The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 408

The angry shout bounced down the narrow hallway, sharp and impossible to ignore.

Charlotte spun around and saw Roger’s face twisted with fury. Her eyebrows knitted together. She wasn’t even sure where to start—how to explain what was happening, or what Anthony meant to her.

Before she could get a word out, Roger balled his fist and swung it straight at Anthony.

“Let go of her! Who do you think you are, touching her?”

Oh no. He thought Anthony was harassing her.

“Wait, you guys—”

But Anthony was faster. He pushed Charlotte aside, grabbed Roger’s wrist in one smooth move, and planted a solid kick into Roger’s side.

Roger didn’t stand a chance. The blow sent him staggering back and crashing into the wall.

Anthony’s face was stone cold as he closed in, towering over Roger. A chill smile tugged at his lips. “Who gave you the guts to go after my girl?”

As soon as he said it, something shifted in his eyes. He squinted, a little confused. The guy looked familiar. Wait… was that Roger?

He hadn’t realized it until now. Anthony froze, his anger melting away, replaced by an awkward tension.

Maybe he’d kicked him a little too hard.

Roger, clutching his side, managed to push through the pain. When Anthony stepped closer, Roger threw another punch.

This time, Anthony stood his ground.

The punch landed right on Anthony’s face. Blood immediately welled up at the corner of his mouth.

“Anthony?”

“That’s me,” Anthony answered. He leaned back against the wall, hands hanging at his sides, a small, unreadable smile on his lips. “Long time no see, Roger.”

Of the three Gates brothers, Kenneth and Anthony were the closest. The other two had met Anthony before, but they barely knew him. Roger spent so much time locked away in the lab that it made sense he didn’t recognize Anthony at first.

But why Anthony? Roger had only seen Anthony holding Lottie’s hand and immediately assumed the worst. And then Anthony had called Lottie his woman. The way he said it sounded way too intimate.

Lottie and Anthony—those two were from totally different worlds. How could they possibly be close like that? Was he imagining things, or had he just misheard?

Roger glanced at Kenneth, silently asking for help.

Kenneth averted his eyes. He knew just how protective Lottie was when it came to Anthony. She’d bite his head off if he so much as said a bad word about him. And now Roger had just messed up Anthony’s face.