The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1098

"And one more thing." Charlotte cut him off, rising to her feet with deliberate calm. She slipped her hands into her pockets and stared Allanson down, her tone icy. "My dad broke things off with the Hawk Family a long time ago. So, you and I? We have absolutely nothing to do with each other."

"You ungrateful brat!"

Allanson shook with anger, his hand shooting out as if to strike her. Charlotte moved fast, dodging before he could even get close.

He swung at thin air and nearly lost his balance. For a second, it looked like he might fall.

"Grandfather, are you okay?"

Marcia and Rena rushed in just in time to steady him. Once he was safe, their eyes drifted to Charlotte. The moment they got a good look at her, both girls froze.

She was stunning.

Tall and lean, her features were so delicate, her whole presence almost unreal. Marcia and Rena always thought they were good-looking—they were even a little proud of it—but standing in front of Charlotte, their confidence just fizzled out.

They'd assumed the so-called heir, growing up in Cabinda, would be the definition of ordinary. Even if she came back, she’d never be a threat. But they were so wrong. Charlotte wasn’t just pretty. She was breathtaking.

And there was something else—she looked so familiar, like they'd seen her somewhere before.

Rena stared for a long second. Suddenly, her eyes widened. It was her. The girl who’d caused absolute chaos at the casino. What on earth was she doing in their house?

"I’ve broken the rules here plenty of times," Charlotte said, kicking an annoying chair out of her way. She kept her hands in her pockets and raised an eyebrow, her expression cool. "One more time won’t make a difference."

"Let’s see if you can walk out of the Isle of Veil in one piece."

"Hurt my daughter? Maybe you should ask the hundred long-range cannons Solenia’s got pointed at the Isle of Veil if they'd be okay with that." Franco lounged in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, watching Charlotte with obvious pride. "My daughter can do whatever she wants, wherever she wants. I’m right behind her."

If those cannons ever fired, the Hawk Estate wouldn’t be the only thing destroyed.

Anthony just stared in disbelief. Did Franco really have to go that far? He wished, just once, someone would let him handle things himself.