Claimed by the Powerful Billionaire (Charlotte and Matthew) novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26 Keep Your Show

The call went through.

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Meru

Matthew’s voice sounded a lot gentler.

“You didn’t go home?”

Charlotte’s mood was still pretty good. “Mm. I wandered around outside for a bit.”

Matthew said, “Where are you? Want me to come pick you up?”

“No need. I drove. Do you need something?”

“Grandma called. She wants us to come back early for dinner.”

Charlotte didn’t ask anything else. “Okay. I’m heading back now. I’ll be home in about

half an hour.”

“Same for me. See you in a bit.”

The call ended, and Charlotte still felt like none of it was real.

Before, whenever Matthew talked to her, he either barely said anything, or he was harsh.

But today? It sounded like casual chatter between an ordinary married couple-

considerate, smooth, even warm.

Well, she really wasn’t used to it.

When she got to the garage, Matthew happened to be coming out.

Charlotte parked and realized he was still standing at the entrance, waiting for her.

Putting grudges aside and looking purely at his face, Matthew was easily top-tier among

men.

He was absolutely the kind of guy women liked.

She just didn’t know what that handsome face would look like if he ever really ended up

getting cheated.

Of course, Charlotte was only guessing. She didn’t have hard proof.

Maybe that little tadpole Matthew gave Isabella was just exceptionally tough, full of life.

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“You seem in a good mood,” Matthew said softly.

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Charlotte smiled back. “Your problem got handled. Of course I’m happy for you.”

Lying was getting easier and easier-so smooth she didn’t even hesitate.

Matthew smiled faintly. “I thought you’d get stage fright. Honestly, you did even better

than I expected.”

“It’s acting,” Charlotte said.

If

you were going to act, you committed all the way.

Matthew’s gaze deepened. “So everything you did today was just for the act?”

Charlotte caught the meaning underneath and answered carefully, “Of course it’s also

because you’re my husband. Would I be that intimate with some other man?”

Matthew’s expression softened even more.

He held out his hand. “Let’s go.”

Charlotte stared at that hand, wanting to turn and run, but she still gritted her teeth and

placed her hand into his palm.

The two of them walked in, hand in hand.

Charlotte had wanted to let go, but when she saw Isabella’s eyes flick over, she

deliberately didn’t.

Sure enough, Isabella had been smiling, but her face suddenly fell.

Still, she wasn’t stupid. She covered it up quickly.

Natalie had originally gone to a resort with her best friend, and she’d been called back

too.

Seeing Charlotte holding Matthew’s hand, Natalie’s face twisted.

But for once, she didn’t start talking in that fake-sweet, sarcastic tone.

She’d probably been warned by someone.

Mila cooked a whole table of dishes.

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Several of them were things Charlotte liked.

Supposedly, it was Lillian’s instruction.

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She said Charlotte was the biggest contributor and needed to be properly rewarded.

Charlotte wasn’t that interested in the food. What she wanted was nothing more than

Moon Garden.

She hadn’t expected she’d have to go through all this trouble for it.

Thankfully, it had gone more smoothly than she’d imagined.

It was rare for the whole family to sit down and have a reunion dinner.

Lillian started by wiping tears as she brought up John, crying like she was at a graveside.

Isabella even cried along, putting on a convincing act.

Charlotte lowered her head, treating it like a moment of silence.

Then Lillian changed her tone. “Alright. Let’s not talk about sad things from the past. Our family hasn’t sat together for a meal in a long time. Since we have the chance today, let’s

really spend some time together.”

Isabella suddenly started wiping her tears again.

Lillian asked with concern, “Bella, are you missing John? It’s my fault for being talkative. I said we wouldn’t mention it, so why did I bring it up all of a sudden?”

Isabella’s voice was soft and gentle. “Grandma, I feel so sorry toward all of you.”

“How so?” Lillian asked.

“Grandma, I want to discuss something with you.”

“Go ahead.”

“I… I want to go stay with my parents for a while.”

Lillian froze. “Why would you go back to your parents’ place for no reason?”

Isabella said, “This time, I caused the Russell family such a huge mess. I feel terrible

about it. I was thinking… I should move out. Only if I move out will people stop

misunderstanding things.”

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Lillian whispered, “This isn’t your fault. It’s those shameless reporters writing nonsense. You should rest and recover properly. Don’t go anywhere.”

“Besides, if you go back to your parents’ place now, your mom and dad might blame us. They’ll think we didn’t take good care of you, that we wronged you so badly you had to go home.”

Isabella sobbed. “I’ll explain it to them.”

Lillian added, “Don’t explain. Just stay here. Focus on getting your strength back. Don’t

worry about anything else.”

“But…”

Everly seized the moment to speak. “Bella, did someone say something to you?”

Natalie instantly lit up. “Charlotte! Did you tell my second sister-in-law to move out?”

Charlotte smiled at her.

Natalie yelled, “What are you smiling for? I think it was you!”

Charlotte drawled lazily, “I’m laughing because you live like an idiot every single day.”

“You-”

Matthew roared, “Natalie, sit down!”

Natalie was extremely unwilling. “Matt! Besides her, who else would bully Bella? It has

to be her! Why are you still protecting her?”

Matthew said, “Charlie has been with me all day today. Whether she bullied anyone or

not, would I not know better than you? And you-something this big happened at home,

yet you’re so carefree you still had the mood to go out and have fun?”

Hitting her right where she felt guilty, Natalie muttered under her breath and sat down.

“And one more thing,” Matthew added coldly. “If I ever see you show no respect to my

wife again, just wait and see how I deal with you.”

Natalie stared at him, shocked.

“Matt, since when are you so biased toward that woman?”

It was a painfully accurate question.

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Even Charlotte found it unbelievable.

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Could it be because she’d helped him out of that mess at the reception, so he was

tossing her a little reward and treating her better?

Matthew looked like a strict parent. “Natalie, I’m warning you for the last time. From now