Chapter 4

Charlotte balled up her fists and stood tall, defiant.

"No way I'm kneeling to her! Why should I?" she shot back.

Frederick's face darkened. "Serena just knelt to you and got hurt; given your status, you can't afford it, so you owe her an apology."

Charlotte sneered. "Did I make her kneel? She twisted her ankle on her own. How's that my fault?"

"Doesn't matter, you need to apologize to her!" Frederick's voice was cold and commanding, leaving no room for argument. "If you don't, you know what'll happen."

Charlotte had had enough of his threats. She decided to go for broke.

"What'll happen? You mean not getting a divorce?"

Charlotte scoffed, "Stop using divorce as a threat. Worst case, we stay married. I'll still be the envied Mrs. Percy. But what about Serena? You okay with her being a mistress everyone looks down on?"

Serena's face went pale at that.

She looked up at Frederick with wide, worried eyes. "Frederick, what does she mean? You don't want a divorce? What about my baby..."

Frederick wanted to shut Charlotte up before she said anything worse.

He hid his anger and tried to soothe Serena. "Of course not. I promised you'd be Mrs. Percy, and your child will never be illegitimate."

Charlotte subconsciously touch her own belly, feeling a pang of bitterness.

He wouldn't let Serena's child be illegitimate, but what about hers?

The contrast was painful, yet she was certain: Frederick wasn't fit to be her child's father.

Charlotte's face was blank. No matter what the two in front of her said, she didn't react.

She'd seen through Frederick. He only cared about Serena and had no love for her.

"Give me a time, and we'll finalize the divorce," Charlotte said flatly, no emotion in her voice.

Frederick noticed her indifference and got even angrier. "Fine, tomorrow at 8 AM, we'll get it done."

His words were forced out through gritted teeth, showing his rage.

Charlotte found him baffling.

Wasn't the divorce what he wanted? Why was he mad when she asked for a date?

"See you then."

Charlotte turned and walked away gracefully, without a second thought.

Serena sighed in relief and then said generously, "Frederick, isn't this unfair to Ms. Russell? Maybe you should go after her. I don't want her to misunderstand you."

Frederick's voice was calm, "Doesn't matter. She's not important to me."

He seemed calm, but inside he was a mess. Charlotte's carefree departure felt like a weight on his chest, making it hard to breathe.

Charlotte had always been so attached to him. How could she be so cold now?

Meanwhile, Charlotte was feeling awful too.

As soon as she stepped outside, Charlotte doubled over, clutching her belly in pain.

She gently placed a hand on her stomach, and tears streamed down her face.

"Baby, are you hurting for me too?"

Charlotte was heartbroken. She thought she was ready for the divorce, but when Frederick set the date, it still stung.

But no matter how much it hurt, she couldn't back down now.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw her dad, Oliver Russell, on the line.

She didn't need to guess why he was calling. He wanted her to come home and face the music.

Sure enough, as soon as she answered, Oliver's voice roared through the phone, "Charlotte! Where are you? Get home now!"

Charlotte just said okay and hung up, not bothering to defend herself.

Growing up, no matter how hard she tried, any slight failure to please Oliver led to endless criticism.

She was used to it.

If it weren't for her mom and sister, she wouldn't go back to that house.

Half an hour later, Charlotte was on her knees on the cold floor, no cushion to soften the pain.

Sweat dripped from her forehead, but she stayed silent.

Oliver, tired from hitting her, tossed the cane aside, panting.

"Last chance! Will you go and beg Frederick to take back the divorce?" Oliver shouted.

"We've already signed the divorce papers. It's happening tomorrow. It's too late."

Charlotte's voice was weak, but she spoke through gritted teeth.

"Are you trying to drive me crazy? Just wait, I'll beat some sense into you!"

Oliver raised the cane again, but the expected pain didn't come.

"Don't hit Charlotte!"

Her mom, Elodie Davis, rushed in, taking the blow herself.

Elodie clung to Oliver, pleading, "Oliver, Charlotte might be a bit stubborn, but you can't hit her like this! If she got seriously injuried, how can she possibly hold on to Frederick?"

Charlotte had been trying to stay cold, but seeing her mom get hit broke her.

She hugged Elodie, checking for injuries.

"Are you okay? Mom, let him hit me. Don't do this."

Charlotte's tears fell freely.

Although she spent her childhood with her grandmother in the countryside and wasn't raised with Elodie, Elodie had been looking out for her ever since her return.

Every time Oliver punished her, Elodie would rush to protect her, just like now.

Elodie held Charlotte's hand tightly. "Silly girl, what are you saying? Seeing you get hit hurts me more. How can a mother stand by and watch her child get beaten?"

"Mom."

Charlotte threw herself into Elodie's arms, crying like a child.

Elodie comforted her and gently advised, "But your father is right. You've been married to Frederick for years. You shouldn't divorce so quickly."

Charlotte was stunned. "Mom, do you want me to beg him too?"