Chapter 62

For a few quiet seconds, nothing happened. Then a slender, pale arm slipped out from under the covers, scooped up the phone, and set it beside the pillow. Only then did she shut her eyes, finally able to sleep. That night, not a single nightmare came.
The next morning, sunlight poured into the grand, luxurious villa, filling the hall with a warm, golden glow.
Charlotte tossed all her stuff into her backpack in one go, slung it over her shoulder, and headed downstairs. She didn’t even glance at the family of three sitting at the dining table. Her face was unreadable as she walked straight toward the door.
“Charlotte, aren’t you going to eat breakfast?” Elizabeth called out gently.
“Just seeing you all ruins my appetite.”
Elizabeth’s smile froze.
“Dad arranged a car for us,” Olivia tried. “We can go together.”
Charlotte barely looked at her. “You still haven’t learned your lesson from last time? Still eager to get in my way?”
Olivia flinched, remembering the welts from the last fight. The memory made her skin prickle.
Steven’s face darkened. He slammed his chopsticks down on the table. “If you walk out that door, don’t bother coming back. I won’t pay a cent for your allowance or your tuition.”
Charlotte paused, her hand on the doorknob.
Steven’s tense expression eased a little. He thought he had her cornered. Did she really think a few years in the countryside meant she could do whatever she wanted?
Charlotte turned around, her lips curling into a smirk. “If I remember right, the Main Family’s money has nothing to do with you.”
Steven’s eyes widened. He knew it was true. The business had started with her mother’s money, and the Main Group’s success was built on her connections. But her mom died when Charlotte was only five. How could she possibly know any of that?
“What are you saying, Charlotte?”
Olivia shot back, swirling her lemon water. If the Main Family’s money isn’t Dad’s, is it yours? You just want the inheritance and wish he’d die, don’t you?”
Steven’s face went white.
Charlotte smiled, her eyes sharp. “With the little money this family has, if I really wanted it, do you think I’d wait around for him to drop dead?”
The arrogance in her voice was almost shocking.
“Charlotte!” Steven exploded, pushing back from the table and standing up, red with rage. “I don’t have a daughter like you. Get out!”
Charlotte raised an eyebrow, her beautiful face cool and proud. “Anyone who claims me is just embarrassing themselves.”
Steven clutched his chest, looking like he might throw up from anger. Olivia and Elizabeth exchanged a quick glance, putting on a show of Comforting Stever but inside they were celebrating. Soon, there’d be no more Charlotte to ruin their perfect little world.
Their celebration barely lasted a heartbeat before a scream rang out from upstairs.
“Ahhh!”
“What is it now? Why are you screaming?” Elizabeth snapped, her mood instantly
sour.
The maid’s voice shook as she answered. “It’s… Charlotte’s room. It’s full of cockroaches.”
Olivia peeked in, then shrieked and stumbled back, her face ghost-pale. It wasn’t just a few bugs. Hundreds maybe thousands, crawled all over the floor, the walls, inside the closet, even in the air conditioner The sight made her skin crawl.
She screamed again. “That psycho did this on purpose!”
Looking at the disgusting swarm, Olivia felt sick. There was no way she’d ever want
to move back in there.