The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1119

“Hard?”

When Dr. David asked, Charlotte leaned on the table, a playful smile curving on her lips. Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“I grew up with no parents, no one to care about me. Newell came along and dumped me at the Amazon Special Forces Training School. I went through hell there, but honestly, it never really felt that hard.”

Dr. David swallowed, his chest tight with worry for her.

He remembered what she’d been through—fifteen years old, tossed into the depths of the jungle, pushed through brutal training, forced to fight the worst kind of people. He could only imagine the price she paid just to survive and make it out.

“And now? I have parents, friends, even Anthony...”

Charlotte’s fingers brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She gave Dr. David’s shoulder a gentle pat. “I’m actually pretty happy now.”

Dr. David started to speak, but nothing came out.

Charlotte was the type to only ever share the good, never the bad. She always carried her pain alone.

But he could see it—she really was happier now that she had people who cared about her.

“Then keep being happy.”

He ruffled her hair, his tone soft, eyes full of affection.

He’d devoted his whole life to medicine, never married. On paper, Charlotte was just his investor and research consultant. In reality, she was the daughter he never had.

He would never let her die from some genetic mutation after everything she’d been through. Even the smallest frown from her was enough to keep him up at night.

He’d find the cure, whatever it took. Even if it meant risking everything, he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

“Huh?” Charlotte took the milk tea, sipped, and blinked at him. “You look alright.”

“Just alright?” Anthony stroked her cheek, his voice low and rough. “Then why were you staring at me like you wanted to eat me up?”

Charlotte nearly choked, her cheeks going red. She turned her face away, trying to play it cool. “You’re imagining things.”

“Charlotte, since when are you so bad at hiding your feelings?” Anthony dropped his head to meet her eyes, the affection in his gaze almost spilling over. “There’s a camera above us, you know. Want me to pull up the footage so you can see just how hard you were checking me out?”

Charlotte glanced up, saw the camera, and actually choked on her drink this time.

“Check the footage?” She pressed her lips together, then suddenly stood on tiptoe and bit Anthony’s lip—hard.

She pulled back just as quick, her brows lifted in a challenge. “I don’t just look. I kiss. What, are you gonna arrest me for it?”