Chapter 535
His words came out tight with anger.
Charlotte’s eyes turned icy. “They actually have the nerve to show up and look for Stella?” she said, her voice low. She knew exactly what Stella had gone through, how she’d been abandoned in Lamplighter Village and left to suffer. They all did.
“Keep an eye out. Don’t let any of those people get close to her.”
“Got it,” Adonis answered respectfully. He hesitated for a second, then added, “Charlotte, the new project has started. It’s a lot harder than our last one.”
This project was all about studying how human cells turn cancerous, hoping to find a way to fight the disease. Charlotte’s mom’s old institute, T8, had started the
research twenty years ago.
Nobody really knew what happened back then, but the whole thing was suddenly shut down and all the data got wiped out. Nora, Charlotte’s mom, disappeared for a while too. Steven ended up saving her. Later, when Charlotte read Nora’s diaries, regret was written in every line.
So now, Charlotte was determined. No matter what, she was going to finish what her mom started.
This year’s national university entrance exam was the biggest in five years.
By six in the morning, every street around the test centers was lined with “Quiet, Please” signs. Police and volunteers were everywhere, keeping things running smoothly. Tension was in the air.
Inside the villa, Stella sat at the dining table, eating breakfast and mumbling poetry under her breath. She looked worried, her brow knotted with nerves.
Charlotte was sprawling on the sofa, looking completely relaxed, her chin propped on one hand as she watched Anthony dart around the room.
“Admission tickets, pencils, pens, IDs-I’ve packed everything up for you,” Anthony said, coming over to Charlotte and tapping her on the forehead. Don’t forget to take it with you after the exam,” he reminded her quietly.
“Okay,” Charlotte answered with a casual nod.
“When you’re done, just come back to the villa,” Anthony went on, fussing a little. “I’ll have food delivered. You can invite Andrew and the others. There are rooms ready for everyone, so just relax.”
“Alright.” Charlotte sounded so calm that you’d never guess she was about to sit for the most important exam of her life.
Anthony started to say something else.
Stella peeked out from behind her booklet, eyes wide as she watched them. Was that really a boyfriend? He seemed more like a dad, fussing over his kids. What was even crazier, Charlotte-who usually hate being nagged-was listening to every word, quiet as a kid in class.
At eight ten, Anthony drove Charlotte and Stella to the exam center. They met up with Andrew and the others outside.
Charlotte just had a pencil case in her hand, looking totally unfazed compared to all the other students, who were practically vibrating with nerves.
“After her last results, everyone’s watching her Hans muttered from the driver’s seat. “They’re all waiting for her to break another record.” The stuff that happened before had made Charlotte miss a bunch of classes. If she messed up, the
media would eat her alive.
Anthony leaned back, left arm resting on the car window, a crooked smile on his lips. “Her score doesn’t depend on the questions or her study habits.”
“Then what’s it depend on?” Hans asked, glancing in the rearview mirror.
“Her mood.” Anthony’s smile turned proud. He didn’t have a single doubt about her.