Chapter 470

“Trying to buy my fiancé?”
Charlotte gave a slow, almost amused smile as she looked down at the blank check. Her fingers drummed lightly on the table, her eyes narrowing with a hint of coldness. “Alright then, let’s figure out just how much my fiancé is worth.”
Every time Charlotte said “fiancé,” Melissa felt her anger spike. She struggled to keep her expression calm, forcing herself to swallow her frustration and keep up her perfect socialite act.
She’d done her homework. Charlotte was never the favorite child. There were even rumors she’d been sent away to the countryside for some kind of mental health issue. Then she came back, fought with her family, and got thrown out. Obviously, she was desperate for money. That had to be why she went after Anthony. Otherwise, what else could explain a ten-year age gap between them?
“My fiancé is the CEO of The Blair Group. His assets are worth over a hundred billion,” Charlotte said, her tone flat, her mouth barely twitching into a smile. Her voice was icy. “If I marry him, I get half.”
Melissa’s brows drew together, but she kept silent.
“Ms. Carter, since you want to buy, I’ll give you a discount.” Charlotte picked up a pen, pressed it to the check, and carefully wrote out a number.
Nine hundred ninety-nine million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand…
Melissa’s face darkened as she watched the number grow. Before she could say anything, Charlotte’s casual voice cut in. “With the discount, I’ll need three checks for that amount.”
Three checks? That’s… twenty-seven billion?
“So, Ms. Carter, will you be paying by card or cash?”
Melissa stared at Charlotte, her eyes blazing. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“Aren’t you the one who wanted to play this money game?” Charlotte slowly uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, her gaze sharp and cold. “What’s wrong? Can’t keep up?”
Melissa’s fingers curled tightly. Her throat was dry, her cheeks hot with humiliation as she glared across the table. There was no way she could come up with that much money. And she’d never expected Charlotte to be so bold.
“If you can’t afford to play, then stop coming to me just to get attention.” Charlotte picked up her cup, turning it lazily in her hand. “And another thing. Don’t let me hear you call him ‘Anth’ ever again.”
“Otherwise, I’ll be happy to show you what real delusion looks like.”
“Charlotte, you stole my boyfriend and you still have the nerve to act all high and mighty!”
Melissa finally snapped, jumping to her feet and swinging her hand toward Charlotte’s face.
Charlotte’s eyes went cold. She caught Melissa’s wrist with barely any effort, twisted it, and flung her hand away.
Melissa, teetering in her high heels, lost her balance and fell back into her chair. A sharp pain shot through her back.
She’d just been hit. In over twenty years, nobody had ever dared to lay a hand on her.
Melissa gripped the armrests, ready to stand up, but suddenly Charlotte was looming over her.
“Say that again.”
Charlotte’s hand closed around Melissa’s neck, her face inches away skin pale and eyes dark and icy. Who is my fiancé to you?” Her voice was dangerously soft.
Melissa’s face drained of color, pain and fear freezing her in place. The delicate girl from the party was gone. This Charlotte was fierce, and Melissa had no doubt that if she called him her boyfriend again Charlotte might actually snap her neck.
Seeing Melissa, once so smug, now pale and trembling, Charlotte finally let go.
She turned away, grabbed her bag, and pulled out three bills, slapping them onto the table in front of Melissa.
Melissa just sat there, stunned, not understanding what Charlotte was doing.
“Take the money. Go to a hospital. Get yourself checked out. Maybe a psychiatrist can help with those fantasies of yours.”
Charlotte slipped on her jacket,
xout those last icy words, and
out without another glance
leaving Melissa alone in the booth.