Ch. 1351..1360
Chapter 1351
Chapter 1351
Meanwhile, Zachary was at Southridge, instructing Rodney to deal with the Gymnasium Project's shareholder contract.
Suddenly, he received a call from Charlotte.
Surprised, he immediately accepted it. “Hello?”
“Just now, Sir Robert returned me the twenty billion investment fund.” There was a hint of shock and uneasiness in Charlotte's voice. “Did you do something?”
That took him by surprise. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, “When did that old man become so sensible?”
"What did you do?” Charlotte pressed. “Don’t do anything that'll affect you just for my sake. Although Nacht Group's position is stable, your reputation will be damaged if you threaten him and kick him out of the project. You'll even offend the royal family of F Nation.”
"Are you worried about me?” asked Zachary.
“I'm dead serious!” She panicked. “Can you be serious for once too?”
“I haven't done anything yet,” he replied succinctly. “Are you satisfied now?"
“What happened, then?” Charlotte was flabbergasted.
“Perhaps, someone advised him.” Zachary already had a guess. “However, you don't have to bother yourself over it. What matters now is that the problem is solved.”
“Who advised him?"
“I already said that you don't have to bother about it,” he insisted adamantly. “Just focus on yourself.”
Slightly infuriated, she replied, “Fine, as long as it wasn't you who did it. I don't want to owe you a favor.”
“You owe me plenty of favors.” Zachary's anger surged when he heard that. “Even your life is mine!” "You..." Charlotte was rendered speechless. “I can't even be bothered to speak to you!"
With that, she ended the call.
Displeased by her attitude, Zachary frowned. A second later, he lifted his gaze and instructed Ben, “Tell Mr. Williams that he doesn’t need to come over anymore.”
“What about the shareholders?” asked Ben.
“The plan remains the same.” Zachary placed his phone down. “Even if we don't kick that old man out of the project, we must still intimidate him.”
“Understood.” Ben immediately went to inform Rodney.
Then, Zachary picked up his phone, searched for Nancy's number in his contacts, and dialed it. “Ms. Gold, why don't we meet at six in the evening at Seacrest Restaurant?” he asked when she answered the call.
“Sure, Mr. Nacht!” Nancy agreed happily before asking, “You won't stand me up again, right?”
“Il won't." He smiled slightly. “Send me your address, and I'll pick you up.”
"Okay, I'll send it to you now.”
After hanging up the call, Nancy sent him her address.
As instructed by Zachary, Ben quickly made the arrangements and asked, “Ms. Gold was the one who advised Sir Robert, right?”
“Even you guessed it?" Zachary smirked. “She's a smart woman.”
“Impressively, her cleverness isn't annoying,” Ben said softly. “By advising Sir Robert, she managed to make him return Ms. Lindberg’s funds in time while making it unnecessary for you to intervene. That's killing two birds with one stone.”
"What's her objective in doing this?” Zachary was analyzing the situation. “Does she want both me and Charlotte to owe her a favor?”
“There's probably one more reason,” suggested Ben. “Because of Ms. Lindberg, you've already stood her up thrice. Furthermore, it's always Sir Louis and Sir Robert troubling Ms. Lindberg. By doing this, she can put an end to it.”
“Indeed. She has put in a lot of thought into this,” replied Zachary flatly.
“Ms. Gold really likes you,” Ben remarked while observing his expression. “Do you..."
Zachary nodded. “She's a nice woman, astute but bears good intentions. Moreover, she’s very thorough with whatever she does too. It's almost impossible to hate her. Well, we can be friends.” “Then...”
“I should still clarify it with her so that I won't waste her time.” Zachary placed his phone down and massaged his temples tiredly. “I'm going to rest now. Remember to plan tonight's meeting well.” “Understood.”
Chapter 1352
Chapter 1352
Recently, it had been extremely easy for Zachary to feel lethargic. Although he had just woken up in the morning, he wanted to take a rest again.
Noticing how his health had been deteriorating, Ben could not help but feel concerned. If we still can't find Francesco, I'm afraid that...
At that thought, he was ridden with worry. After making the rest of the arrangements for Zachary and Nancy's meeting in the evening, he was thinking of calling Bruce when Lupine’s call came in. As she had asked to meet him, he had no choice but to delay the call.
Due to the lesson from last time, Ben became much warier and kept reminding himself not to let her pry out information from him.
Meanwhile, before Lupine left, Charlotte exhorted her repeatedly, “Remember what I said! You must dig out the truth from Ben.”
“Understood.” Lupine nodded.
"Go on, then.” Charlotte gestured for her to leave, and she hurried out.
Ever since Charlotte discovered by chance that Zachary would lose his sight intermittently, she had suspected that something was wrong with his health. Although she had sent Lupine to investigate it, she did not find anything.
When she met Zachary earlier that day, she thought he looked rather pallid. Even his eyes seemed clouded. At that observation, worry gnawed at her.
Hence, she instructed Lupine to ask Ben out and fish for some clues.
Although Lupine was brilliant, she could not compare to Ben. With that in mind, Charlotte taught her a method and told her to act as instructed.
Ben and Lupine arrived at the agreed-upon meeting place simultaneously.
After getting into his car, she passed him an apple.
“Thank you!" Delighted, Ben took a bite of it.
Seeing how happy he looked, Lupine felt conflicted. Although he seemed like a capable man, he was actually easily coaxed. She promised to bring him some homemade food but only got him an apple as she did not have the time to cook. Yet, he was still contented with it.
“Thank you for today,” said Lupine. “Sir Robert is simply too much. We were already prepared to take action, but we didn’t expect Mr. Nacht to rush over and solve the problem.”
"Although their relationship is very tense now, Mr. Nacht still cares about Ms. Lindberg deeply. He won't ignore her if she’s in trouble,” said Ben seriously. “If anything happens in the future, you must inform me in time. If we hadn't spotted Sir Robert's car while descending the mountain, things would have been messy.”
“Ms. Lindberg doesn't want to be indebted to Mr. Nacht.” She sighed. “I think that they care about each other deeply too. It's really pointless for their relationship to remain like this.”
“I understand where Ms. Lindberg is coming from, though. After all, the Nacht family has harmed her greatly in the past. Family grudges can't be forgotten so easily.”
He added, "However, from another perspective, she should put the past behind her now that Mr. Henry is dead, and Zara and the Blackwoods have fallen from grace. Furthermore, since Mr. Lindberg is missing now, the two families should join forces and work together.”
“That's what I think too. It's just that Ms. Lindberg has too many concerns. Perhaps, they just need more time. Let's take it slow,” she remarked woefully.
“We can't take it any slower,” Ben blurted out. “Time won't wait for us.”
"What?" Lupine shot him a puzzled glance.
He explained hastily, "Oh, I mean that the children are growing up, and they need their parents’ love. Plus, Lindberg Corporation is in a crisis now, and Ms. Lindberg needs Mr. Nacht's help. We should think of a way to reconcile them.”
“You're right. That's what I had in mind, too,” she concurred.
“Great!” Ben was delighted. If Lupine were willing to cooperate, it would be much easier.
“I need to leave in ten minutes.” Lupine glanced at her watch. “Dr. Langhan is coming over later.” “Raina? Is she going to treat Ms. Lindberg’'s wound? How is her recovery going?”
In response, she sighed. “Not great. It's been hurting terribly for the past two days. I even have to help wash her face in the morning.”
Chapter 1353
Chapter 1353
“The wound is too deep.” Frowning, Ben took out his phone and said, “I'll ask Raina to prepare some painkillers.”
“It's fine,” said Lupine quickly. “We've got some at home.”
"External injury takes some time to heal. It'll probably become better in a few days,” he reassured. “Raina is a talented surgeon, so dealing with this should be a piece of cake for her.”
“The thing is, Ms. Lindberg is more used to traditional medicine. If only Dr. Felch is still around.” “Yeah, if only Dr. Felch didn't die...”
Ben was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. If Dr. Felch is still around, Mr. Nacht's illness could've been cured.
“It'll be good if Mr. Lindberg is around too.” Lupine sounded despondent. “His friend, who's a doctor, is very skilled too.”
"Are you referring to Francesco?” asked Ben immediately.
"Yeah, Francesco.” She nodded and said, “Whenever Ms. Lindberg fell ill in the past, she would always go to him, and she'd be cured in no time.”
“Are you still in contact with him?” he asked tentatively.
"We aren't, but Sean probably is,” she replied in a nonchalant tone deliberately. “If Ms. Lindberg's wound doesn't heal in a few more days, I'll call him.”
“Are you talking about Sean Lowe?" asked Ben hurriedly.
“Yeah.” Lupine nodded.
Excitement coursed through his body. How could I've overlooked this? Since Francesco is a close friend of Mr. Lindberg, Sean, his assistant, would probably be in contact with Francesco. Ms. Lindberg would most likely be able to reach Sean... In other words, if we contact Sean, we can find Francesco!
Glancing at her watch, Lupine said, “Time's up. I've got to go now.”
"Okay." Ben got out and opened the car door for her.
After getting out of the car, she said, “I'll go back first. It's going to be a busy day today, so I'll contact you tomorrow.”
"Okay. Take care of yourself!” He reminded her gently.
Nodding, Lupine walked away briskly as she knew Charlotte was still waiting for an update from her at home.
If Ben contacted Sean, it meant that something was wrong with Zachary's health.
Ben watched Lupine until she disappeared from his line of sight. Inmediately, he started the engine and drove back, intending to tell this piece of good news to Zachary. It might be possible for them to find Francesco through Sean.
At the same time, Lupine rushed home and headed directly to Charlotte's room.
“Ms. Lindberg!” She knocked on the door and entered the room, still breathless.
"How did it go?” Charlotte poured her a cup of hot tea. “Sit down and tell me.”
After taking a sip of tea, Lupine said while panting, “I followed your instructions. Initially, he refused to divulge any information. But when I mentioned Francesco, his eyes immediately lit up. Even his gaze changed. I could feel his eagerness to contact Francesco, but he held himself back at the most critical moment. If something bad actually happened to Mr. Nacht, he'll probably contact Sean soon.”
Upon hearing her recount, Charlotte pursed her lips, her face turning grim.
I should've realized this long ago. Zachary lost so much weight in the brief span of two months. Even his complexion has worsened. If he had only suffered a minor injury, he wouldn't have been in such a terrible state.
At that thought, she tried to make a guess. Does he have a terminal disease? But that seems rather unlikely. After all, none of his ancestors had a medical history of cancer. Even Henry lived till ninety- eight years old. Why would he fall ill then?
Moments later, Charlotte shook off those thoughts and decided to figure out Zachary's condition as soon as possible. Only then could she think of a solution.
Considering how prideful he was, she did not know how long he would put on a tough front and pretend to be fine.
“Ms. Lindberg,” Lupine asked softly, “what should we do now?"
“Tomorrow is the memorial service for Dr. Felch, so I'll make a trip to Mount Phoenix.” Charlotte quickly made a decision. “We'll know the outcome by then.”
Chapter 1354
Chapter 1354
“I understand now.” Lupine had a sudden revelation. “If Mr. Nacht has a terminal disease, he must have looked for Dr. Felch before. In that case, Hayley and Sam would definitely know about it.” “Yeah.” Charlotte had mixed feelings. “No wonder he kept looking for Dr. Felch while avoiding me. Furthermore, it seemed like Dr. Felch had an unfulfilled wish before taking his last breath, judging by how he kept grabbing Zachary's hand.”
"Since we haven't verified this, don’t worry yet, Ms. Lindberg. We might be overthinking things,” consoled Lupine. “Mr. Nacht has such a strong physique. He doesn't look sick.”
“Let's go to Phoenix City tomorrow first.” Charlotte changed the topic. “Arrange the private jet while I call Hayley.”
“Okay.” Lupine nodded and asked, “Are we bringing the kids along?”
“It's a long journey, so let's not bring them along. You can just follow me there.”
“All right.”
Lupine immediately left to make the arrangements.
At that moment, Morgan stalked in furiously. “I'm so upset!” she grumbled.
"What happened?” Charlotte frowned as she looked at her.
“I thought that Mr. Nacht is a loyal man, but I didn't realize that he’s such a playboy!” exclaimed Morgan indignantly. “He instructed Marino to pick Nancy up just now!”
“They might be discussing business matters.” Lupine glanced at her and chided, “Stop overreacting!” “I'm not!” Still vexed, Morgan explained, “You only claim that I'm overreacting because you don't know what they've done! They booked the entirety of Seacrest Restaurant and even sent people over to decorate it. Isn't that a date?”
Lupine quickly shot her a look, signaling for her to stop talking.
"Why does that matter?” Charlotte remained calm. “I had already broken up with Zachary a long time ago. Isn't it normal for him to date someone else?”
“But—" Morgan was about to say something when Lupine pinched her. Only then did she return to her senses and say, “Fine, I was just being nosy.”
"You're beyond nosy!” Lupine growled furiously. “If Mr. Nacht finds out that Marino revealed his tasks to you so easily, Marion would be doomed.”
“Um...” Stunned, Morgan quickly explained, “He didn't tell me. I-1 overheard it by chance. Ms. Lindberg, he didn't—"
“That's enough,” interrupted Charlotte. “The kids are going to wake up from their afternoon nap soon. They want to eat at Fairytale Land with Robbie, Jamie, and Ellie. Go and prepare for it." "Okay." Morgan left hurriedly. Before leaving, she even shot a pleading look at Lupine, asking the latter to explain on her behalf.
Lupine waved her hands, urging her to leave quickly.
When the door closed, Lupine consoled Charlotte, “Ms. Lindberg, please don't be bothered by what Morgan had said. I think Mr. Nacht is only meeting Nancy for the Gymnasium Project. It's definitely not a date! He even stood up for you this morning.”
"Whatever," said Charlotte flatly. “He can date whoever he likes, and it's none of my business. Furthermore, since he can still date girls, it means that his illness isn't severe. I don't have to worry about Robbie, Jamie, and Ellie no longer having a father.”
Feeling awkward, Lupine was at a loss for words.
"All right, you may leave. I'll call Hayley.”
"Okay."
While Lupine left silently, Charlotte grabbed her phone. The look of indifference on her face was gradually replaced with a solemn one.
She was both worried about Zachary's health and his date with Nancy.
If she had to make a choice, she would rather he remain healthy. As for their relationship, she had come to terms with it.
Perhaps, this was their fate.
Letting out a sigh, Charlotte called Hayley.
Upon hearing that she was planning to visit tomorrow, the latter was delighted and told her to take her time since the memorial service would be held at night.
Chapter 1355
Chapter 1355
After ending the call, Charlotte started packing for her trip to Mount Phoenix on the following day. Just then, her phone rang. Seeing that it was from an unknown caller, she was about to reject it until she noticed the last few digits of the number and decided to pick it up. “Hello?”
“Charlotte?” An attractive voice sounded from the other end of the line. “Is that you?” the man asked tentatively.
Charlotte was stunned for a moment before realizing who it was. “Michael?”
“It's really you! That's great!” Michael was so excited that he started speaking incoherently. “I thought I would never be able to see you again. I really didn't expect... Where are you now? Can we meet up? I just returned to H City.”
“I...” She paused to think for a moment and decided not to tell him her address at Northridge. "Where are you staying at? I'll go to you instead.”
“I'm staying at Skyview Hotel.” After replying, he hastened to ask, “Charlotte, is it far from you? I can pick you up.”
“No need,” she responded, glancing at her watch. “I'll see you at the hotel's restaurant in an hour.” “Sure, I'll be waiting. See you later.”
“Mhm.”
Hanging up the phone, Charlotte ordered Lupine to get the car ready and set off for Skyview Hotel to meet Michael right away.
On the way down the mountain, she saw how the sunset gave a beautiful orange tinge to the sky and illuminated the forest.
Charlotte gazed at the glorious scenery outside with narrowed eyes as memories of the past came to her mind
After dating Hector at a young age, she was entangled with Zachary by accident, followed by Louis. Throughout all the events, Michael had always been her constant friend.
Back when she decided to get engaged to Hector, Michael left for overseas and was unreachable for five years. Subsequently, she got together with Zachary, breaking his heart again.
Later on, because of Hector and Helena's incident, which caused the Brown family and the Sterling family to get into trouble, Michael returned to settle some matters. After that, she lost touch with him again.
Even when Charlotte and Zachary got married, the man did not return. He also did not show up when she was in deep water.
Yet, he returned all of a sudden.
Even though Charlotte did not know the reason for Michael's return, he would always be her most trusted friend.
“Ms. Lindberg, I did some investigations just now. After her act of conspiring against Luna was exposed, Helena was jailed and has likely been released recently. My guess is that Mr. Brown is here to bring Helena back to M Nation,” Lupine reported while handing over her findings to Charlotte. Charlotte frowned after browsing through the information. “Helena was the one who instigated the men to rape Luna and even tried to kill people to keep a lid on that matter. How is it possible that she’s only jailed for twenty-seven months for committing such a heinous act?”
“The Brown family must have pulled some strings for her to be released early,” Lupine replied. “I checked the previous records. She was supposed to serve a thirteen-year sentence.”
Charlotte remained silent, the crease between her brows deepening. She was considered a witness for the crime back then and was even threatened by Helena. If it were not for Zachary, she would have been killed.
However, as she was unable to betray her conscience, Charlotte still ended up testifying against Helena.
I suppose she must hate me to the core.
“Do you think Helena is also staying at Skyview Hotel?” Lupine asked, frowning. “If she's there, it would be awkward for you two to meet.”
"Given Michael's considerate nature, he will ensure that we don't bump into each other,” Charlotte said confidently. “Besides, even if we do meet, Helena should be the one feeling awkward. She's the vicious one who did terrible things, not me.”
“That makes sense.” Lupine nodded before continuing, “Oh, while I was investigating Helena, I also looked into Mr. Sterling's situation.”
"Hmm?" Charlotte turned to look at her.
“Mr. Sterling received a two-year sentence and was released a few months ago,” Lupine said softly. “It's not known if he has contacted anyone from the Brown family. I remember that when he got into trouble back then, his parents migrated to Caspardion with his son, Timothy.”
Chapter 1356
Chapter 1356
“That kid is quite pitiful...” Charlotte could not help but feel sorry for Timothy. “He's the same age as Ellie, yet he has already experienced the dark side of humanity. I'm afraid that he would be deeply traumatized by what had happened.”
"Yeah, I heard that he stabbed Helena with a knife at the wedding,” Lupine said regrettably. “Was he only four years old back then?”
“Mm.” Charlotte sighed and said, “A four-year-old kid is supposed to be innocent, not ridden with hatred.” At the end of her sentence, she let out another sigh.
“News about that incident can still be found on the internet,” Lupine said softly. “Photos and videos of it are also still available.”
"After the Sterling family’s downfall, they probably could not afford to have all traces of it removed from the internet.” Shaking her head, Charlotte smiled bitterly. “I'll let you handle it. Wipe out everything related to that boy. Otherwise, he may be triggered if he chances upon them after growing up.”
“Sure,” Lupine replied, dealing with the matter right away.
As the two of them chatted, the car soon arrived at Skyview Hotel.
It was a five-star hotel that only started operating a few years back. As it was situated near the coast of the South Sea, guests had access to a vast sea view through the windows.
Recalling Morgan's mention of Zachary and Nancy's date, Lupine remarked, “I think Seacrest Restaurant is just nearby.”
“That's none of our business,” Charlotte replied in displeasure. “Stop gossiping about others.”
“Yes.” Lupine quickly lowered her head and did not dare to speak any further.
“Charlotte?”
Charlotte looked up, searching for that familiar voice that she had just heard. Then, she saw Michael standing at a distance. He was looking at her excitedly.
“Michael!” Overjoyed, Charlotte quickly strode toward the man. “It's been such a long time! You... You look so different!”
Michael used to look like a dreamy artist, spotting long hair with a slender figure and a melancholic look. However, he had gotten a haircut and was wearing a suit, looking absolutely dashing and sharp.
A calm and composed look also replaced his usual sorrowful gaze.
“Two years ago, because of what happened to Helena, my uncle's company was seized. My dad was so upset that he fell ill, so I had no choice but to step up and take the helm.”
Michael was overwhelmed with a myriad of emotions when he saw Charlotte.
“Back then, my family forced me to break off all ties with the outside world and had me learn the ropes in seclusion. That was why I couldn't attend your wedding and was unaware that you were in an accident... I'm so sorry.”
"Please don't say that.” Charlotte felt guilty. “You have always been there for me, helping me whenever I'm in deep water. However, I have never done anything for you. That incident was my own predicament, and it was something I had to overcome by myself.”
“I've heard so much about the second-largest shareholder of Lindberg Corporation, who is rumored to be an extremely charismatic lady. I've never expected that person to be you!”
Michael got increasingly emotional as he spoke. “I've been busy with doing business in Dartan in recent years and did not have time to find out what's happening in the corporate world here. That was why I missed out on your news. When I got back this time around, I heard my friends mentioning that lady by chance, but they couldn't be sure if it were you. I used all means to get your number and tried to contact you, but I did not expect you to really...”
At that, he paused and hugged Charlotte tightly before continuing, “Charlotte, I'm so glad to see you again. I'm so happy!”
"Me too."
Charlotte returned his hug as warmth filled her heart. Even though they had gone through their fair share of tribulations in life, Michael never changed, so was the pure and genuine friendship they shared.
“It's really windy here. Let's chat inside.” Michael put his arms around her shoulders as they entered the hotel together. “Charlotte, how did you become the second-largest shareholder of Lindberg Corporation?”
“Actually, I'm no longer a shareholder there.” She let out a bitter laugh and continued, “But I'm indeed a Lindberg. My name is Charlotte Lindberg now.”
"What happened? How have you been doing for the past two years?” he asked in concern. “Didnt you marry Zachary?”
“It's a long story..." Charlotte proceeded to summarize her life over the past two years to him.
Chapter 1357
Chapter 1357
After hearing Charlotte's account, Michael was shocked. “So, it turned out that your mom is Mr. Lindberg's aunt? I once heard from my father that she used to be a legend in the business sphere.” "Oh? Mr. Brown knows about my mom?” She was surprised to hear that. “No one told me that my mom was a businesswoman. I thought she wasn't involved in the family business at all.”
“That's not possible,” he replied with a look of admiration on his face. “Everyone in the Lindberg family is a business whiz.”
“Danrique hasn't mentioned it before.” Charlotte's heart sank at the thought of her cousin.
"Am I right to assume that the legendary Mr. Lindberg is your cousin?” Michael asked. “I've heard stories about him. The word is that he has a god-like presence, so I'm sure he'll return safe and sound.”
“Mm.” Charlotte nodded before changing the topic. “Michael, how have you been for the past two years? Is your company doing well?”
“I'm all right. My business is doing well too,” he replied, smiling. “You know that I have zero interest in business, and I lack confidence in it. However, I had no choice but to try as I couldn't bear to let the business, which my dad had painstakingly built up, tumble.”
“You're too humble. Results have already proven that you're a genius in business,” she joked. "Seems like you've inherited the talent of a businessman from your dad.”
Michael laughed heartily. “I've been hearing that a lot, but I've only taken it as flattery. But coming from you, it makes me really happy.”
“I'm just glad that you're happy,” Charlotte replied sincerely. “I'm also happy to see that you're doing so well.”
“Do you have any plans?” he asked, fixing his gentle gaze on the woman. “Are you planning to continue being involved in the corporate world? Or are you intending to lead a peaceful and quiet life?”
“I want to find Danrique first,” Charlotte said with a hint of sorrow in her voice. “I have a feeling he's still alive...”
“He's such a capable man, so I'm sure he's still alive,” Michael comforted her. “I'll try asking around to see if I can find out anything too,” he then offered.
“Thanks,” Charlotte replied with a faint smile. “How long are you intending to stay here this time round?”
“I had originally planned to leave tomorrow night,” Michael replied. Deciding to be frank with her, he confessed, “Helena has been released from prison, and I'm here to bring her home.”
“I see.” Charlotte did not ask any further, choosing to stay away from any matters related to Helena. Even though that woman never harmed her, she insisted on distancing herself from such a vile person.
“I know you don't like her. In fact, even I resented her back then for committing such an unforgivable act. However, I can't just ignore her as she’s still my cousin, after all.”
With a sigh, he continued, “Since my dad is more than a decade older than Uncle Steven, he’s like a father figure to him and took great care of him since young. My uncle had originally led an average life, but with my dad's help, he managed to gain both status and wealth eventually. After Helena took over the family business, the company expanded due to her good business acumen and strong capabilities. I really did not expect her to lose her mind over love.”
Michael paused and heaved another sigh.
"However, regardless of what had happened, she has already received the punishment she deserved. My dad has asked me to bring her back to M Nation. With us watching over her, I don't think such an incident will ever happen again.”
“I hope so,” Charlotte simply replied
The man cleared his throat awkwardly and diverted her attention with a question. “Are you still in touch with Hector?”
“Nope.” She shook her head. “I have stopped contacting the people from my past after assuming my new identity. I don’t think he even knows that I'm back.”
“That's quite likely.” Michael nodded. “Given his current circumstances, he probably won't have access to any information in the higher social class within the corporate world. If that's the case, he probably wouldn't know anything about you too.”
“Let's not talk about the past anymore. It's all water under the bridge. Likewise, there's no need for me to meet people from my past again,” Charlotte said with a sigh. “It's better for us to go on our own paths.”
Chapter 1358 Fallen Object
Chapter 1358 Fallen Object
“I suppose.” Michael nodded before asking, “What about me then? I'm also someone from your past. Do you intend to cut me off as well?”
“You're different,” Charlotte replied, gazing at him gently. “No matter what happens, we'll always be friends!”
“I'm glad to hear that.” Feeling guilty, he said, “I used to be really willful and had caused you a lot of trouble. I've grown a lot after everything that has happened in the past two years. I know you don't have any romantic feelings for me, and I also know love can't be forced. From now onward, I'll be by your side as your good friend and put my feelings for you behind me. I promise to be there whenever you need me!”
“Thank you, Michael.” She was deeply moved by his words. “You have to take good care of yourself too. I hope that you'll find your happiness soon!”
“I will.” He nodded. “It's a beautiful night. Shall we head to the beach for a stroll?”
“I don't think I can.” Charlotte glanced at her watch and said, “I have to go back now. The kids are waiting for me to read them a bedtime story.”
“All right then.” Reluctant to part with her so soon, Michael offered, “Let me see you out.”
“Sure.” After Charlotte put on her coat, the two of them walked out together.
The sound of the waves brought back memories of the past, and he started reminiscing about the good old days with her.
Smiling, Charlotte listened attentively and would respond to him from time to time. Unbeknownst to her, someone had been observing her from a window upstairs, eyes gleaming with malice.
“Ms. Lindberg!” Lupine suddenly nudged Charlotte.
The latter looked over and saw a car approaching the hotel entrance. It was Zachary's Rolls-Royce. Zachary's subordinates got out and opened the car doors at the back. A second later, Zachary and Nancy stepped out from different sides.
Nancy looked shy and dainty with his suit jacket draped around her shoulders.
After leaning over and saying something to her, Zachary walked side by side into the hotel with her. However, he had barely taken a few steps forward when he looked up and saw Charlotte exiting the hotel through the revolving doors with a man next to her. That sight made him halt in his tracks. “Ms. Lindberg?” Ben looked at Charlotte in shock, not expecting to see her there. Wait a minute! Isn't the man next to her...
“Michael!”
Zachary recognized Michael right away. Furrowing his brows, he strode into the hotel, completely forgetting that Nancy was beside him.
Nancy was taken aback for a second, but she soon snapped out of her daze and quickly caught up with Zachary.
Meanwhile, Ben and the other subordinates entered from the side entrance.
“Michael!” Zachary called, fixing his cold gaze on Michael. “Why are you here?”
"My family owns this hotel,” Michael replied calmly. “I was here catching up with my old friend, and I doubt I need your permission for that, Mr. Nacht.”
Zachary glared at him coldly before turning his attention toward Charlotte. “Why did you come out when your hand is injured? Go back now.”
"What has it got to do with you?”
Anger welled up in Charlotte's chest when she noticed Nancy standing behind Zachary. However, she tried her best to put on a calm front.
“Charlotte—"
Just as Zachary was about to speak, Nancy walked toward Charlotte and greeted her politely, “Ms. Lindberg, what a small world! It's a pleasure to meet you again.”
“I know,” Charlotte replied. Looking at Nancy, she continued with a faint smile, “H City is so huge, yet we seem to bump into each other all the time.”
"Since we are all here, shall we have a drink together?” Nancy suggested smilingly.
"Unfortunately, I'll have to decline your offer. I need to go back now.” Charlotte rejected her directly. “You guys have fun. I'm going to take off now!"
She then glanced at Zachary before walking away.
“Charlotte, wait for me.”
Michael was about to catch up to her when an object suddenly fell from above. Right before it hit Charlotte, a figure suddenly dashed toward her and pushed her away.
Bam! A loud crash was heard.
“Mr. Nacht!”
“Ah!”
Ben and Nancy screamed at the same time.
When Charlotte turned around, she saw that a vase had hit Zachary's head, and blood began to gush out from his wound.
Chapter 1359 Could Never Compare
Chapter 1359 Could Never Compare
Someone had dropped a glass vase from above.
Zachary was bleeding profusely, and half of his face was covered in blood in no time. Soon, blood stained his white shirt, coloring it scarlet.
Charlotte widened her eyes in shock as she stared at him dumbfoundedly. Her heart was aching so much as if that vase had struck it.
If Zachary had not pushed her away, the vase would have landed on her head, and she would be the one bleeding instead of him.
Stupefied, Michael stood rooted at the spot.
“Mr. Nacht!” Ben dashed over and supported Zachary while instructing, “Call Raina now! Quick!” “Understood.” One of the subordinates made the call immediately.
“Mr. Nacht, you...” Nancy was in so much shock that she started crying. “Why are you so silly? Why did you...”
“I'm fine.” Zachary had his head lowered as he pressed his hand against his wound. He was obviously in so much pain since even his face had turned pale, yet he remained calm and gave out an order. “Ben, send Ms. Gold home.”
“Yes, Mr. Nacht.”
“That's not what you should be worrying about now,” Nancy said in between sobs. “I'll take you to the hospital.”
“It's okay.” Zachary held up his hand and rejected her offer. “Have you forgotten that you... Go back now.”
"But—"
She wanted to say something else, but he was not in the mood to listen. Instead, he turned toward Charlotte and pointed at the woman. “Get in the car with me,” Zachary ordered domineeringly. Charlotte was still standing motionless, her face as white as a sheet.
“Charlotte...” Michael snapped out of his shock and gave her a nudge.
“Ms. Lindberg, get in,” Ben said while helping Zachary into the car.
At the same time, one of Zachary’s subordinates escorted Charlotte into the vehicle.
Michael watched as the car sped off and only regained his senses when it was out of his sight. Immediately, he instructed his subordinate, “Check which room did that vase drop from. Go now!” “Yes!” At once, his subordinate brought a group of men into the hotel to run the investigation.
A second later, another subordinate reported, “Mr. Brown, the Nacht family’s bodyguard has already gone to investigate. The media might get wind of it if the matter is blown up. Should we..."
“No matter what, we should still find out the truth first,” Michael bellowed in displeasure. “Someone is injured because of an object that was thrown out of our hotel room's window. The first thing we should do is find the culprit and give the victim an explanation, not try to suppress the news. That's not the behavior of a righteous man.”
“I understand.” The subordinate immediately lowered his head, no longer daring to say another word.
Meanwhile, Nancy had just broken out of her trance and was staring at Michael deeply.
“Ms. Gold, if you don't mind, shall I get someone to send you back?” Michael offered, like how a gentleman would.
“My subordinates will be here soon.” Nancy rejected politely. “Thanks for the offer, though, Mr. Brown."
“Don’t mention it,” Michael replied. “You must be in shock. Don’t worry. I'll definitely investigate the matter thoroughly and give Mr. Nacht an explanation!” he then declared apologetically.
“Thank you.” She nodded her head in gratitude. Just then, her subordinate arrived and asked in concern, “Ms. Gold, are you all right?”
“I'm fine,” Nancy replied. After getting into the car, she looked at Michael through the rearview mirror and instructed, “Look into that man’s background.”
“Understood, I'll get to it right away,” the subordinate replied
“Ms. Gold, what happened? Why is there so much blood on the floor? Where's Mr. Nacht?” another subordinate asked.
"He's injured...”
Nancy could not help but feel her heart aching as she recalled the earlier scene.
At that crucial moment, Zachary had risked his life to save Charlotte. It was apparent that in his heart, that woman's safety was more important than his own.
Since he loves her so much, why did he go on a date with me? Was his gentleness toward me all a pretense?
"Are you sure you're fine?” one of the subordinates asked cautiously. “Are you hurt? Should we go to the hospital—"
“Shut up!” Nancy scowled in frustration. Her mind was in a mess.
Deep down, she felt that she could never compare to Charlotte, no matter how perfect she was. Have I really lost?
Chapter 1360 Tell Me The Truth
Chapter 1360 Tell Me The Truth
After a long while, Charlotte was still looking at Zachary in a daze, not knowing what to do. Meanwhile, Ben had taken off his shirt and pressed it on Zachary's wound as a makeshift bandage to stop the bleeding.
However, the man gradually lost consciousness from the excessive loss of blood.
"Zachary..." Charlotte caught Zachary as he fell sideways. In a state of panic, she burst into tears. "Stay with me, Zachary!”
“The hospital is right ahead; we're reaching soon!” Ben yelled anxiously. “Mr. Nacht, please hold on!” Just then, the car came to an abrupt halt. A team of medical staff, led by Raina, rushed over. They opened the car door hastily and lifted Zachary onto a stretcher.
Ben, Charlotte, Lupine, and the rest followed the medical team until Zachary was brought into the emergency room.
While they were waiting outside, Lupine tried to comfort Charlotte. “Mr. Nacht will be fine, so don't worry."
The latter did not respond, merely standing at the doorway with her eyes fixed on the emergency room. Her hands were trembling, and her face remained pale.
She dared not imagine a life without Zachary.
What would I do without him? What will happen to the kids...
As she thought about it, fear and remorse washed over her.
Ring, ring
Just then, Charlotte's phone suddenly rang. Lost in her thoughts, she did not hear it at all until Lupine nudged her. “Ms. Lindberg, your phone.”
Charlotte whipped out her phone with her bloodied hands and saw it was Jamie. Inmediately, she walked toward the side and picked it up. “Hello?”
“Mommy, when are you coming back?” Jamie asked.
Over the line, Charlotte could also hear the sounds of the other kids playing
"Aunt Charlotte, come back soon! We're waiting for you to read us a bedtime story!” Alpha shouted in her adorable voice.
“No, we want Angry Uncle to read us a bedtime story instead!” Beta corrected her sister seriously while sniffing.
"You can't call him Angry Uncle. He's Uncle Zachary!” Gamma corrected her siblings in a stern manner.
“That's right! You are all such smart kids," Ellie praised her cousins before speaking into the phone. "Mommy, we're sleeping with you tonight. We've already gotten permission from Daddy.” “Mommy, is Daddy coming over today?” Jamie asked. “We miss him.”
"He has to continue reading us the bedtime story from yesterday,” Ellie added on in her sweet voice. “Mommy, why are you so quiet?” Jamie asked anxiously.
“All right, that's enough. You guys are too noisy.” Robbie walked over and chided his siblings. “Go over there and play. Pass me the phone.”
“Robbie, you're so fierce! You're becoming more and more like Daddy!” Jamie said, feeling indignant. “Here's the phone!” Reluctantly, he handed the phone over to his brother.
After accepting the phone, Robbie walked to a quieter place and asked, “Mommy, are you all right? Where are you now?"
“I'm still outside.” Charlotte tried her best to compose herself so that she would sound like her usual self. “Robbie, I won't be able to go home tonight. I have some things to settle. Daddy won't be going over as well. All of you should rest soon. Be good, yeah?”
“Did something happen?”
Even though she hid her emotions well, Robbie could still feel something was amiss with her. “Did something happen to Daddy?" the boy asked anxiously.
“It's not that. Robbie, don’t overthink—" While Charlotte was still speaking, the voice of a nurse sounded. “We need more bags of blood, hurry!”
Hearing that, Robbie could no longer hold back his emotions and questioned agitatedly, “Mommy, what exactly happened to Daddy? Stop hiding it from me! Tell me the truth, quick!”
“Robbie, calm down. Daddy is injured. We're at the hospital now,” Charlotte quickly replied. “It's just a minor wound, nothing serious. He'll be fine tomorrow.”
“I don't believe you...” Robbie started crying. “Is Daddy sick? I've long noticed that something's wrong with him. Which hospital are you at? I want to come over..."