Charlotte was still lying in bed, but she had lost all desire to sleep. Joan had managed to leave the monastery, and here she was, still stuck. How humiliating!After a while, Joan showed up, gently knocking on the door. She called out softly, “Charlotte, are you in there? I came to see you!” Her voice was clear, sweet, and unmistakably recognizable even after a whole year.Charlotte ignored her, lying there with an indifferent look. However, a small part of her felt a bit excited. Joan had been her closest friend in the monastery. Joan kept knocking for quite a while, but when no response came, she finally fell silent.Thinking she had left, Charlotte slowly got up, sat on the edge of the bed, and then walked to the door, opening it just a crack.“Hi!” Joan suddenly jumped right up to the door, startling Charlotte so badly that she almost lost her composure.“What are you doing?” Charlotte demanded loudly, genuinely surprised. She knew Joan had her fair share of mischievous antic
Joan thought that it had to be her fault, so she started feeling a bit guilty. After all, they had promised to meet once a month, and here she was—an entire year later. Rushing to make amends, she said, “I know it’s my fault. I've been wanting to see you this whole time, but my parents kept me under house arrest, and I just couldn’t get out. I didn’t want to text you about it either because I thought it might just make you feel worse.”“Oh, is that so? Well, I certainly haven’t blamed you. I wouldn’t dare,” Charlotte responded sarcastically, each word hitting its mark and leaving Joan speechless.Joan realized how hard it was to get through to Charlotte now. Her words felt like daggers, wounding Joan again and again. “Charlotte, if you keep talking like this, I’ll really get mad! I’ve always thought of you as my best friend, yet here you are, saying such things to me!” she snapped in frustration.Charlotte, however, remained unfazed. She calmly brushed her hair as she gazed blan
Joan quickly swallowed a few bites of food, then rushed to catch up to Charlotte. Why was Charlotte walking so fast?"Wait up!" Joan yelled, chasing after Charlotte like a child chasing her mother, persistent and unyielding. However, Charlotte did not turn back. She just kept walking, as if Joan was not even there. Joan followed her all the way to her room.Without waiting for her to enter, Charlotte closed the door, locking Joan out. Joan knocked on the door repeatedly, but Charlotte simply sat at her desk, sipping tea. Her gaze was dull as she glanced at Joan outside. She soon dropped her gaze again, ignoring her.Checking her phone, Charlotte saw yet another trending topic about Lucy and Matthew. 'They’re at it again, showing off their love! Off traveling every day, aren’t they?' Charlotte thought bitterly. Jealousy welled up within her as she zoomed in on the photos, scrutinizing Lucy’s face and then Matthew’s. These shameless lovebirds were living it up while she was stuck
“Matthew Leon, you’re impressive! You really got Luna cornered!” Koven said excitedly on the phone. It had been a long time since he had seen Matthew so dominant.Matthew chuckled lightly. “Not really. I’m just using her own methods against her! Since she loves to post so much, I’ll let her post to her heart’s content. She must be busy now! She wants to harm my son, insult my wife, and try to seduce me? She should take a look at her own standing! "Luckily, Lucy and the kids are fine. If she dares to lay a finger on them, I’ll make her wish she were dead!”Although Matthew spoke with a smile, his tone was powerful. He was not joking at all. He took his responsibility toward Lucy and the kids seriously—he was very dedicated to his family! This was what a man's responsibility was like! Some men might abandon their wives and children for other women, but not Matthew Leon! He held firmly to his duties; he knew what he should and should not do. No matter what, family was the most i
After learning the situation, Matthew strode to the gate and called out, "What exactly are you here for?"The group of men burst into laughter, doubling over and unable to contain themselves."So, you’re Matthew Leon? The world’s richest man, Matthew Leon, looks like this? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were a woman!" one of them sneered, causing the others to laugh even louder.Matthew did not get angry. Calmly, he asked, "Just tell me what you want.""What we want? Don’t you already know?" they taunted."First, our family has no ties to Luna Quinn. Her mother’s debts have nothing to do with us. Second, if you cause any more trouble, I’ll call the police," Matthew replied firmly, showing no hint of fear.He had dealt with far more dangerous people than these thugs before.However, the men were relentless, twisting the facts and insisting that since Lucy was a daughter of the Quinn family, it was impossible that Matthew and his family were not involved.Matthew expl
Matthew looked at the strong guards gathered in the courtyard, then glanced back at his wife inside. With an air of authority, he approached the group. "I invited you all here with a request. Over the next few days, I hope you’ll help watch over my family. There have been some petty troublemakers causing issues here recently, so I’m counting on you." He spoke seriously but with a note of humility.The men were all disciplined and orderly. They had already lined up even before Matthew arrived. After he finished speaking, they all responded in unison, "I understand!"In the time it took Lucy to finish washing her hair, Matthew had arranged everything for the household.According to the data, each guard cost over ten grand per day, and Matthew had hired more than a hundred of them, meaning daily expenses exceeded a million. However, to him, this was a trivial cost. As long as his family was safe, he would spare no expense.Against these kinds of thugs, he needed to take a firm stand
Joan could not believe it. Charlotte’s movements were so gentle now, a complete contrast to her earlier demeanor. She widened her eyes as she looked at Charlotte with fascination. A breeze passed by, blowing a few strands of Charlotte’s hair across Joan’s face."So sweet-smelling!" Joan thought, feeling a shiver run through her whole body. No other woman had ever moved her heart like this before. She closed her eyes, letting the stray strands tease her face."What are you doing?" Charlotte noticed her odd behavior and frowned.However, even when frowning, Charlotte looked stunning! Joan was so entranced that she did not hear a word Charlotte was saying. Her mind was filled with daydreams of going out and having fun with Charlotte. She was lost in a moment of bliss."Hey, wake up!" Charlotte tapped Joan’s chubby cheek, thinking she had hit her head when she fell into the garden.Startled, Joan let out a sudden cry, causing Charlotte to step back in surprise and accidentally fall to
Charlotte was well aware of the ruthless nature of the people in the monastery; she had experienced it firsthand, so she knew all too well. However, she was too lazy to concern herself with it. Engaging with them felt like a waste of her own time. Arthur had sent her here to be punished, and it would be soon enough before she returned to take her revenge on them. Here, only Joan was genuinely sincere toward her, yet Charlotte felt a surge of uncertainty within her. Despite the tenderness directed at her, her heart remained steadfast and unyielding."All done!" Joan wrapped Charlotte's hand in a layer of gauze, clapping her hands in satisfaction. "A job well done, right?" Charlotte did not feel like talking and could not even muster the energy to respond. She simply nodded lightly. Joan was thrilled, finally feeling acknowledged by Charlotte."What do you want to eat? I can order takeout. I'm free to come and go now!" Joan said cheerfully. The mention of food made Charlotte fe
As Gabriella examined the luxurious clothes, bags, shoes, and pants, she could not help but feel that Lucy was completely unappreciative of such treasures. She failed to utilize them to enhance her appearance! They spent quite a while going through the various garments and accessories, yet there were still items they had not finished checking out.Lucy gave an awkward smile, acknowledging her own laziness. After a long search, Gabriella finally found a piece that caught her eye. As she checked the tag, she was surprised to find that the dress was designed by a renowned French designer. It featured a V-neck, with simple yet elegant sleeves that revealed a hint of Lucy's arms, while the skirt was a refined and tailored fit.Gabriella held up the dress against Lucy, murmuring to herself, “Hmm, this one’s nice! You should try it on!” Even though she spoke to Lucy in a tone reminiscent of an older sister, she still maintained her authority as a mother-in-law. It made her words both
Since the previous incident, Lucy had become increasingly attentive to her children. She watched over them at nearly every moment. She feared that Charlotte might seize any chance to harm the children, so she remained vigilant and meticulous, avoiding any lapses. In her eyes, Matthew Leon and the children represented her entire world, and she could not afford even the slightest mishap.One day, Gabriella Sharpe visited their home. She arrived as lively as ever, wearing impeccably applied makeup that included an expensive shade of lipstick. Her appearance radiated the elegance of a woman of high social standing, making her stand out among the people on the street.Lucy welcomed Gabriella warmly, treating her with utmost respect. It created an atmosphere of family harmony. Gabriella settled into a chair, savoring the fruit that Lucy offered her. She held Johnny closely, reluctant to part with him. She showered him with compliments and laughter."Mom, you seem to be in a great mood l
Matthew noticed Lucy’s absent-mindedness and asked gently, "Lulu, what’s on your mind?"“Oh, nothing… I just think what happened to Charlotte is so sudden,” Lucy replied.“Don’t worry about it. It has nothing to do with us. She was always trying to harm you. Her fate is something she brought upon herself.” Matthew patted her head comfortingly.However, Lucy found it suspicious. Although the news reported Charlotte’s assassination and that the monastery had burned down to ashes, it did not mention her body. That kind of crucial detail would not have been overlooked by the media.Matthew had also considered this possibility, but he had kept it to himself to avoid alarming Lucy. Charlotte had been sent to the monastery because of him and Lucy, and she had to harbor a deep hatred for them. If she managed to orchestrate her own escape, what if she was now seeking help from Spades to target Lucy? That would be dangerous.“Lulu, don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to you or the ch
With nothing left to hold onto, Charlotte walked down the empty streets, her heart heavy with despair. She wore a black veil that covered her completely, revealing only her eyes. She even had on dark sunglasses. She dared not walk in the open or be seen, nor did she dare expose Juliana’s crimes to the world.She used to be a princess. Everything she had done, every privilege and indulgence, was backed by Arthur and Juliana’s love and permission. Now that her supporters had betrayed her, what right did she have to be reckless or demand anything? Surviving itself was a luxury. How could she even think of acting willfully?As she wandered in anguish, Charlotte found herself by the river. She remembered coming here with Arthur and Juliana when she was a child, laughing and walking along the bank. Now, each memory felt painfully ironic, and every kiss from Juliana seemed sickening. How could her world be so false? How could even the people she trusted most turn against her?Charlotte cou
Charlotte continued to hide within the castle, unwilling to leave and equally unwilling to let anyone know she was alive—unless they promised never to send her back to the monastery. However, she doubted that would happen, so she kept to the shadows. After all, the castle had plenty of food. It was far better than anything at the monastery.One night, Charlotte quietly slipped into Arthur and Juliana's bedroom. To her surprise, Arthur was not there, and only Juliana was present. 'Dad must be too upset to sleep,' Charlotte thought. She knew him well—whenever he was troubled, he would retreat to the study rather than go to bed.As she watched her beloved mother, a tiny bit of her resolve wavered. Juliana looked utterly exhausted, as if she had lost a lot of weight in just a few days. Charlotte had a sudden urge to go in and comfort her, but she knew that was impossible. Charlotte realized that seeing someone through a wall of separation was the most painful thing of all.Just as
The next morning, news of the assassination attempt on Charlotte was sensationalized across all media outlets. The internet was flooded with headlines about her close brush with death, sparking worldwide shock. No one could believe that Charlotte, notorious for her arrogance and harsh treatment of offenders, could have been targeted like this. Many who resented her strict, often cruel ways were both thrilled and stunned by the news. The royal family immediately tightened security at the monastery, dispatching a large police force to investigate what had happened. The monastery became a focal point of public intrigue.“What? That's impossible! How could there be no trace?” Juliana exclaimed in disbelief. Standing before her was the chief forensic investigator.“Yes, Your Majesty, there's no sign of Princess Charlotte’s remains,” the investigator confirmed firmly.“Fine, I understand. Leave me, and keep me informed if anything changes,” Juliana replied, pressing her fingers to her
As the footsteps came closer, Charlotte held her breath, not daring to make a sound. Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared—it was clear they were targeting her. She watched as the figure approached the bed, moving so quietly it was as if they made no sound at all. What could they possibly be planning? Surely, the headmistress would not go this far?The figure drew closer to the bed, bundled up the pillows and blankets, and then doused something over them. Charlotte could smell it—it was gasoline! Was the headmistress planning to kill her to silence her? She froze, unable to move. The shadow struck a match and dropped it onto the bed. In an instant, flames surged up from the blankets.In the fire’s glow, Charlotte could make out that it was not the headmistress but a man. After setting the fire, he quickly slipped away without making a single sound. Charlotte crept out while stifling a cough, afraid he might hear and return. The flames grew quickly, engulfing the bed and spreading t
Over the past year or so, Charlotte had gradually come to understand that the world was not just about picturesque landscapes and lavish feasts. In the shadows, beyond her sight, lay a world full of schemes and deception. Despite her ongoing attempts to plot against Lucy Quinn, she had not noticed this aspect at all until she arrived at the monastery. Here, she realized how dark human nature could truly be.The women at the monastery constantly criticized and belittled her, while the headmistress was corrupt, using her position for personal vendettas. She was also driven by greed for wealth and status. All Charlotte wanted was to escape this dreadful place and return to her castle. She wanted to go back to her plush, comfortable bed. There, she led a life surrounded by maids tending to her every need.Thinking of this, she remembered Lucy and envisioned her seated in her rightful place, basking in the affection of Arthur and Juliana. She could see Lucy's haughty expression starin
In a moment of heat, Charlotte blurted everything out. Joan was dumbfounded! Was this really Charlotte? She usually did not talk this much, did she? It was not just Joan who was shocked; the headmistress across from Charlotte was equally taken aback. Charlotte was usually so obedient. How had her tongue turned so venomous today? The headmistress was left speechless as every word Charlotte said was so reasonable that no one could argue against it, and it even warranted some compliments! Although Charlotte was confronting the headmistress, each of her statements felt like a plea for justice.Charlotte was not done yet and continued, “Since you know I’m a princess, you should give me some consideration. Yet, in reality, I’m the one giving you all the consideration. Is that reasonable?” Charlotte’s arguments were layered and logical, her thoughts clear. It left the headmistress in a muddle while Joan looked on with envy! The headmistress glanced at Charlotte, feeling quite displease