The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 100

The phone barely rang before a clear voice came through.

"Uncle?"

Hearing her, Anthony felt his tension melt away. A small smile tugged at his lips, and his voice softened. "Why aren’t you home yet?"

Home.

He actually called it home.

That simple word sent a ripple through Charlotte’s heart. She stopped in her tracks, fingers tightening on her phone, eyes fixed on her toes, a shy smile playing at her lips. "Something came up. I’ll be home later."

No classes today. She couldn’t go back to the Main estate. She barely knew anyone in Cabinda. What could she possibly have to do?

"Do you need my help?"

"No."

Right then, she caught sight of a man in expensive clothes, his arm draped around a curvy woman, both stepping out of a hotel.

"Don’t wander off. Be careful. Call me if you need anything, alright?" Anthony didn’t push, just gently reminded her.

"Okay."

After her soft reply, she noticed the call was still connected. Anthony’s lips curled even more, his voice warm. "Next time, you hang up first."

She picked a secluded spot and sat down, pulling out the carton of milk Anthony had given her that morning. She poked in the straw and sipped, her cold gaze fixed on the man fidgeting not far away.

The last batch of medicine she’d used on him hadn’t been that strong, but the side effects were clearly lingering. He was running to the bathroom at least ten times a day now. If everything was going according to plan, Jesse wouldn’t last much longer.

Sure enough, a moment later, Jesse squeezed his legs together and hurried off to the restroom.

As soon as he left, his voluptuous companion plopped onto the couch, crossed her legs, and lit a cigarette. "Jesse is so gross," she complained. "Usually, he can hold out for fifteen minutes. Today it was barely ten, and he kept running to the bathroom. By the end, I could actually smell shit on him." She spat to the side, her face full of disgust. "If it wasn’t for that Hermès bag he promised me, I would’ve left, pants up and all."

Her friend burst out laughing. "Guys like him have weak kidneys anyway. Lasting ten minutes is already a miracle." She lowered her voice, glancing around. "I heard that back in the day, he even went after underage girls..."

The words made Charlotte bite down on her straw. The smile on her lips turned sharp and dangerous.