The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1021

Anthony’s eyebrows drew together as he listened to Hans. Without saying a word, he unlocked his phone and started scrolling through the latest headlines.

[Charlotte is an Illegitimate Daughter]

[Charlotte's Mother, the Other Woman]

[Charlotte's Mother Caught in Marriage Scam]

[…]

The news was a mess. Everything looked like it had been deliberately pushed to the top, chaos spilling over every headline. People were even dragging Steven’s family into it, claiming that Lottie had paid back kindness with betrayal after returning to the Gates family, even going so far as to say she ruined Steven’s company on purpose.

“Anthony, this whole thing is weird. Could be the main family pulling strings. What should we do?” Hans sounded anxious, pacing as he spoke.

Charlotte’s background and skills already drew attention. Now, with this kind of bombshell, the internet was obsessed. Everyone was talking about whether her mom had really broken up a family, or what had gone down between Charlotte and Steven. If things kept spiraling, Charlotte’s reputation would be in ruins.

Anthony closed the news app and looked up at Charlotte, who was curled up on the bed, small and quiet. His eyes turned cold. “Leave it.”

“Leave it?” Hans repeated, totally thrown off. That was the whole plan?

“Someone else will take care of it,” Anthony replied, his voice distant, hiding whatever he was really thinking.

Hans hesitated, then guessed softly, “You mean… you’re letting Franco and Nora handle this themselves?”

Charlotte just murmured a sleepy “Mm,” pulling her hand back and letting her eyes drift shut.

Anthony slid to answer the call, holding the phone to her ear. With his other arm, he drew her—blanket and all—closer, his chin gently resting on her shoulder as he listened in.

“Samantha,” Charlotte said, her voice polite as she glanced at Anthony and ran her fingers through his short hair.

“Lottie, is it true about your mom?” Samantha’s voice shook on the other end, barely holding it together. She’d fainted the night before and woken up thinking it was all a bad dream. After almost shaking Kenneth into changing his story, she finally remembered to call Lottie.

“It’s true.” Charlotte was more awake now, leaning back against the headboard and brushing her chin against Anthony’s hair. Her voice was soft. “Samantha, my mom is really alive. She’s been with my dad all these years. Her health hasn’t been good, and for a lot of reasons, she just couldn’t come back to find us.”