The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 425

Shirley grinned, her eyes nearly disappearing as she hugged Charlotte’s arm even tighter.

It only took about five minutes to get from the school building to the main gate. Parrish and Shirley were both pretty sharp. Charlotte just mentioned a couple of key formulas, and right away they figured out how to solve the problem.

The four of them stepped through the gates together. Once they got past the crowd, they turned onto a quieter street not too far away. A black Bugatti Veyron sat parked in the shadows, almost blending into the night. By the door stood a tall, striking figure.

As soon as Anthony spotted the group, his cool gaze softened, any trace of his usual sternness replaced by something much gentler.

“Anthony.”

“Anthony.”

“Anthony.”

Andrew, Parrish, and Shirley called out his name at the same time. The three of them stood lined up in front of Anthony, looking like obedient students waiting for a teacher to scold them.

Anthony nodded, but his attention slid right past them and landed on Charlotte. She was just standing there, hands in her pockets, lips pressed together. There was no real expression on her beautiful face, but something about her seemed off. Clearly, whatever Andrew had said earlier hadn’t sat well with her.

For a few seconds, nobody said anything. Then Anthony walked over, gently took Charlotte’s hand, and leaned in close, his handsome face just inches away. His voice was low, with a hint of a smile. “Why so quiet?”

“I don’t feel like talking,” Charlotte replied, her tone flat as she stared right back at him.

There was a chilly restlessness in her eyes, like she was holding something in and couldn’t find a way to let it out. She looked frustrated and a little hurt.

“That’s fine. We don’t have to talk,” Anthony said, smiling softly.

He couldn’t help feeling a little pleased. If Charlotte was upset because of something Andrew said, that meant she was jealous. And for someone as cool and proud as Charlotte to get jealous over him? Honestly, it felt kind of amazing.

“Don’t move,” Anthony murmured, moving in close until the tip of his nose brushed hers. He lifted his brows, voice dropping into a low, warm rumble. “Are you jealous?”

Jealous? Charlotte froze, her long lashes trembling as a flash of embarrassment flickered in her eyes.

“I am not!” she said, a bit too loudly, which only made it more obvious.

Anthony just laughed, the sound deep and soft. He knew better than to tease her too much. “Alright, you’re not jealous. I must’ve imagined it.”

But when she saw that smug grin on his face, Charlotte felt a wave of frustration and punched him lightly in the chest. “Are you done laughing?”

Did he really get that much joy out of her being jealous? He was getting way too cocky lately.