The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1151

Hospital lobby, on the left.

“Where’s this so-called valuable thing?” Zoe grumbled as she hurried to the spot, not seeing anyone around. She frowned, already impatient. “Forget it, I’ll just call and check.”

Charlotte was basically a princess now, thanks to the Gates family. Her boyfriend was rich and good-looking, so whatever she sent was bound to be pricey.

Morton squeezed his mom’s hand, his big dark eyes scanning the area. The west entrance of the hospital was right next to the dumpsters. Hardly anyone ever walked by. It felt creepy.

“Mom, let’s go back,” Morton said, his little face scrunching up. He spoke with that soft, childish tone. “Charlotte said we’re not supposed to leave the hospital.”

He had barely finished when a man appeared, dressed in black and wearing a hat.

“Zoe, the item’s in the car outside the gate. Please, come with me.”

“Alright,” Zoe answered quickly. “I’m coming!”

“Mom…” Morton stood his ground, glaring at the man across from him. “Charlotte already paid so much and she saved Dad’s life. Dad said we can’t ever be ungrateful. We shouldn’t take anything else from Charlotte.”

Zoe hesitated for a second, but her gaze lingered outside the gate. “I’ll just look. I won’t take it.” She let go of Morton’s hand and walked out, putting on her brightest smile.

“Mom!” Morton called after her, frowning. He chased her to the gate, but just as he reached it, a shadow darted out, clamped a hand over his mouth, and shoved him into a car so fast he barely had time to react.

Zoe didn’t notice a thing. She was too busy eyeing a cardboard box on the ground.

What kind of valuable thing gets tossed out here like trash?

She hesitated, then bent down and opened the box.

Empty.

What was this? Zoe was totally confused. She turned to ask the man what was going on, but he had already disappeared. That’s when she noticed Morton was missing, too.

Lavinia’s voice echoed from the phone. “Anthony, no matter what, you have to treat Lottie well. If you ever bully her or make her upset, just don’t bother coming home.”

Charlotte, in the middle of her game, shot Anthony a look full of sympathy. She almost wanted to remind Lavinia that Anthony was actually her son.

Anthony gave her a sideways glance. “Aren’t you worried I’ll be the one who gets bullied?” His voice was low, matching her gaze.

Lavinia hesitated, then mumbled, “If you get bullied, you probably deserved it. You must’ve made Lottie mad. Think of it as a lesson.”

Charlotte’s hand slipped and she lost her game.

“You really are my mom,” Anthony said, half laughing, half helpless.

When the call ended, Anthony zipped up his suitcase and sat next to Charlotte on the bed. He reached over and gently pinched her smiling cheek. “Once we’re married, I’m probably not going to have a single corner to call my own.”