Chapter 61

“Save the money for your own brain treatment.”
Charlotte tossed out the words without a second glance and disappeared at the top of the stairs.
“You… you ungrateful child
Steven nearly lost his breath, his face turning pale with anger.
“Dad, it’s my fault,” Olivia said softly, steadying him with gentle hands. “I should have watched Charlotte more closely at school. She wouldn’t have gotten into trouble otherwise.”
Her voice soothed him. The tension in his features eased, and he squeezed Olivia’s hand with gratitude. “You’re a good girl. I don’t blame you for any of this.”
Thank goodness for Olivia, his thoughtful, well-behaved daughter. If it weren’t for her… well, with someone like Charlotte in the family, he would barely have the courage to face their neighbors.
“Olivia, make sure you practice hard for the piano competition next week. Make me proud.”
“I will, Dad,” Olivia replied, her smile obedient and sweet.
Watching Olivia’s graceful composure only made Steven’s disappointment in Charlotte run deeper. He was starting to regret ever bringing her home.
In her bedroom, Charlotte lounged against the headboard, scrolling through the apartment listings Adonis sent her. With every swipe, her frown deepened. None of these places were right. She could only wonder if Adonis was letting dollar signs cloud his judgment.
She texted him. [Forget the apartment. Why did you only send me three days’ worth of meds?]
Adonis replied almost instantly. [We’re short an ingredient. Jackson is searching everywhere. Just hold out for two days.]
Charlotte pressed her lips together, her eyes turning cold. Two days? If she ran out, she’d have to sleep under a bridge just to avoid causing trouble.
Charlotte: [Hurry. If I don’t have enough, I can’t even think straight at school.]
Adonis: [Why are you even bothering with school?]
Charlotte: [College. I want my degree. I want a real life.]
She hit send and tossed her phone aside, in no mood to deal with whatever string of shocked emojis Adonis would send next.
With a sigh, she grabbed a pill bottle from her bag, shook out two capsules, and swallowed them. Only two left for tomorrow. The bitterness lingered on her tongue. Holding the bottle, her mind drifted to that hight at Anthony’s place She hadn’t taken her medication, but for some reason, she still slept straight through till morning. No insomnia, no nightmares. It made no sense.
She set her water glass down and was just about to crawl under the covers when her pho buzzed.
Glancing at the screen, she couldn’t help but smile.
Blair: [Hey kid, when are you coming to pick up your stuff from my place?]
Charlotte frowned a little and muttered to herself, “You old fox.” Still, she replied: [Up to you, uncle.]
Uncle…
Anthony chuckled as he read the message. She wasn’t easy to trick.
Blair: [How about tomorrow afternoon?]
Charlotte: [Can’t. I’m busy then.]
Her reply was short, cool, and stubbornly proud.
Blair: [Then the day after tomorrow?]
Charlotte thought for a second. [That works.]
A small smile appeared on his lips, his dark, fox-like eyes glinting with a mix of
mischief and charm. The look made him even more irresistible.
Blair: [You haven’t felt off these last few days, have you?]
Charlotte blinked at the question, a little confused. [Nope. All good.]
Blair: [Glad those thugs didn’t hurt you.]
He really wanted to ask if she was hurt from jumping out the third-story window, but
from the sound of it, she was fine.
Blair: [Get some sleep. Good night.]
The last line made Charlotte’s heart skip. She felt a gentle warmth in her
palm as she set her phone on the nightstand and slid under the blanket.