The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1031

As soon as Nora spoke, Charlotte stepped forward without hesitation and slipped her hand into her mother’s. The icy tension wrapping around her faded away the moment she felt her mom’s warm touch.

“Lottie, have you been waiting long?” Nora’s voice was gentle as she brushed her hand against Charlotte’s cool cheek.

“Nope.” Charlotte lifted her chin, her long lashes fluttering as she spoke, her voice slow and a little sulky. “It’s just... some people have been saying really awful things. Kinda ruins the mood.”

Shirley, chewing on her finger, glanced at Nora, then at Charlotte, her eyes wide with surprise. Was Charlotte actually complaining to her mom?

“I get it. Stay here and wait for me,” Nora said, smoothing down the loose strands of hair on Charlotte’s forehead before turning around to face Steven, Elizabeth, and the sea of reporters.

The second Nora turned, the softness in her expression vanished. In its place was a cold and intimidating stare that sent a chill through the room.

Reporters sucked in a breath, their questions dying in their throats. That look was scary.

No wonder they’re mother and daughter. The energy just kept getting stronger.

Nora tucked some hair behind her ear, slid her hands into her pockets, and looked right at Steven and Elizabeth. A slight smirk played at her lips as she spoke in a low, rough voice. “So you were saying my daughter and I are nothing good, huh?”

Steven and Elizabeth both went ghostly pale. They still hadn’t recovered from the shock of seeing Nora alive.

Nora strode right up to Steven, her chin raised, the corners of her mouth pulled into a cold half-smile. “Was it you who said I hid my pregnancy on purpose and tricked someone into marriage just to find a dad for my kid?”

“I...” Steven looked up, panic flickering in his eyes as he met Nora’s gaze.

“And was it you who said you raised Charlotte for me, only for her to turn around and ruin your family, calling her an ungrateful brat?”

Steven’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.

Nora’s smile disappeared, her face shadowed with something dark and icy. “And those nasty rumors about Lottie and me online... that was your family too, wasn’t it?”

Steven started to step in.

“Don’t worry, you’re next,” Nora said, pointing at Steven, her eyes burning with a terrifying red glare.

Steven froze in place, sweat breaking out along his forehead.

“You locked my daughter in a mental hospital and tortured her, nearly left her to die out in the countryside...” Nora crouched down, staring at the terrified, messed-up Elizabeth with a cold curiosity. “You want to know what I’m going to do? Would it really be too much if I just got rid of you both?”

Get rid of them?

Elizabeth’s hands tightened into fists as she stared at Nora, her eyes wet and shining, her whole body shaking. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Nora straightened up, glancing around at the stunned reporters. She raised an eyebrow and gave a little grin. “Don’t freeze up. Make sure you get this on camera.”