Claimed by the Powerful Billionaire (Charlotte and Matthew) novel Chapter 1

Charlotte Smith watched her husband, Matthew Johnson, grinning as he had fun with the baby in his arms. Every word he said was soaked in excitement he couldn’t hide.

But Charlotte wasn’t happy at all.

That baby was her husband’s child.

And his widow sister-in-law’s.

Her face was calm. “Congratulations.”

Matthew’s smile slowly faded. He carefully handed the baby to the nanny and snapped, “What kind of attitude is that?”

Charlotte said, “A congratulatory attitude.”

Matthew stepped closer, looking down at her from above.

“What do you mean, congratulations to me? Charlotte! On a day like this, can you stop talking like that?”

Charlotte lifted her eyes, icy and flat.

“Isabella Jones gave birth. You did half the work. How could I not congratulate you?”

Matthew’s displeasure was obvious.

“Bella worked herself to the bone having this baby. Why? Because she loves John. John is gone, and she wants a child as something to hold onto so she can keep living. What’s wrong with that?”

Charlotte let out a sigh quietly.

“Did you get my consent?”

At first, when Charlotte heard Isabella was pregnant, she thought it was John’s child.

Even when Isabella got moodier because of the pregnancy, Charlotte still treated her with courtesy.

Not until the months started looking more and more suspicious did Matthew finally tell her the truth.

Matthew had said, “The baby in Bella’s belly was conceived through artificial insemination. We used my sperm from before, the stuff I had frozen. My whole family discussed it. We hope you can understand.”

Something this huge.

Everyone in the Russell family had kept it from her.

They waited until it was already done before telling her.

And then they ended it with one sentence: We hope you can understand.

Matthew sat down on the sofa across from her. He took out a cigarette and held it between his lips. His long, sharply defined fingers flicked a lighter open with a crisp snap, and he lit it.

Matthew was, objectively, very handsome. His features were sculpted, and behind his gold-rimmed glasses was the kind of mature, magnetic vibe that made him look like the charming upperclassman everyone secretly fell for.

Back then, Charlotte had been pulled in by exactly that.

Now that she thought about it, she must’ve had been out of her mind.

Matthew took a drag and exhaled slowly, his brows knitting a little.

“Bella begged me back then. And the elders didn’t object. That’s why I decided to do it.”

“Not telling you beforehand was because I was afraid you wouldn’t agree, and then you’d make a scene.”

“You have to understand—John’s death hit Bella hard. During that time, she was already showing signs of depression. She couldn’t handle any more stress.”

“She just wants a child. With something to live for, she can climb out of that pain. And for me, it was just a small favor.”

A small favor?

That was the first time Charlotte had ever heard someone use the phrase “small favor” with such shameless confidence.

Fine.

The reasons sounded so reasonable. So airtight.

She stayed silent for a long time.

Not because she had nothing to say.

Because she had too much, and suddenly she didn’t want to say any of it.

She was afraid that if she laid out all those ugly, messed-up things one by one right in Matthew’s face, she’d lose her mind too.

Matthew looked at her delicate face—pretty as a painting, yet shadowed with a faint sadness—and felt an inexplicable discomfort.

He was about to speak when a call came in.

It was Isabella.

Matthew answered, his voice turning gentle to the point it didn’t even sound like him.

“Yeah, I’m home.”

“I ate on the way.”

“In a bit I’ll shower and change before I come over. I can’t let Joseph see me looking sloppy.”

“Yeah. You get some rest too. I’ll come later.”

After he hung up, Matthew tossed out a casual line.

“Grandma picked the baby’s name—Joseph Russell. We originally thought about using the similar name from John.”

Charlotte stood. “Go. Your sister-in-law and your son are waiting.”

The words sounded like a slap. Matthew flared instantly. “Charlotte, can you stop being so obsessive?”

“Isn’t it better to use mine than some outsider’s? At least it’s Russell blood.”

Charlotte tilted her head, her smile not quite a smile. “I’m just curious. How did you donate?”

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