Chapter 257

After hitting send on the message, the officer glanced at Charlotte, impatience clear in his voice. “So, have you decided? Are you going to settle this or not?”
Charlotte kept her eyes low, but a cool, almost mocking smile tugged at her lips. Her voice was steady and soft. “Settle? Sure, why not.”
Dennis snorted at that. Just as he expected. Charlotte had finally figured out she was outmatched and was ready to give in. If it weren’t for Andrew and Parrish being here, he wouldn’t have let things get so out of hand. Settle? He was determined to see her rot in a cell.
But before he could savor that thought, Charlotte spoke again, her tone light and casual. “Let me break one of your arms, and I’ll call it even.”
The smirk vanished from Dennis’s face. Break his arm? Was she out of her mind? Last time at school, she got lucky because Anthony stepped in for her. Plus, his own dad was wary of the Blair family. That was the only reason he let it go.
But this time, he wasn’t messing with Andrew or Parrish, just Charlotte. The Blairs had no reason to get involved. Her own family didn’t care, and she’d never risk letting the school find out. What did he have to worry about?
“You still have the nerve to act tough in a police station?” Dennis glared at her, voice rising. “Officer, it’s obvious who’s at fault here, right?”
“Charlotte, I’m asking you one last time. Are you settling or not?” The officer looked at her, patience worn thin. He was giving her a chance, but she just wouldn’t take it.
“You assaulted someone, and now you’re causing trouble in the station,” the officer said coldly. “Put her in the interrogation room.”
As soon as Dennis finished, Andrew stepped up, his voice hard. “So you think Charlotte has no one to back her up? You think the Blair family is just going to sit around and do nothing? I’ll call Anthony right now.”
Dennis didn’t even blink. He sneered.
“Who does she think she is, expecting Anthony to show up in the middle of the night for her? Tell you what, let’s bet omit If Anthony really shows, I’ll get on my knees and apologize to her right here, Deal?”
Andrew’s confidence faltered. Last time they got in trouble, Anthony’s glare alone.nearly killed him. This time, they were in the police station. It was going to be a lot worse than just a broken leg. Anthony didn’ him hanging out with Charlotte. If he called for help, Anthony might not even bother showing up.
Right then, the sound of quick, heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. The door swung open, and a tall figure appeared in the doorway.
He wore a black trench coat thrown over dark blue pajamas, slippers to match, hair tousled like he’d just jumped out of bed and rushed over.
Anthony.
The whole room seemed to freeze. An icy dread swept over everyone. Anthony didn’t look at anyone elsez His sharp, dark gaze landed right on Charlotte, standing across the room. Her face was pale, but her eyes met. his, steady and calm.
His gaze drifted down and stopped at her swollen, red wrist. In that instant, his expression turned cold as stone.
Lottie was hurt.