotte watched her, taking in Stella’s pale, delicate features. Something shifted in her eyes, a shadow passing through. For a moment, memories crashed over her-the way she’d first found Stella years ago.
Back then, Stella’s body had been a patchwork of wounds. Besides her untouched face, she had hundreds of cuts from a fruit knife, her skin torn and bleeding. Later, doctors discovered the injuries went even deeper. Shock marks, burns, and scars from sleepless nights filled with terror. Most of her wounds had healed, but the scars never faded. After everything she’d endured, Stella was still skittish, still easily startled. She had been living here ever since, taking her time to recover.
Noticing Charlotte’s gaze, Stella scooped up a piece of cake and held it out, smiling gently. “Jackson and Adonis said you’re going to school now.”
“Yeah.” Charlotte opened her mouth for the bite, lips curving into a lazy smile. “I got bored, so I figured I’d try something new.”
Stella’s smile grew brighter, lighting up her whole face. “When I’m better, I’ll go too.” Years ago, when they were stuck in the sanatorium together, all they dreamed about was sitting in a real classroom, sunlight streaming through the windows, listening to a teacher. Maybe Charlotte was chasing that dream for both of them. After all, only the two of them had made it out to see the world again.
“Okay.” Charlotte reached out and gave Stella’s cheek a gentle squeeze, her eyes full of quiet affection.
They chatted for a while, until Charlotte remembered her phone was dead. She plugged it in, and as soon as it powered up, notifications flooded the screen-over a dozen missed calls. Two from Kenneth, the rest from Anthony. Another alert popped up. Someone had tracked her location.
Charlotte pressed her lips together, her fingers flying across the screen as she tracked Anthony’s location in return. He was just three kilometers away, out in the suburbs.
Qu
Anthony’s sports car had sputtered its last breath. The three-kilometer drive felt endless, and he only just made it to the house before the engine died. He stepped out, glancing up at the building what was Lottie doing here?
Just as he pulled out his phone to try calling her again, he spotted someone walking toward him. Charlotte, tall and slim, a knowing smile playing on her lips. She didn’t look surprised at all.
Anthony narrowed his eyes, put his phone away, and strode over. In a few long steps, he was standing right in front of her.
Charlotte just stood there, chin tilted up, her pretty face glowing with a mischievous smile. “What a coincidence, huh?”
Seeing her safe and sound, acting so bold and teasing, made the irritation in Anthony’s chest bubble up again. He really had spoiled her. She disappears without a word, doesn’t even bother to call.
“Are you cold?” He had meant to scold her, but the words came out soft.
Charlotte didn’t move, just smiled, her eyes curving. “Yeah, it’s freezing.”
Anthony let out a sigh, a reluctant
smile tugging at his lips. Before he could reach for her, Charlotte closed She
the space between them.
slipped her hands into his coat
pockets, holding onto him, her clear
eyes meeting his. “This is way better.”
Their bodies pressed close, the warmth between them making the world fall away. Anthony’s breathing grew heavy something dark and hungry sparking in his eyes, the could feel his self-control slipping, piece by piece. Was she doing this to make him forgive her?