Chapter 537
When Charlotte introduced her, Stella’s eyes lit up, shining with excitement. Sister. Family.
“This is Shirley, Parrish, and Andrew,” Charlotte said, nodding toward each of them.
“Hi, nice to meet you,” Stella said, giving them a gentle smile.
“Hey, nice to meet you too,” the three replied together.
They already knew a little about Stella. She’d been Charlotte’s friend back in the countryside, and everyone had heard that after some kind of accident, it was Charlotte’s care that helped Stella pull through.
Andrew, who could talk anyone’s ear off, immediately started chatting with Stella. It wasn’t long before she relaxed, letting her guard down and starting to laugh along with the rest of them. Slowly, she found her spot in the group.
The group was still joking and swapping stories as they headed back to the villa. But as soon as they stepped into the living room and spotted Anthony sitting there, every single smile disappeared. Everyone froze, suddenly tense and awkward.
“Anthony,” Andrew said first, barely more than a whisper. After bombing the exam, coming home to Anthony felt like walking straight into the principal’s office.
The others quickly mumbled greetings too.
Anthony just nodded, closed his laptop, and came over to Charlotte. He took her hand and led her to the dining table, then pulled out the chair next to his for her to sit. “Come eat. When you’re done, go rest.”
“Okay,” the four of them answered, moving stiffly to their seats.
Anthony didn’t touch his food. Instead, he kept piling dishes onto Charlotte’s plate, and every so often, he’d hold up a spoonful of soup for her. The whole lunch was so quiet and tense that no one dared to say a word.
When Charlotte and Anthony finally went upstairs, everyone else let out a huge sigh of relief. The pressure in that room was worse than the exams themselves.
The rest of the exams went by in a blur.
Right after the last one, Charlotte was barely out of the exam room when her phone rang. It was Kenneth.
“Lottie, I got us a spot at the music bar to celebrate the end of your exams. Roger and Emily are coming too.”
“What time?” Charlotte asked, glancing up at Anthony beside her. She grinned and teased, “Can I bring family?”
Family? Anthony’s lips twitched as he tried not to laugh, but he couldn’t help it.
“Yeah, bring family,” Kenneth said, then added with a groan, “But no lovey-dovey stuff, got it?”
“Deal,” Charlotte said, not missing a beat.
That night at eight, Cabinda’s biggest music bar was shut down just for their group.
Anthony drove, and Charlotte rode shotgun. Hans brought everyone else in another car. They arrived at the entrance together.
As soon as Shirley got out and saw Kenneth waiting for them, she totally blanked out.
“Charlotte Kenneth booked the whole place just for you?” Shirley whispered, tugging a dazed Stella along as they hurried after Charlotte, her eyes wide with shock. “You guy’s are really just friends?”
With Anthony here, surely Kenneth wouldn’t try anything, right?
“Oh.” Charlotte realized she’d never、
actually explained her connectionet
the Gates family. She smiled. He’s my cousin
“What?” Shirley yelled, then quickly covered her mouth. “He’s your cousin?” she
asked again, almost stuttering.
“Yeah. His dad is my uncle.”
Shirley just
open there, mouth wide
Kenneth was
e’s cousin? That mean
was from the Gates family.