The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1045

“Am I going to lose my mom again?”

Charlotte’s voice was so soft and broken that Anthony just scooped her up without thinking. He set her gently down on a chair, crouched in front of her, and pushed aside the messy bangs on her forehead. With his thumb, he stroked her cheek, his words barely more than a whisper. “You won’t.”

She looked up, her cheek pressed into his palm, just watching him, silent.

“Lottie, you’re Asclepius. You cured Grandma, and that was just as bad. We already have most of the meds for this genetic mutation. We just need to find the catalyst. Once we have that, everything will fall into place.”

He leaned in, pressing a kiss to her eyelids, his voice dropping even lower. “The X Organization, N Organization, even Solenia—they’re all working nonstop on the catalyst. We’ll figure it out soon.”

“Soon…” Charlotte’s smile was weak and a little hopeless. She let herself relax against him, her forehead resting against his chest as she murmured, “Anthony, you have to trust me.”

“I do. I trust you.” Anthony wrapped his arms around her, his hand stroking her hair. “Feeling a little better?”

“…Just a bit.”

She squirmed in his arms, curling up closer like a cat looking for comfort.

“What about now?” Anthony lifted her face and kissed her lips, twice, soft and teasing.

“Almost,” she said, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. She blinked up at him, sounding a little embarrassed. “I kind of lost it earlier and made a mess of the whole room.”

“It’s fine.” Anthony let her go, still smiling. “Sit down. I’ll take care of it.”

If they brought anyone else in to clean up, Robert would definitely find out.

Anthony got to work, picking up every item and checking it over before putting it back in place. Charlotte just watched him, her chin propped up on her hand, lost in thought.

“Samantha…” Kevin stood there, clutching his arm, looking totally betrayed.

He seriously needed to rethink why Samantha had even married him.

Samantha rushed to Nora’s bedroom. The door was half open. Standing in the doorway, she saw Nora right away, sitting up in bed with a glass of water. The sight of her made Samantha’s eyes go red.

Nora looked up at the sound, recognized her, and her eyes softened into a smile. “Come in.”

Samantha’s legs felt like jelly as she walked inside, her mind still buzzing. Only then did she notice there was a man in the room, too.

“You. Out.”

Franco, who was peeling an apple, paused and looked up, confused. “Me?”