Chapter 455
Fiancée?
Melissa’s lips curled in a mocking smile. She could barely hide her excitement, waiting for Charlotte to finally get what she deserved. Around them, the guests perked up, all eager to watch the drama unfold.
“Matthew, Lavinia, you’re back?” Dorothy hurried over, practically bubbling with gossip. “We were just talking about Anthony’s girlfriend, she—”
“She what?” Lavinia cut in with a gentle smile, her cool eyes gliding right past Melissa and landing on Charlotte. Suddenly, her whole expression softened, full of fondness and pride. “She did exactly the right thing.”
Dorothy blinked, completely thrown off.
Melissa just stared, speechless.
The guests all exchanged looks, their curiosity growing.
With everyone watching, Lavinia slipped her hand out of Matthew’s and walked right over to Charlotte. She took Charlotte’s hand in hers, looking serious. “Lottie, did someone give you trouble here?”
Charlotte just smiled quietly and didn’t answer.
“In my house, who would dare make Charlotte feel uncomfortable?” Lavinia raised her voice just enough for everyone to hear. Melissa and Dorothy’s faces fell apart completely. Even Lavinia was on Charlotte’s side now. This girl was seriously something.
Lavinia’s attention shifted straight to Melissa.
“Lavinia, this is all a misunderstanding,” Melissa blurted out, her heart racing. She tried to keep her voice steady. “I was just worried this young lady might get tricked, so I said something. If that upset anyone, I take it back.”
Her tone was calm, her eyes soft, like she was the one who’d been wronged. If you didn’t know any better, you’d almost feel sorry for her.
“Is that so?” Lavinia’s face didn’t change. “Then take it back. Charlotte’s business isn’t for outsiders to meddle in.”
Outsider? That word stung. Melissa felt like she was about to snap. No one in the Blair family, except Dorothy, was even willing to defend her.
“Sorry for the trouble,” she whispered, biting her lip and glancing at Anthony with red-rimmed eyes. “Anthony, I’m leaving.”
As soon as those words hit the air, Charlotte slowly lifted her chin. Her eyes, clear and bright, fixed on Melissa growing colder with every second. Her voice was soft but sharp. “Hold on. We’re not done
here.” ne
Melissa froze, her brow furrowed. She’d already given in. Why couldn’t Charlotte just let it go?
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice
Charlotte stepping forward until she was standing right in front of her, looking down. Charlotte’s voice came out ice-cold. “Shouldn’@we clear up the truth about Sunset?”
Melissa met Charlotte’s frosty stare, her own face darkening. She forced a smirk. “What, are you about to say my Sunset is a fake?”
Charlotte’s lips curled, her eyes narrowing as a chill filled the air. “That painting isn’t even good
be called a
enough to doorgery.ernet.
Sunset Ms Carter. I’ve seen people twist the truth plenty of times. But I’ve never seen anyone do it so shamelessly.”
Melissa’s heart skipped a beat. She clenched her fists tight. “And what proof do you have that your Sunset is real and mine’s fake?”
Of course her own painting was a fake. But there was no way Charlotte had the real one. Both had to be fakes, so what gave her the guts to act so confident?
A long silence settled over the room.
Charlotte lifted her eyes, her face unreadable, and spoke in a calm, steady voice. “Sunset is my work. I can prove it.”
The words hit Melissa like a bucket of ice water.
Wait, what? Did she mean Sunset was her painting? Was Charlotte actually the artist everyone called Halation?