The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 626

Donald watched the two of them, close as ever, and couldn’t help frowning. Something heavy pressed on his chest, making it hard to breathe. The Gates family had gone through so much to find Charlotte, and now she was just going to get swept away like this? Did Grandpa know about this? Did their parents? Roger and Kenneth hadn’t tried to rough up Anthony for this? Lottie was only nineteen.

“I’m fine,” she said.

Anthony hadn’t expected Lottie to come right out and admit everything in front of Donald. He smiled a little and squeezed her hand, his voice gentle. “He didn’t mean it. Besides, I kicked him too. We’re even now.”

Charlotte didn’t say anything. She just stared at his swollen lip, her eyes growing darker. To be fair, that kick had not been gentle.

Donald could see the look on Charlotte’s face, like she was ready to settle the score. Suddenly, he bent over, pressing a hand to his chest with a low groan. “Didn’t feel much at first, but now it really hurts.”

It was starting to make sense. Anthony could have dodged earlier, but he’d stood there and taken the punch instead. Part of it was to even the score. The other part was to make Lottie worry about him.

Anthony looked at Donald, at a loss for words. He’d definitely met his match.

Charlotte blinked at both of them putting on a show. Then her phone buzzed in her pocket. She fished it out and checked the screen. Shirley and Stella were wondering why she hadn’t come back yet. Charlotte glanced at the time. She’d already been out for over an hour. She shot back a quick reply. I’ll be right back.

When she closed the chat, she noticed a bunch of messages from Kenneth and Samantha. She scrolled through, stopping at Samantha’s last one.

[Lottie, Donald has spent years searching for you.

This time, he only didn’t make it back right away because he was on a mission, right in the middle of a war zone. He wanted more than anything to see you first.

Donald looked up and saw Charlotte crouching in front of him, her index and middle finger resting on his pulse, her face serious as she checked him over.

Was she actually worried about him?

The realization hit him, and suddenly all the tension drained from his shoulders. He managed a small, relieved smile.

“No internal injuries,” Charlotte said, pulling her hand back. She gave him a look, half annoyed and half amused. “Quit faking.”

Anthony’s kick had been controlled. If he’d really gone all out, even someone with Donald’s training would have ended up stuck in bed for a couple of days.