Chapter 527
On the way home, Charlotte nestled against Anthony, casually texting Jackson.
Jackson: Charlotte, about the mutated HG21 gene in your report, the lab didn’t find anything unusual.
Jackson: HG21 might just be a normal genetic mutation. It shouldn’t affect your health, so don’t stress.
A normal mutation? Charlotte stared at the screen, her brows knitting together. Her instincts were telling her it wasn’t that simple. Maybe something happened while her mother was pregnant. But… her mother was gone. There was no way to find out now.
Nine: Okay.
Jackson: Charlotte, Adonis and I just visited Stella. She looked great, and she even asked about that cake you got her last time.
Nine: Got it. I’ll go see her tomorrow.
Charlotte ended the chat and opened Stella’s socials.
Charlotte: Stella, I’ll come see you tomorrow.
Stella: Charlotte, I miss you. And your cake.
Charlotte raised a brow, a small smile tugging at her lips. If Stella wanted cake, she was probably in a good mood.
Anthony kept hearing the soft ping of messages. He glanced down just as Charlotte sent another one.
Charlotte: Be good. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Anthony froze for a second, a flicker of annoyance passing through his dark eyes. Stella? That friend from Lamplighter Village? They seemed really close.
“You’re going to see your friend tomorrow?” Anthony’s hand slid to Charlotte’s waist. He leaned in, his breath warm against her neck, making her shiver a little.
“Yeah.” Charlotte nodded, keeping her voice calm. “But I want to stop by the mall first. Need to pick up a few things.”
Anthony had already seen her
messages. He knew what she was planning to buy, and he couldn’t help but feel jealous. She never put this much effort into anything for her boyfriend
“To the mall,” he told Hans.
Twenty minutes later, their car pulled up outside the mall. As they got out, Anthony fixed Charlotte’s coat and adjusted her hat making sure her face was hidden before grabbing her hand and leading her inside.
They went straight to the dessert section. Charlotte picked out Stella’s favorite cake, then grabbed som snacks for Shirley Anthony jus
followed her with the cart, a little
smile playing on his lips.
“What do you want to eat?” Charlotte finally asked, glancing back at him once she was done picking things out.
Anthony’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Anything I want?”
Charlotte just looked at him, not taking the bait. Lately, his hints had gotten way too obvious.
She ignored the flirting, tossed a bottle of soda into the cart, and said, “For you.”
That’ll do.
At the checkout, the cashier looked up with a friendly smile. “That comes to 370. If you spend over 400, you get a little gift.”
Charlotte spotted a cute plush toy by the register, then grabbed a box of gum to push them over the limit.
The cashier hesitated when she saw what Charlotte had added, her eyes darting over to Anthony. He was tall and handsome, so… huh.
Anthony noticed the box too, and his face clouded over, a hint of frustration in his expression.