Claimed by the Powerful Billionaire (Charlotte and Matthew) novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23 What a Shame

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The moment Everly saw Charlotte walk in, all her fury snapped onto her like a whip.

“Something this big happens, and you stroll in like nothing’s wrong. Watching our

Russell family become a joke-are you happy now?”

Charlotte wanted to say, “Of course I’m happy.”

But on her face, she forced out a look of worry.

“Grandma, Mom, what happened? Matt only told me to come back. He didn’t tell me the

details.”

Everly shoved the tablet into her hands. “Are you blind? Can’t you read?”

Charlotte read through the news with exaggerated seriousness.

When she finished, she looked genuinely shocked. “How could this happen! Matt was

just invited for a TV interview, and now this kind of story breaks out of nowhere. It’s

going to hit him hard.”

At the beginning of the year, Matthew’s company launched an Al system that got

adopted by major banks. It sent Power Tech’s reputation through the roof, and the stock

price soared overnight.

Matthew made a killing. He also became the kind of man every network wanted to put in

front of a camera.

And this time, it wasn’t some local station.

It was national.

So Matthew cared about this interview more than anything.

Charlotte knew exactly how much he cared.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come up with a method this perfect.

If she didn’t force Matthew, how would he ever hand her what she wanted?

Everly’s face was red with rage.

“Do we need you to say the obvious? We don’t know that? With this happening, he

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might not even get to do the interview anymore. And it’ll directly hurt the company’s image. The market dropped a lot today!”

Lillian knocked her knuckles on the table. “Enough. What’s the point of yelling about it? The priority is calming this down!”

Lillian glanced at Matthew, who sat on the stool without saying a word.

“Matt, make arrangements. We’ll hold a press conference tomorrow and clear this up.”

Matthew was sick with irritation. “There’s no proof. A forced clarification will just make them think I’m guilty-like I’m protesting too much.”

Lillian said, “There’s only one way. If you don’t clarify, it’ll ferment and get worse.”

Matthew shot Charlotte a blaming look.

Charlotte spoke up. “Grandma, this is partly my fault too.”

Lillian didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”

Charlotte said, “Actually, last night, Matt was with me at first. But later we had a

disagreement, so I went back to my family’s place to stay.”

Lillian frowned. “In the middle of the night? What could you two possibly fight about?”

Charlotte let out a sigh.

Lillian snapped, “Speak.”

Charlotte lowered her voice. “If I have to say the real reason… it was probably because of

Moon Garden.”

“What does that have to do with some tiny apartment?”

In Lillian’s eyes, it was only a little place a bit over a thousand square feet. It didn’t

amount to anything.

Charlotte looked at Matthew with wet-eyed grievance, but she aimed her words at

Lillian.

“Before, Matt forgot my birthday. To make it up to me, he agreed to give me the small ap artment at Moon Garden… as my birthday present…”

Charlotte bit her lip and deliberately stopped.

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Lillian chased impatiently, “And then? Get to the point!”

“And then… then Matt said he wanted to give that apartment to my sister-in-law.

Actually…”

“Actually, it’s not that I can’t bear to give that apartment to my sister-in-law. I just think

-Bella is Matt’s sister-in-law. If outsiders find out Matt is giving a home to his own

sister-in-law, it could cause unnecessary misunderstandings again.”

Lillian sank into thought for a long while.

“On that point, you’re not wrong.”

“Grandma.” Seeing the timing was perfect, Charlotte continued. “Actually, the news that

broke today isn’t unsolvable.”

Lillian lifted her gaze. “Oh? Tell me.’

Charlotte said, “If Matt goes to clarify alone, it won’t work. Only if I, as his wife,

personally step forward to clear things up for my husband and his sister-in-law-that’s

what will be convincing.”

Lillian had fought her way through the business world. Of course she understood what

Charlotte was doing.

There was no such thing as a free lunch.

She’d brought up the apartment, and now she was offering help. That meant she wanted

payment.

Lillian hated it.

But she also knew Charlotte’s way really was the only good way.

Lillian cleared her throat. “Matt!”

Matthew gave a lifeless “Yeah.”

“Since you promised to give that apartment to Charlie, why go back on your word? Besides, does our Russell family not have money? Even if you want to give your nephew

a full-month gift, you can buy another one. A man should keep his word.”

“Charlie.” Lillian put on the air of a kind, generous elder. “I’ll decide this for you. After the

press conference ends, I’ll have Matt go with you to handle the paperwork.”

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Charlotte said, “Grandma, maybe don’t. That makes it look like I’m taking advantage of

the situation.”

Lillian cut her off. “What are you saying? This was something Matt already promised. It’s

decided.”

Charlotte said, “Okay. Grandma, don’t worry. Tomorrow I’ll attend the press conference

with Matt. I believe this will calm down soon.”

Lillian nodded in satisfaction.

Everly supported her as she stood.

“Dragging people around this early in the morning, it’s exhausting. I’m going back to

sleep.”

Back in the room, the door shut.

The more Everly thought about it, the more she couldn’t swallow it. “Mom! That place

might not be big, but it’s in a prime location. We’re really just handing it to that woman

for free?”

All the warmth drained from Lillian’s face. Her tone dropped several degrees colder.

“You think I want to? If I don’t do this, she won’t go with Matt to the press conference!”

“She brought up the apartment on purpose. She was waiting for me to say it, wasn’t

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