The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 202

"You little brat. Just because I'm older, you think I’m losing my mind..."

The voice on the phone was so quiet that Charlotte couldn't quite catch what was being said.

"Someone sent me a photo from a car accident scene... you were holding a girl..." Patricia sounded worked up, like she was about to smack something. "Is that the girl you like?"

Anthony fell quiet, his gaze suddenly hot and steady on Charlotte. She felt him watching her, and her chewing slowed down. She lifted her chin, and their eyes met. His were dark and smiling, and for a second, her heart skipped.

"Yeah," Anthony admitted softly. He picked up her milk, stuck a straw in, and held it up to her mouth. "Grandma, I was in a car accident. Shouldn't you be asking if I'm okay?"

Charlotte didn't have a free hand, so she just leaned in and took a couple of sips.

"Don't try to change the subject," Patricia huffed. "Anthony, if you like this girl and you're together, you have to treat her right. If you ever mess around, I'll break your legs."

"I know. I'll take care of her," Anthony said, his smile helpless. He pulled out a napkin and gently wiped the corner of Charlotte's mouth.

Take care of her? Her?

Charlotte blinked, thrown by his words. Just then, the car hit a bump. Charlotte lost her grip on her sandwich, and the slice of ham landed right on Anthony's light gray pants.

"You—"

The word slipped out before she could stop it. But through the phone, Patricia must have heard something totally different. The two of them together so early in the morning... making noises like that...

"Oh, you brat!" Patricia’s face went red, and she quickly pulled the phone away, flustered. "She looks so young. You better behave."

Anne, her housekeeper, smiled and shook her head. "Anthony will bring her home soon, ma'am. Don't worry."

"No, he'll just keep putting it off. Anne, do a little digging for me. We'll go sneak a peek ourselves." Just a little look.

Back in the car, Anthony finished cleaning off his pants just as they pulled up in front of the school. Right before Charlotte got out, he grabbed her arm, suddenly serious. "There are a lot of good-looking guys at this school, Lottie. Don’t let them trick you."

Charlotte hugged her backpack and gave him a look, raising an eyebrow. So he didn’t care about her grades, but he was worried about the boys around her? His intentions were way too obvious.

Vanguard High School, Class C.

Charlotte wandered in, sipping her milk, and dropped into her seat. She opened her bag, pulled out her phone to check the time, and right away saw a flood of new messages on the screen.