The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 33

Just as the bag was about to hit her, Charlotte stepped aside with easy grace. Olivia’s swing missed completely and she stumbled forward, nearly losing her balance.

“You dare dodge me?”

The bag hit the floor with a thud. Furious, Olivia raised her hand, aiming a slap right at Charlotte’s face.

Charlotte had always been the one to stand there and take it, never fighting back, just quietly enduring whatever Olivia threw her way.

But not today. Charlotte’s eyes narrowed. She caught Olivia’s wrist and, without thinking, twisted her arm and slapped her right back.

The smack rang out. Olivia’s head snapped to the side and she crashed to the floor.

“Olivia!”

Susan burst out of the house just in time to see Olivia hit the ground. She rushed over and helped her up.

Ever since Elizabeth brought Olivia home at age three, she’d been the family’s darling. Spoiled, protected, never scolded, let alone hit.

To be slapped by Charlotte, and in front of everyone…

“Charlotte, what do you think you’re doing?”

Susan dusted off Olivia’s clothes, then pointed straight at Charlotte, her face red with fury. “Looks like Steven was right about you. A few years in the countryside and you’ve turned wild. No manners at all.”

“You’re going to apologize to Olivia right now. And then let her hit you back.”

As soon as Susan said that, the other servants looked at Charlotte with pity. Susan had always been powerful in this house, right behind Steven, Elizabeth, and Olivia. She’d bullied Charlotte for years.

Now Charlotte had gotten on her bad side again. Who knew what would happen next?

Charlotte didn’t move. Her eyes glittered coldly, full of challenge.

Susan took a step closer, her finger almost poking Charlotte’s face. Her voice got louder. “Are you deaf? I told you—”

Before she could finish, Charlotte grabbed her finger.

The warning couldn’t have been more clear.

The maids and guards exchanged nervous looks before lowering their heads.

“I understand,” Susan stammered, nodding quickly.

Charlotte let go of her hand, then calmly pulled a disinfectant wipe from her bag and cleaned her hands, slow and unbothered.

Her face was totally calm, almost serene, but that only made her scarier.

Was this really the same scared, simple Charlotte from before?

She was different now. Completely different.

When she finished cleaning up, Charlotte tossed the wipe in the trash, then slid into the car.

“If Steven and his family want to settle this, tell them to wait until I get back tonight.”