"Liam has been spoiled like a little prince since he was young. He has always been aloof and arrogant, not even treating Kenneth with such care."

Dylan teased Charlotte with a smile, "He was actually worried about you eating cold food."

Although he was smiling, the smile did not come from his heart, instead appeared a bit cold.

After watering the flowers, Charlotte brushed past him as she left, "You are a family. Brothers being so cold and distant, you should reflect on that instead of mocking me." She didn't eat much yesterday and was already hungry.

There happened to be some dishes she liked on the table, so Charlotte took a couple more bites.

As she was about to go for another bite, Dylan gently stopped her, "Take just a taste. Standing out with strong preferences isn't smart when you're in a major family." Charlotte thought about it and felt it made sense, so she put down her fork.

At this moment, a servant came in to report, "Miss Perry, a person claiming to be your father is waiting at the door. He refuses to leave no matter what and insists on seeing you." Robert?

Charlotte frowned, but then immediately understood.

So vicious was Chloe. Even if she was hospitalized with an infection, she wouldn't let Charlotte off easy. If she couldn't get out of bed herself, she would send someone else to harass her. Otherwise, how would Robert know she was staying here?

Charlotte got up and walked towards the door. Behind her, Dylan asked, "Do you need my help?"

"No need."

As Charlotte made her way to the door, she indeed spotted Robert squatting by the curb, his eyes lewdly darting around the area.

Seeing Charlotte step out, Robert's face broke into an eager grin, and he quickly got up and rushed over, dusting off as he approached, "My dear girl, when I heard you'd caught the attention of the Parker family's young master, I could hardly believe it. But here you are, actually living with the Parkers!"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

His eyes sparkled with avarice as he looked Charlotte up and down, finally settling on a grin that was all too ingratiating.

"My dear girl, I've been wondering where your mom's run off to lately. It's just me at home trying to take care of your little brother, and we can barely find enough to eat. Have a kind heart for your dad and send some money my way. I don't want to starve, you know?"

"I have no money."

"No money? With the mansion you're living in, you're telling me you have no money? Ha! Charlotte, you should count yourself lucky I'm asking you for help. But if you make me lose my temper, I might just make sure you end up staying nowhere!"

"I really don't have any cash," Charlotte said coolly, though inside she was so angry her nails were practically digging into her palms. "Aren't there people giving you money to spend? What's the deal, Chloe didn't offer anything for you today?"

"Why does Miss Beaumont matter!" Robert bellowed, his neck stiff with anger. "You heartless creature, as if causing your mom's death wasn't enough, it looks like you want to see your own dad starve too! Look, I'll spill all your dirty little secrets to the Parker family. Let's see if they'll still want you then!"

"You said my mom was missing, right? How do you know she's dead?" Charlotte fixed Robert with a steely gaze. "You knew what was out there all along, yet you still forced her to go. Robert, you're the one who killed my mom." Charlotte hardly ever used to call Maria 'mom', but ever since Maria died, that's the word that keeps coming out.

Robert saw how mad she was and just smirked. "You think I killed your mom? You got any proof of that?"

Her eyes were blazing like she could kill and tear Robert to shreds right now.

But there was no evidence to back her up.

Everything that could have served as evidence had gone up in flames with Maria in that fire.

"So you got nothing, huh? Sweetheart, you've got no proof, but I've got all I need to show you were with Maria flying off to Leiventale, then heading to that villa. The place catches fire right after you both enter and who walks out alone? Only you. If you're not behind Maria's death, then tell me, who is?"

Just a heads up: is the only place to read the complete version of this book for free. Don't miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey!

Robert's smile stretched wider, showing off his crooked, yellow teeth covered in black gunk, which was pretty gross.

"You don't hand over some cash, I'll spill the beans to the gossip rags, tell everyone you offed your mom!"

"Robert!"

Charlotte was seething with anger.

Charlotte was just too good-natured.

She actually thought that having Robert beaten up every day would count as punishment.

How could that ever be enough?

For a lowlife like Robert, only death would be a real punishment.

Charlotte took a few deep breaths, forcing herself to stay calm.

She couldn't show any weakness. Robert's visit was a test from Chloe. If she faltered now, she'd be facing Chloe's merciless backlash.

"Hand over the money. Now!" Robert's impatience was palpable.

In response, Charlotte coolly made a call in his presence, reaching out to Liam.

Liam had just gotten to his office, not quite settled into the day's tasks, so he answered promptly, "What's going on?"

"Do you think I could ever do something like kill my own mother?" Charlotte cut straight to the heart of the matter.

Liam paused, a moment of silence before his voice grew serious, "I trust you, Charlotte. What's happened?"

Just a heads up: is the only place to read the complete version of this book for free. Don't miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey!

"It's nothing. Just knowing you believe in me is enough."

Before Liam could ask any more questions, Charlotte abruptly hung up and fixed her gaze on Robert, who had been listening in greedily, "Go on, peddle your tales to the gossip rags. If Liam doesn't get involved, then I'll admit defeat." "You!"

Robert's face changed colors, "Trading your body for a man's protection, Charlotte, how did I ever spawn something as shameless as you!"

With a mocking sneer, Charlotte shot back, "When you cashed me into Liam for a cool half million, you were all too eager for me to charm him into opening his wallet. Now that I've got his attention and he's ready to bankroll me and keep me safe, you're suddenly upset?"

Robert's complexion turned the color of storm clouds. "Had I known you'd be such a disgrace, I would've snuffed you out the moment you were born! Useless, can't even bring in a penny, just endless burden. And you and that slut Annie, you managed to get your mother killed too!"

His repeated, contemptuous references to Maria and Annie finally made Charlotte lose her patience.

"I'm too busy to deal with you right now, so do yourself a favor and don't mess with me. Once I'm done with what I'm doing, you're done for."

"Ouch! Oh, the drama! What are you planning to do to your dear old dad, huh? After all the trouble I went through to raise you, this is how you repay me? By turning into an ungrateful wretch!"

Robert collapsed onto the floor, wailing and rolling around: "Why am I so unlucky? My eldest betrays me, my second daughter taken too soon, and my wife's death on their hands. What's left for me in this world?"

The shrill cries caught the attention of an elderly woman passing by, prompting her to halt and inquire with her attendant, "Who is that over there?"

"That's the young master's girlfriend, and the man on the ground is her father."

"Her father?" The old woman's eyebrows knit together. "He must be terribly wronged to make such a public spectacle berating his daughter for her lack of duty."

With a look of distaste, the old woman strode closer, raising her voice as she neared Charlotte, "Young lady, is this how you honor your father?"

Charlotte turned her head, recognizing the woman as Kenneth's unmarried sister, Pamela. But before she could even greet her, Robert was already pouring out his grievances:

"She's beyond rude completely inhumane and unfilial! Now that she's got a wealthy 'godfather', her own dad's chopped liver. Now that she's landed a good match, she's itching to kick her old man to the curb. I'm starving at home, while she's out here living it up, acting like I'm beneath her!"

Pamela's brow furrowed deeply as she took in Robert's words. Turning a sharp gaze to Charlotte, she rebuked, "Such behavior! Apologize to Your Father!