The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1118

“Relax. The people from the Isle of Veil can’t interfere in Cabinda,” Anthony said quietly, catching the worry in Franco’s eyes.

Franco nodded, a little relieved. “Good.”

He pulled out his phone and messaged Nora.

Franco: Nora, we got the antidote.

The moment Nora read the text, the weight in her chest finally eased.

Nora: Are you, Lottie, and Anthony okay? No one’s hurt, right?

Franco: We’re all fine! Don’t worry. We’ll be in Cabinda tonight.

Nora hesitated, her doubts gnawing at her. The Hawk Family wouldn’t let them go that easily, would they? She typed, her fingers trembling.

Nora: Honey, don’t forget what you promised me.

Franco glanced over his shoulder at Charlotte, who was curled up against Anthony, scrolling through her phone like she didn’t have a care in the world.

Franco: I remember.

Once they landed, he’d find a way to swap the antidote for a fake and then figure out how to get her to take the real one when she least expected it.

Franco: Nora, no matter where we are or what happens, I’m with you. Please… don’t leave me behind again.

Nora clutched her phone, tears slipping down her cheeks.

...

At seven that evening, the plane touched down in Cabinda.

After leaving the airport, Franco, Charlotte, and Anthony headed straight for a research facility on the edge of town.

Dr. David met them at the door, wiping his hands nervously as he accepted the glass vial. His eyes went wide. This was it? The thing they’d spent billions trying to create looked so ordinary.

“Is this really the antidote?”

Dr. David let out a shaky breath, wiping sweat from his brow. “It’s real. We took out two micrograms to analyze the catalyst. The rest needs to be taken as soon as possible.”

Charlotte peeled off her gloves, resealed the vial, and handed it to Franco. “You can go now. I want to check the component analysis.”

“Alright.” Franco took the vial, gripping it tight. For the first time in days, he felt like he could finally breathe. Everything had gone smoothly. Their daughter had a chance now.

Franco left the lab. Only then did Dr. David retrieve the other vial from the machine.

Before the plane landed, Charlotte had messaged him, making sure he knew what to do. The vial in the machine had been the real antidote. But there’d been a decoy inside too. Now, the one in Franco’s hand was just plain water.

Dr. David handed Charlotte the genuine antidote, his face serious. “Are you sure about this? We don’t know when we’ll be able to make more. Can your body handle it until then?”

Charlotte shrugged, sliding the vial into her pocket with a calm, almost careless smile. “What, don’t trust me?”

Dr. David managed a tired smile, but his eyes were full of worry. “Why do you always have to make things so hard for yourself?”

If Franco and Nora ever found out, it would break their hearts.