Right then, Kenneth's old butler came rushing over, whispering something into Liam's ear. Liam's expression changed instantly.

"Hold on," he called out to Patricia, clearly not happy about it. "I can't let you take her. Whatever punishment you want, it'll be in front of me."

Patricia knew Liam was forced to compromise and she immediately took the upper hand. "She hit Chloe, so this is a Beaumont family matter. Mr. Parker, as an outsider, are you overstepping your bounds?" Liam's frown tightened.

The butler kept urging him, "Young master, she's just an assistant. Why not let her go? The wedding can't be called off."

Liam clenched his fists, barely able to contain his anger.

While they were at a stalemate, Charlotte on the ground kept her eyes fixed on Chloe and, seizing the moment, lunged forward like a cheetah, clawing at Chloe's injured face.

She knew Chloe wouldn't die today, but she wasn't going to let her off easy.

The sudden attack made Patricia lose all composure; she screamed and lunged at Charlotte, but Liam was quicker, blocking her and pulling Charlotte behind him.

"Are you done with that?!" he hissed at Charlotte in anger.

Charlotte ignored him, just smiling as she watched Chloe's face.

This just fueled the Beaumont family's anger even more, and they started shouting about taking Charlotte back and punishing her severely.

The weight of his father's illness was like chains on Liam; he could no longer control the situation.

He told Charlotte, "Go with them for now. I'll follow soon and won't let them hurt you..."

"You're sending me to the Beaumonts?" Charlotte said with a mocking smile. "Why don't you just let me die here?"

"You!" Liam was furious. "Charlotte!"

Charlotte was still smiling. "If you hadn't stopped me, she'd be dead."

So, all his actions were actually to protect Chloe.

Charlotte's gaze turned to Chloe. "She's so lucky, isn't she, Liam?"

"Charlotte, just do as they say. It's the only way to protect you..."

"It's just that you can't protect me." Charlotte started to laugh, but then she cried; within one day, she had lost everyone she loved.

And the murderer was still lying there, safe and sound, protected by everyone.

Hatred, frustration, resentment, sorrow... all these emotions were piling up inside her, and she was close to breaking.

"Grab her!" Patricia commanded, and the bodyguards moved in, surrounding Charlotte.

"You can't touch me," Charlotte said

Patricia.

Patricia dismissed her defiance with disgust. "You bitch! Do it, grab her, and shut her up!"

"Yes!"

The crowd closed in, hands grabbing Charlotte's arms, another hand raised high, ready to slap her.

Charlotte just stood there, smiling faintly.

And just as the hand was about to strike, a commanding male voice called out from not too far away, "Stop!"

Patricia spun around, her eyes wide with surprise, "Thomas?! What are you doing here?"

It was Thomas!

"I'm here to protect my daughter," Thomas declared, striding up to stand in front of Charlotte, shielding her from all the malice.

His voice was thick with emotion as he spoke. All those lonely nights since Annie's death, he'd been tormented by regret for not having the courage to protect her more fiercely, which gave Chloe the chance to drown Annie. But this time, Thomas was resolved not to back down.

Thomas glanced around at the Beaumonts and casually remarked, "It's just a small misunderstanding among sisters, no big deal, just a bit of a tiff."

"You!" Patricia was livid, "Thomas, look at Chloe! Look at what this bitch did to your niece!"

With no hesitation, Thomas slapped Patricia, "What did you just call my daughter?"

"Your daughter?" Patricia touched her face in disbelief, "Are you saying Charlotte is your daughter?!"

"Foster daughter," Thomas said calmly. "The one who will inherit everything from me."

All at once, Patricia's expression shifted, turning extremely sour.

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Her big brother Tom was super capable but not the type to be pushy. He worked his tail off for years building up the Beaumont empire, but never once tried to seize control for himself. After Annie died, Thomas and his wife were devastated, and the Beaumonts gobbled up their assets...

But now, was Thomas aiming to fight for the inheritance rights?

Patricia's face darkened as she pondered this new development.

Suddenly, Liam spoke up with a cold voice, "Miss Beaumont mentioned the engagement is off. Is that true?"

"No..." Patricia was shocked. She had thought Liam was cornered and wouldn't dare to break off the engagement, which is why she had used it as leverage to force a compromise. With Thomas's unclear stance, if the engagement was really broken off, the consequences would be dire!

Patricia clenched her teeth and endured, "Mr. Parker misunderstood."

"Is that so?" Liam said emotionlessly. "Since Mr. Beaumont said it's nothing, let's take our people back and end this matter here."

Patricia couldn't say more, even though she was reluctant.

Liam, sharp as ever, saw right through the situation, knowing she wouldn't dare to make another move.

If she pushed further, this marriage might indeed be off.

"Let's go!" Patricia stormed off with the unconscious Chloe.

Thomas reached out to Charlotte, "Let's leave too."

Charlotte nodded slightly and began to walk away. Then, she turned back and stood firmly in front of Liam.

It was clear he was exhausted, his eyes rimmed with dark circles.

Looking down at her, his eyes were unusually soft and tender.

"Charlotte, keep it down and don't go looking for trouble, just stay calm and wait until I'm engaged."

Charlotte blinked, her heart going cold.

"I'm afraid I can't grant Mr. Parker's wish," Charlotte said calmly, looking at him.

And with that, she told him, and herself.

"We're enemies now."

"You're too impulsive, Charlotte. Even if Chloe and Liam do get married, we still have a chance. How could you just rush over and attack her like that? In front of all those people, do you want to end up in jail?" "Maria's dead."

Thomas' lecture was cut off, silenced by the mention of Maria, Charlotte, and Annie's mother.

But how could she be dead?

"She was burned alive, burned to death in Annie's villa."

Charlotte's face was blank, her apology numb, "I'm sorry, Uncle Thomas. The villa where Annie lived was burned down."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Thomas was struck silent by the enormity of the news, unable to speak for a long time.

Finally, he managed to find his voice, hoarsely asking, "She..."

But the words wouldn't come.

Charlotte kept muttering, "She might not have been the best mother, but she did love her kids. She really missed Annie, and now she's gotten her wish. That's a good thing, right?"

"Do you know, Uncle Thomas? She said she was fine, but how could it? I can't stand the pain from just a broken nail, and she was burned alive. How could she say she was fine?"

"I didn't bring her ashes back. I left them in the ruins. Don't blame me, Uncle Thomas."

"She and Annie are both waiting for me. We'll be together again someday."

"Stop, please stop," Thomas said with tears streaming down his face, pulling Charlotte into his arms like a father. "No more, my child."

Tears surged, and Charlotte finally broke down, "I've got nothing left!"

Thomas didn't know how to comfort her, all he could do was pat her back and say, "Cry, let it all out. It'll be alright."

Charlotte started bawling her heart out, screaming her lungs out.