Cold Husband Burning Regret: The Divorce He Couldn't Handle novel Chapter 477

"Why should I trust you?" Charlotte asked, remembering how Zoe had teamed up with Tricia before. She couldn't afford to be naive.

"You don't have to," Zoe replied, her face unreadable. "I've said what I needed to say."

With that, she turned and left.

Charlotte’s brow was furrowed in thought. To run or not to run—it was a gamble.

Zoe rejoined the white bodyguards and walked into a large hall where Neely was dining with Hans. The boy was still wary and reserved around Neely; he never knew he had a father and a grandfather in addition to his mother.

Zoe glanced at Hans, realizing he must be Tricia’s son. She walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down. "I never thought you'd bring the boy here."

Neely placed some food on Tricia's plate. "Did you go see that girl?"

Zoe paused, then smiled. "Why not? She is my niece, after all. Can't an aunt show a little affection?"

"Feeling sentimental?" Neely gave her a knowing look. "She is Sean's daughter, after all."

The smile left her face. "She's not my daughter."

Neely just smirked.

Hans, feeling out of place amidst the adult conversation, quickly finished his meal. Neely ruffled his hair. "Good boy, Hans. Why don't you go play with the bodyguards? You can ask them for anything you want."

Hans nodded and took a bodyguard's hand, leaving the room.

Neely picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth. "I sent word to Sean. He should be showing up for his daughter, don't you think?"

Zoe's expression froze for a second, her hands tightening into fists. She said nothing.

Neely watched her reaction and smiled. "And it's all thanks to you that I know his precious daughter is the same little girl from all those years ago, isn't it?"

Zoe forced a smile, her face a mask of neutrality.

…

Night fell.

Charlotte began shouting from inside the room. Soon, a large man with an unfamiliar face and a local accent opened the door. "What's all the racket?"

"What the hell is taking so long?" The guard started banging on the door.

Charlotte's heart leaped into her throat.

When the door remained shut, the guard realized something was wrong and kicked it open. Charlotte held her breath and jumped.

"Son of a bitch!" Seeing the open window, the guard's face contorted in rage. He ran out, shouting, "She's escaped! The girl's on the run!"

The pond wasn't deep. When she landed, the foul water came up to her stomach. Ignoring the stench, she scrambled to her feet and plunged into the reed bed.

Behind her, she could hear them closing in.

"Quick, she went that way!"

Charlotte didn't dare stop. She had no idea where she was going, only that if she stopped, she'd never get another chance.

A low-hanging branch appeared out of nowhere. She didn't see it in time and tripped, tumbling down a small embankment and rolling to a stop at the edge of a road.