Claimed by the Powerful Billionaire (Charlotte and Matthew) novel Chapter 7

Early the next morning, Charlotte kept her makeup simple and changed into a creamy white French-style tweed skirt suit.

The clean, sharp tailoring wrapped her tall figure perfectly. Her long, black, softly wavy hair fell naturally over her shoulders—elegant, composed, and without even trying, impossibly hard to ignore.

She had business to talk this afternoon. Of course she had to look the part.

When Charlotte walked out, Mila’s eyes lit up at once.

“Young Madam, do you have an important date today?”

Charlotte smiled faintly. “Yeah. I have an appointment.”

Mila didn’t press. She only said, “You should go out more. Staying cooped up at home all the time makes it easy to get sick.”

The double meaning didn’t slip past Charlotte. She understood perfectly.

“Oh, right, Young Madam.” Even though no one else was around, Mila still lowered her voice. “The Old Madam, Madam, and the Second Young Madam are all moving in. They said it’s so it’ll be easier to take care of the child.”

Lillian and Everly hadn’t originally lived with Charlotte and the others.

And Isabella had been living with John in a different villa.

Now, because of Isabella, three households were merging into one.

This villa was about to get crowded.

Easier to take care of the child?

What a completely unconvincing excuse!

“Mila.”

Mila brought breakfast over. “Young Madam, yes?”

Charlotte said, “I know you feel sorry for me. But from now on, in this house, don’t stand up for me anymore. You still have to keep working here. My problems—I’ll handle them myself.”

Matthew might let it slide for Mila’s sake, considering she’d worked for the Russell family diligently for decades.

But Lillian and Everly weren’t softhearted people.

If Mila offended them, she really could get kicked out.

And at her age, if she got thrown out, it would be hard for her to find a new job anytime soon.

Mila nodded. “Young Madam, I understand.”

Charlotte had barely taken one bite of her breakfast bun when a wave of nausea hit. She gagged twice.

Mila had been through it before. Seeing that, she blurted out, shocked, “Young Madam, are you…?”

Charlotte shook her head at her.

Mila clapped a hand over her mouth and swallowed the rest of her words.

“Mila,” Charlotte said quietly, “no matter what you see, no matter what you guess—don’t tell anyone, okay?”

Mila nodded. “Don’t worry, Young Madam. I didn’t see anything, and I don’t know anything.”

Charlotte looked at her with gratitude. “Thank you, Mila.”

Mila sighed. “Young Madam, you have to take good care of yourself.”

“Mm.”

Charlotte really had no appetite. She only drank a cup of hot milk, then headed out.

Just as she started the car, Matthew’s call came in.

“Nat is back. Her flight lands at two this afternoon. Go pick her up.”

Charlotte refused outright. “I have something this afternoon.”

Matthew sounded displeased. “What could you possibly have to do?”

Charlotte shot back, “I’m not allowed to have my own life? She’s your own sister—why don’t you go?”

Was Isabella more important than his own sister?

Matthew said, “I have to go to the company this afternoon. I don’t have time. Go in my place.”

Charlotte said, “I don’t have time either. I—”

“Matt, hurry, come here. The baby spit up.”

Isabella’s voice suddenly cut through the phone.

Matthew immediately said, “Alright. That’s it. Just remember to go pick her up.”

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