Two days flew by in a flash. Finally, Diana's concert began.
The audience filed into the hall in a neat and orderly line. Charlotte, escorted by Aaron and Ian, smiled happily with a sense of honor on her face. They had prime seats at the front of the stage, affording them a clear view of the proceedings."Chris is here!" Charlotte exclaimed suddenly, her gaze darting towards the passageway in surprise. Aaron and Ian followed her look, raising their eyebrows in unison. Chris stood alone, apparently not having reconciled with his first girlfriend as he had hoped. The music prelude began, signaling the imminent start of Diana's performance. The audience had already settled into their seats, waiting with bated breath. Charlotte, too, awaited eagerly, but she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.Turning her head reflexively, Charlotte scanned the dimly lit corner where the sensation emanated from, finding nothing amiss. Rows of spectators were seatIan's words immediately directed everyone's attention towards Charlotte.Chris was the first to inquire, "Charlotte, what's happening?"Aaron and Diana also approached her, their concern and curiosity evident in their eyes.Feeling uneasy under her siblings' scrutiny, Charlotte nervously clenched her fingers, hesitant to meet their gaze.Should she voice her suspicions? The person really did resemble Kingsley.But how could Kingsley be here at this moment? If she did mention it, would it lead to extensive investigations into Kingsley's whereabouts? Wouldn't that only complicate things for him?"Charlotte, you need to be honest with us," Ian urged, his expression serious. "The person we just saw is no ordinary individual. Their hacking skills are comparable to mine, indicating significant backing. Someone of such caliber showing up at Diana's recital and targeting you is concerning. This isn't something to take lightly."Ian'
While Charlotte was drifting into a daze, Kingsley made a sudden movement.He stepped back, pushed down the brim of his hat, and ushered her out of the bar.But when they reached the outside, Kingsley only whispered, "Take care," and prepared to leave.Charlotte quickly seized his arm, causing Kingsley to visibly flinch, looking back at her."Ah... Sorry..." she suddenly remembered that he despised physical contact.Although Charlotte felt a bit embarrassed, Kingsley's attention had shifted from her hand to the figures quickly encircling them from the shadows."Oh no!" Charlotte exclaimed in shock. It was her family's bodyguard! No wonder Chris and Ian hadn't chased her—they had covertly dispatched someone to tail her.Kingsley had evidently noticed them too. He withdrew his hand, ready to depart; he had no intention of revealing his identity to the Scott family so soon.However, Charlotte's warm, soft
Back at the hotel, Charlotte still felt as if she were floating, as if her feet unable to find solid ground.Kingsley had just... kissed her.The cool, pleasant scent of Kingsley's body still seemed to linger in her nostrils. She could still feel the heat and dominance of his kiss, the intensity with which he drew her lips and tongue.This was her first experience of this kind.When Kingsley kissed her, her body seemed to melt into water, completely devoid of resistance. Fortunately, Kingsley was restored to reason in time, and after the kiss, he escorted her back to the hotel.Charlotte lay on the bed, her face burning and even stinging a little. This was her first kiss, and she hadn't expected it to be so thrilling and unforgettable. She feared she would never forget the feeling of this moment.Charlotte pulled the covers up over her head, feeling too shy to face anyone. Imagining the person before her was Kingsley, the Kingsley she had always held in her heart, brought her a sense
Diana and Charlotte turned toward the door simultaneously, catching sight of Chris entering with a stern expression, trailed by Ian.Charlotte paused momentarily, then comprehended Chris's recent remark. She promptly rose to her feet and retorted loudly, "It's none of your business. I have the right to choose whom I love!""Chris..." Chris's sudden appearance caught Diana off guard, and she was unaware of how much of her conversation with Charlotte he had overheard.Diana's complexion slightly paled. Although she hadn't agreed to aid Charlotte in concealing Chris and the others, she didn't want them to be aware of Charlotte's involvement with Kingsley, especially under these circumstances.She took a deep breath, calming herself before continuing, "The crucial matter here is that Charlotte is in love with Kingsley of the Livingston family. You need to clarify why you implied that Charlotte shouldn't have feelings for Kingsley. Could it be that...""You investigated Kingsley, didn't yo
Late at night, Charlotte's cell phone rang, prompting her to glance at the screen and answer it quietly: "Hello? Carl?""It's not Carl," Kingsley's low, soothing voice came from the other end. "It's me.""Kingsley!" Charlotte's eyes instantly lit up, her surprise evident in her rising tone. "Why are you calling me? Did you get home safely? Have you been followed? And by the way, Chris and Ian seem to have picked up your trail; you need to be careful. Why don't you head back?"Her words spilled out rapidly, like pouring beans.Instead of impatience, a low chuckle emanated from Kingsley's end.Charlotte felt her head spinning, hearing Kingsley's magnetic voice. She must have been drunk! "I'm home safe and sound," Kingsley replied, a chuckle laced in his deep voice, resonating with Charlotte's eardrums. "As for Chris and Ian, I intentionally left a trail to distract them. Don't worry, they won't be able to track me. And remember to save this phone number; it's mine."Charlotte was bewil
The next day, Charlotte boarded a plane headed back home. When she disembarked, the sky was clear, and the winds were gentle.Charlotte was feeling buoyant, pulling her suitcase along, her white shoes tapping quickly on the ground. She knew that on the other side of the airport, the noble and composed Kingsley awaited her.As Charlotte strolled out of the airport, she checked her phone, scanning the area for Kingsley's car."Strange, I thought it was parked right here," Charlotte muttered.Just as she turned around, she collided into a warm, welcoming embrace. Kingsley's scent was instantly recognizable, and before Charlotte could utter a word, he silenced her with a finger on her lips."Shhh," Kingsley whispered, his eyes gleaming with joy. Charlotte nodded eagerly, her own eyes sparkling as they locked onto his.Kingsley was fully incognito, sporting a low-brimmed black cap and a matching mouthpiece that concealed his features. Despite thi
The following day, at the drama club."Hahahahahaha."Charlotte sat in the chair with her face in her hands, giggling nonstop.Beside her, Sherry looked at Charlotte, who was giggling, not knowing what she was thinking. She couldn't help but give Carolina a puzzled look and asked with her eyes, "What's wrong with her? Has she lost her mind?""I don't know. I was just away for a few days, and she came back from a trip abroad. Why is she acting so strangely?"Sherry and Carolina exchanged confused glances.Carolina suddenly stroked her chin, a brilliant light flashing in her eyes, and said, "In my experience, Charlotte should be in love!""Charlotte!" shouted Sherry, snapping Charlotte out of her reverie.She turned around, bewildered. "Huh? What's wrong?""Tell me honestly, what have you been through these past few days?" Sherry crossed her arms like a little bully and said aggressively, "Why are you smiling so stupidly? Are yo
With consistent practice, both Charlotte and Ben found their rhythm again and swiftly worked through the scenes slated for rehearsal.With some time to spare, Charlotte, not too occupied, rehearsed early at noon and then awaited at the crew's rest area.Just then, the staff began distributing boxed lunches.Charlotte was about to receive hers when Carl called out to her, "Charlotte, your lunch is ready and waiting in Kingsley's private lounge."Slightly taken aback, Charlotte thanked him with a smile and headed towards the designated area.Entering Kingsley's private lounge, Charlotte looked around with curiosity.The simple and sleek decorations matched Kingsley's always impeccable style.Several exquisite dishes were laid out on the table, kept warm on a hot plate.Not far off, a small table held scripts and documents.Charlotte approached, picking up the script and scanning through it, marveling at t
Time flied, and before everyone realized it, a year had gone by.During this time, Charlotte's life abroad appeared calm and routine. She woke up early every day for classes, diligently completed assignments, engaged in academic discussions with her classmates, and participated in various club activities. In the eyes of her friends, she was a positive and energetic girl.Only she knew deep down that she had been waiting, waiting for the one she loved so dearly, the prince who had promised to come back for her.Late at night, Charlotte often found herself sitting alone at her small dormitory desk, gazing out the window at the starry sky, feeling a lingering sense of loss and loneliness in her heart. She had asked herself more than once where Kingsley was and why he never wrote or called.On this sunny day, Charlotte went to the school library as usual, ready to work on an important paper. She sat by the window, her desk piled high with various referenc
Kingsley knew deep down that Charlotte wasn't that kind of person, but the beast suppressed within him was roaring uncontrollably, and the malice rooted in the marrow of his bones surged through him, causing even his blood to boil.His eyes turned cold and gloomy as he glanced towards Charlotte's siblings, emotions spiraling out of control within him.If without them...If...Kingsley suddenly felt a weight on his shoulders.He turned to see Freya's hand resting there, her expression hardened, eyes gazing up at him with concern.Charlotte pushed past Aaron and edged forward.Seeing Kingsley's obviously troubled eyes, her heart raced, her voice becoming raspy and hard to hear. "Wait... for me..."At the sound of her voice, Kingsley visibly froze, then the darkness in his eyes lifted abruptly as he stared into hers, his tone somewhat uncertain. "Charlotte? What's with your voice?"Charlotte's eyes reddened, but she bit her
On this day, Charlotte's siblings took her to the hospital to visit Kingsley at Derek and Emily's insistence.At the hospital entrance, Freya and Chris chatted as they walked toward Kingsley's room. Charlotte's footsteps behind them were eager, and Diana held her back, squeezing her hand to calm her.Charlotte glanced at her sister, understanding the concern in Diana's eyes, biting her lip to suppress the impatience in her heart.She couldn't be blamed for being eager; since witnessing Kingsley jump from the school building rooftop, she hadn't exchanged a word with him.Their closeness was stark, yet they were almost separated by life and death. The image of Kingsley jumping from the building was like a nightmare etched in her mind.Thinking about it brought back that choking feeling, making her breath quicken. She forced herself to endure it, following her siblings into the exclusive elevator that took them straight to Kingsley's floor.&nb
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the cracks in the curtains, spilling onto the carpet.Charlotte opened her eyes just in time to see Emily changing the water at her bedside. Emily was surprised when she noticed Charlotte waking up. "Charlotte, you're awake!"Charlotte nodded silently.There was a faint sound coming from outside the door. Charlotte glanced over, her expression puzzled. Emily explained beside her, "Ian and Diana are both back, and your father is outside interrogating them."Charlotte's expression shifted slightly at that news. She looked somewhat anxious.This matter was clearly her own problem, yet it seemed her father was pursuing it as if her brothers and sister were solely responsible, which felt unfair to them. The guilt inside her intensified as she thought about it.Seeing Charlotte attempting to get up, Emily quickly intervened, "Hey, Charlotte, don't move! Your injuries haven't healed yet!"As if sensi
The Scott family manor was brightly lit.After more than three years, the Scott family once again activated the first level of defense. The black-clothed bodyguards, who were early at the Scott family manor, stood firmly on guard, while the Scott family servants gathered in the hall and garden, heads lowered, waiting strictly.Vehicles neatly lined up and entered the gates of the Scott family, bypassing the open-air fountain and proceeding towards the main house.Chris's face was vaguely pale; he had learned from a phone call with Diana on the way that their parents had returned. Emily and Derek were already aware of everything that had happened.Judging by their current demeanor, one could see that Emily and Derek were genuinely angry. After all, they had kept the truth from Emily and Derek for so long, and now it was revealed after such a significant accident.Beside them, Charlotte remained silent and withdrawn. Her once clear and bright
It was hard for her to believe that the clean, even a little shy Kingsley she knew and the bloodthirsty, horrible person in front of her were the same person.She had always known that Kingsley's condition was serious, but it was only when she was confronted head-on for the first time that she realized just how horrible it was. Kingsley didn't even look like a normal person at this point."Kingsley!" Freya's expression changed; she became nervous and cautious as she slowly stepped forward. "Drop the knife and come here, let me see your wound."At this point, Theo's death was completely unimportant. If Kingsley is allowed to see more bloodshed or even directly kill Theo, I'm afraid his condition will worsen, and he won't be able to regain his sanity at all.In the face of Freya's coaxing, Kingsley did not react at all. Holding the knife in one hand, he pressed his other hand against Theo's neck harder and harder."Kingsley!" Freya was anxious, but she d
Outside the school, Charlotte was escorted to a waiting car. The vehicle was equipped with special materials, bulletproof and resistant to various thermal weapons. Even though the school's premises had been cleared of bombs, Theo had come prepared, and no one knew if he had any other plans lurking in the shadows. Chris wasn't about to let his sister take such a risk.The people at the school had no idea what kind of life-and-death disaster they had just narrowly avoided. They all emerged from the school, unaware of the danger they had faced. They got into various luxury cars and departed one after another. Originally, Carl wanted to wait at the door, but with too many acquaintances coming and going, he had no choice but to hide in the Scott family's car.Chris voiced his concern, "Are you sure Theo will keep his word?""Not entirely," Carl replied, taking off his gold-rimmed glasses and impatiently rubbing his brow. "But Kingsley had to take a gamble on whether Theo still had it in
When these words were spoken, all the bodyguards present were shocked. Theo was filled with disbelief."What did you say? You're going to declare war on me in the manner of the Livingston family?" Theo almost laughed out loud. "Do you know what you're talking about?"Carl's face hardened for a moment as well. "Kingsley, calm down!"Kingsley, however, paid no attention to him. He stared into Theo's eyes, showing no hint of hesitation or fear. He said, "I know exactly what I'm doing, so don't you dare underestimate me."This declaration made Theo's face darken, his expression obscure, filled with deep thoughts.Charlotte looked at Chris somewhat helplessly. She didn't understand what was happening. Was this a big gamble by Kingsley?Chris composed himself, looked towards Kingsley and Theo's confrontation, and softly explained, "The Livingston family has rules. Members can challenge each other when there are disputes or unavoidable conflicts. They fight one-on-one in a life-and-death due
Ben held Charlotte at gunpoint, then glanced at Theo, who sat calmly and inquired, "What do you want?""I know you plan to use her against Kingsley and the Livingston family. My request is simple: ten million dollars and a getaway car," Ben stated viciously."Oh? You're not seeking vengeance for your family?" Theo remained composed."I'm not naive! I know how to negotiate with someone like you for maximum gain. You never intended to aid in avenging my family, did you?"Theo chuckled softly. "Looks like you're still somewhat sharp, but... still an idiot!"At Theo's words, two black-clad bodyguards suddenly emerged, advancing toward Ben."Aren't you worried I'll kill her? Then you'd have nothing to hold over Kingsley!" Ben exclaimed in panic."Foolish! My aim was always to destabilize Kingsley mentally. If you did kill Charlotte, I'd owe you gratitude."Hearing this, panic flashed in Ben's eyes, and in his haste, he aimed his pistol at Theo.