Claimed by the Powerful Billionaire (Charlotte and Matthew) novel Chapter 4

Ruby honestly couldn’t stand seeing Charlotte like this. She pulled her into a tight hug.

“If the hospital mixed up the sperm and this baby isn’t that bastard’s, that would be amazing. Better yet—what if the father is some insanely hot guy who’s great in bed and powerful as hell?”

“Humph. And it’d be even better if that mistress’s kid isn’t that bastard’s either. Let him taste what it feels like to get cheated on.”

Charlotte couldn’t help laughing. Warmth spread through her chest as she reached up and gently touched Ruby’s soft cheek.

“Even if the odds of any of that happening are basically zero… I’ll take your blessing anyway.”

Charlotte’s mood lifted, at least a little.

Before she went back to Love Bay, she tossed the shredded test report into a trash can.

Mila noticed her pale face right away and asked with concern, “Young Madam, you don’t look so good. Are you sick?”

In the entire Russell family, there was only one servant who truly cared about her.

Charlotte forced a smile. “Mila, I’m fine. I’m just a little hungry. Is there anything to eat?”

No wonder she’d felt like she couldn’t get full these past two days. Turns out there was a tiny new life inside her.

What would her baby be like?

And then, inevitably, she thought of the baby’s father—and that thought still stung.

“Yes, yes,” Mila answered quickly. “I’ve got some porridge simmering in the pot. I’ll go serve you a bowl.”

Charlotte had just sat down at the dining table when something hit her.

“This porridge… who is it for?”

Mila paused. “It’s for Second Young Madam. Young Master said she’s weak and needs to nourish herself, so he called and told me to make it. He said he’d come back later to pick it up.”

Of course.

“I made extra on purpose,” Mila added softly. “I wanted to leave some for you, Young Madam.”

But Charlotte suddenly lost her appetite. “Forget it. I’m not that hungry anymore.”

Mila was a smart woman. “Young Madam, how about I make you a bowl of hand-pulled noodles? Back in my hometown, everyone said mine were the best in the whole village.”

Charlotte understood the kindness behind it. She couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

“Okay. I’ll try them.”

Mila moved smoothly in the kitchen, practiced and efficient. Watching her, Charlotte felt, for no clear reason, like this moment was rare—almost… light.

Then her phone rang. The moment she saw the caller ID, her heart sank again.

With a quiet sigh, Charlotte answered.

Margaret Reed’s voice came through, sharp and commanding. “Come back this afternoon. Your dad wants to see you.”

Charlotte sounded distracted. “I have something to do this afternoon.”

She didn’t, really. She just didn’t want to go back.

Her family home wasn’t any better than the Russell house.

Margaret was clearly unhappy. “No matter what, put it aside. You have to come back today.”

Charlotte leaned lazily into the back of her chair.

“I said I have something to do.”

Twenty-eight years. Even a beast would’ve earned a break by now.

Margaret probably didn’t expect her usually obedient daughter to be this decisive. She froze for a few seconds.

“I raised you with so much effort just for you to piss me off? If I’d known you’d turn out like this, I should’ve left you out there to die—freeze to death or starve to death!”

Charlotte lowered her hand to her stomach and gently stroked it twice, her tone flat. “If I really died, then what would you do when you’re destined to have no children?”

Charlotte wasn’t Margaret’s biological daughter.

She was just an orphan Margaret had carried home from somewhere.

Anthony and Margaret had been married for years without a child. They tried every method they could think of. Still nothing.

Then, when Margaret was almost thirty, she finally got pregnant—only for the fetus to die in her womb.

Margaret had always believed in mysticism, so she went to have her fortune read.

The fortune-teller told her she needed to adopt a little girl whose birth chart matched certain requirements. That girl would bring real offspring to the Smith family.

The Smith family was fated to have no sons or daughters, but that girl’s fate included siblings.

Margaret believed every word.

So Charlotte became that girl—like she’d been chosen by fate itself—and she was brought into the Smith family.

At first, because Margaret had no children, she treated Charlotte well enough.

But four years later, when Robert was born, Charlotte became like a consort tossed into a cold palace—pushed to the edges of the Smith family.

At least one thing was worth being grateful for.

Margaret hadn’t given her an ugly name.

Right now, hearing Charlotte say that, Margaret’s heart jolted. Her anger instantly cooled, though her words stayed nasty.

“So what? You think our Smith family has fallen so far we’re not worthy of your status as the Russell family’s eldest daughter-in-law?”

Just as Charlotte heard movement by the door, familiar footsteps came closer.

Margaret kept going. “Your dad’s under so much pressure his health has gotten worse. So you don’t care if he lives or dies?”

Hard tactics didn’t work, so she switched to soft ones?

Charlotte had to admit—it worked.

Anthony had always treated Charlotte pretty well.

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