Chapter 245
Lena’s eyes widened in shock at the pale, sickly face behind the door. “Lottie, what happened to you? You look awful!”
Charlotte gave a weak smile. “It’s nothing serious.”
Lena quickly stepped in and helped steady her. “I brought our family doctor. Let him take a look, just to be safe.”
“Okay.”
After the check–up, the doctor gave Charlotte an injection and prescribed more medication. He assured Lena she would be feeling better by tomorrow.
“That’s good,” Lena sighed with relief. “You’ll be well enough to enjoy the holiday.”
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That night, the city sparkled with lights and laughter. Homes glowed with warmth, and the air buzzed with the sounds of celebration.
Charlotte slept in, finally waking on her own.
When she checked her phone, she saw several missed calls from Desmond, Xena, and her close friends Mia and Lena.
They were likely calling to ask if she was feeling any better, or just to send their well wishes.
Charlotte called her father back.
“Lottie, are you coming for lunch? We’ll wait for you.”
She glanced at the time. It was eleven. There was still plenty of time to make it.
“Yeah. I’ll head over soon.
As the car entered the gated neighborhood and headed toward the Riley estate, a familiar Cullinan appeared in the distance. One glance at the license plate confirmed it. It was Sean’s.
The Jasper estate was right next to the Riley estate, so passing by it was unavoidable.
Charlotte’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. A wave of bitterness welled up in her chest.
Though dinner was traditionally the highlight of the day, the lunch at her family’s home was already a lavish spread.
Alongside some of Charlotte’s favorite homemade dishes, the table was covered with imported seafood–lobster, king crab, even coral trout.
Charlotte pulled out a small gift and handed it to Jodie with a smile. “Happy holidays! This is a little something from me.”
Desmond chuckled and handed both Charlotte and Jodie their gifts. “One for the little one and one for the grown–up. Everyone gets a holiday treat.”
Charlotte raised an eyebrow playfully. “I still count as a kid?”
Desmond laughed. “In my eyes, you’ll always be my little girl. As long as I’m around, you’re never too old for a holiday gift.”
Charlotte’s eyes welled with emotion.
“Since when did you get so sentimental, Dad?”
Xena smiled from the side. “He’s right, Lottie.”
The meal carried on with warmth and laughter.
After lunch, Charlotte took Jodie out to the garden for a walk. They chatted and strolled until Charlotte suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Across the hedge, standing in the yard next door, was a woman.
It was Lucinda.
Charlotte froze.
Jodie looked up, her big round eyes blinking in confusion. “What’s wrong, sis?”
Charlotte didn’t respond. Her entire body tensed, her eyes fixed on Lucinda, who had just noticed her and was now waving with a bright, sunny smile.
That smile felt like a blade.
Charlotte didn’t move. She didn’t wave back
Then Sean stepped out of the house. Lucinda turned to say something to him, then suddenly pointed in Charlotte’s direction,
Charlotte’s breath hitched.
Sure enough, Sean looked over.
Chapter 245
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For a moment, their eyes met.
The cold January wind sliced through her like glass, slipping into her collar and sleeves. It chilled her to the bone.
But Sean only glanced at her briefly before looking away like it meant nothing. He turned back to Lucinda, said something quietly, and the two of them went inside together.
He had brought Lucinda home for the holidays to meet his parents.
“Is this their way of announcing an engagement?” she wondered.
Charlotte stood there, her chest tightening, pain blooming across her heart like hundreds of tiny needles.
It had been almost a month since she and Sean broke up. She thought she had moved on.
But the moment she saw Lucinda standing in that yard, she realized that she hadn’t let go at all.
Chopte 346
