The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1219

Charlotte watched him with those cold, unfeeling eyes, and Mr. Churchill’s mouth twitched, just barely. Yeah, he thought, looks like the sins of the mother really do fall on the son.

***

The Churchill Estate felt unusually still. In the grand, echoing hall, Damaris sat at the head of the table, every bit as elegant and regal as always. To her left, Olivia sat curled up, clearly on edge.

“Olivia, we had a deal. I got you out of Novaria, so the bracelet is mine,” Damaris said, smoothing out her blue shawl. She smiled, but it was the kind of smile that sent a chill down your spine.

“You can have it,” Olivia whispered, glancing nervously at the bodyguards surrounding them. Her hands trembled. “But I want money. Enough to get away for good.”

“Of course.” Damaris nodded, gesturing to an aide who immediately handed over a card. “There’s twenty million on there. More than enough for you to start over somewhere far away.”

Olivia stared at the card, her eyes filling with tears and something darker. “Without the cure, Charlotte’s dead, isn’t she?”

“That’s right,” Damaris replied. “Or worse. People with that mutation never get a happy ending.”

Olivia let out a brittle laugh. “The bracelet is—”

Suddenly, footsteps echoed through the hall, sharp and hurried. A bodyguard burst in.

“Damaris, there’s a situation.”

Damaris didn’t even flinch. “What happened?”

The butler, out of breath and pale as a ghost, spoke up. “Charlotte’s taken Mr. Churchill. She sent his watch as proof and wants to trade him for Olivia and the bracelet.”

Charlotte had managed to follow them all the way to Isle of Veil?

Olivia shot up from her seat, looking anxiously at Damaris. Mr. Churchill was her son, after all. No mother would risk their child’s life. Would she really hand Olivia over?

“Damaris, Mr. Churchill’s health hasn’t been good. If they hurt him, he might not make it…” The bodyguard’s voice was careful, hoping she’d understand what was at stake.

Everything had to go smoothly until Olivia was gone and the bracelet was in her possession.

The bodyguard nodded. “Understood. I’ll take care of it right away.”

***

At the same time, Charlotte got the message. Damaris had turned her down flat.

She turned to Newell, who looked like he’d just swallowed something bitter. “You sure Damaris is really your mom?” she asked quietly.

Newell didn’t answer. He’d seen this coming. In Damaris’s world, there was only her husband and his research. Newell was just… extra. Someone she could easily do without.

Jackson cleared his throat, breaking the tension. “Charlotte, we just got word. Olivia’s on her way to the airport.”