Claimed by the Powerful Billionaire (Charlotte and Matthew) novel Chapter 9

Steven pulled the car up in front of the teahouse.

The moment Nathan got in, he said, “Old Master called you just now. You didn’t pick up. He told me to tell you to come home for dinner tonight.”

Nathan lit up his phone.

There really were two missed calls.

He’d muted it inside, so he hadn’t heard a thing.

Magnolia Mansion.

Nathan knocked and pushed open the study door.

“Dad.”

Ambrose hummed without looking up, his attention still on his calligraphy.

The strokes were powerful, the rhythm alive—proof of the past two years of relentless practice.

Only after he finished the final stroke did Ambrose speak. “Nate, you’re thirty, right?”

Nathan responded, “Yeah.”

“You’re not young anymore. Isn’t it time you started thinking about marriage?”

“Aren’t I already engaged?”

“You know you’re engaged?” Ambrose’s tone carried clear blame. “You and Rachel have been engaged for three years, and you still don’t plan to get married? How long are you going to make Rachel wait?”

The Hall family and the Booth family were old family friends. Their kids had grown up together—real childhood sweethearts.

To outsiders, the two of them were destined to marry and have children.

Three years ago, Nathan’s mother suddenly became critically ill. She told her son, “ Nate, I watched Rachel grow up. She’s truly a rare, good girl, and she’s completely devoted to you. Mom really hopes you can end up with Rachel.”

No one knew if it was his mother’s dying wish, but the Nathan who never gave in had finally nodded and agreed to the marriage.

Before his mother passed, the Hall and Booth families held a grand engagement ceremony.

“I’m not trying to interfere,” Ambrose said, “I’m just reminding you—don’t make Rachel wait too long. Her father might not say it to our face, but privately he has opinions. And now you’re over here, living apart from Rachel in two different places. They feel even less sure about this engagement.”

Nathan replied coolly, “I understand.”

“If your mom were still here, she would definitely…”

“Dad.” Nathan cut him off. “Our business—I’ll handle it. Don’t get involved.”

Hearing that, Ambrose wasn’t surprised. He wasn’t angry either.

He knew his son too well.

A man with a mind of his own. Force him, and you’d only get the opposite.

Ambrose sighed. “Maybe I’m getting old. I’ve been thinking too much lately. I don’t know why, but these days I just really want a grandson or a granddaughter.”

“You’re not young anymore either. Why not have a child while you’re still strong? You’re busy like this every day. If you ruin your health, then when you want one, you won’t be able to have one.”

Nathan responded, “I already froze my sperm.”

Ambrose was at a loss for words.

Meanwhile, Charlotte went to have dinner with Ruby.

By the time she was done and got back to Love Bay, it was already 9:30 p.m.

Mila opened the door for Charlotte, her eyes flashing nonstop hints.

Charlotte caught the message, nodded, then leaned to Mila’s ear and said two quiet sentences.

Mila immediately went out.

The moment Charlotte stepped into the living room, she saw Matthew sitting on the couch, his face dark.

And Natalie sat beside him, full of hostility.

Natalie had gone abroad after John’s death.

She’d said it was to heal, to clear her head.

Who would’ve thought the girl who used to still have baby fat would turn into someone so slim and pretty.

“Charlotte! You’ve gone too far!”

Tsk.

That temper—unchanged.

“My brother told you to pick me up! And you did it on purpose—you ran off to have fun! You left me alone at the airport. I ended up taking some sketchy car, and that trashy driver dumped me halfway, and then I almost got hit by an e-bike!”

“And the second I get back, you give me a slap in the face! You just can’t stand me. You’re doing this on purpose to bully me, aren’t you?!”

Natalie rattled off a whole string of accusations.

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