The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1007

Solenia.

“Anthony, it’s done.”

Charlotte stepped out of the lab, still holding the faint scent of medicine, just in time to catch Hans’s words.

“Yeah.”

Anthony barely glanced over as he spoke. When he reached for her hand, his face clouded over at how cold her skin felt.

The lab had to stay chilly, and Charlotte’s hands were freezing.

“What’s done?”

Charlotte looked up, confused.

“The doctor in Cabinda.”

Anthony’s answer was vague as ever. He shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling her close. “All finished here?”

“Oh.”

Charlotte figured he meant her grandma’s doctor. She didn’t push for more details. Instead, she just leaned into Anthony’s chest, exhausted, her voice scratchy. “Can we go back to Mom’s?”

“Yeah.”

Anthony saw how wiped out she was and didn’t let her walk. He just scooped her up in his arms. “Rest a bit. I’ll wake you when we get there.”

“Mhm.”

Charlotte closed her eyes, finally letting herself relax.

About fifteen minutes later, the sports car pulled up in front of Franco’s house.

It had been five hours since Charlotte left.

Nora had been awake for a little while now, clinging to Franco and asking over and over if Lottie was really home. She was scared it was just a dream, terrified Lottie was still on the Isle of Veil.

Franco didn’t know what else to do. He was about to call when the door swung open.

Anthony stepped in, still carrying Charlotte.

“Lottie…”

Nora’s eyes went wide and her heart hammered in her chest.

Nora took the medicine, her hands trembling as she held the glass. Her face was pale when she asked, “When did you find out?”

“Find out what?” Charlotte asked, though she already had a feeling.

Nora’s eyes were red. Her voice was rough from crying and sleep. “About the gene mutation. When did you know?”

“When I was sixteen.”

Charlotte took the empty glass and set it aside, then gently dabbed Nora’s cheek with a tissue. “At first, I didn’t think much of it. Later, I saw your test results…”

“Lottie, back then…”

Nora grasped her daughter’s hand, her grip weak. “When I left, I left an antidote for you.”

An antidote?

Charlotte blinked, her smile fading completely.

She couldn’t remember ever taking any antidote.

“I always knew something was different about me,” Nora said quietly. “I knew about the gene mutation. When I finally got the antidote, I was already five months pregnant. If I’d ended the pregnancy and taken the medicine, I could have been cured. But…” Nora’s voice trailed off, then she continued.