The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 345

“Mmm.” Anthony’s reply was casual as he stepped out of the car, his long legs stretching beneath his suit pants. He glanced back. “We’re home.”

Charlotte placed her hand in his, letting him help her out.

“Watch your step, Charlotte.” Hans’s voice rang out, extra careful. Charlotte looked up lazily, her eyes narrowing with the tiniest hint of a smile. “Hans, you’re back already?”

“Charlotte…” Hans nearly lost it at her grin, feeling his heart skip a beat. In his mind, he was begging, please, just don’t praise me in front of Anthony again. The last time she said something nice about him, Anthony banished him to the desert for a week.

“You…”

“I’m fine, Charlotte, really… thanks for asking.” Hans cut her off, desperate, as if he could kneel for her right then and there.

Charlotte just laughed, obviously entertained. She lifted her chin and caught Anthony’s gaze, her voice low and teasing. “Hans got darker. And uglier.”

“He’s always been ugly,” Anthony answered with a crooked smile, taking Charlotte’s hand and leading her inside.

Hans let out a huge sigh, relief washing over him. He’d survived another day.

When the pair disappeared into the house, Andrew walked over, swinging Charlotte’s backpack. He glanced at Hans, curiosity in his eyes. “Did you do something to piss off Anthony?”

Hans wiped his forehead. “If you piss off Anthony, you’re dead. If you piss off Charlotte, you’ll wish you were.”

After a second, she added, I’ll take the Apex contract too.

Adonis replied, Got it. I’ll tell Jackson. He’ll go with you.

They definitely didn’t want her going alone.

“Okay.” She sent her reply, closed the chat, and tapped open a movie. The screen was still paused on a scene from before, the man and woman tangled together, lost in each other.

Charlotte frowned, reaching for the fast-forward, but a graceful hand suddenly appeared, taking the tablet right from her. Before she could react, Anthony’s tall frame leaned over her, his face so close it filled her world.