The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1255

Seeing her son act like she was invisible, Damaris felt her anger rising even higher. She forced herself to stay calm, took a breath, and asked quietly, “Newell, have you known Charlotte for a long time?”

Newell’s fingers froze. He looked straight at Damaris, all traces of warmth gone from his face the moment he heard Charlotte’s name.

“What are you getting at?”

His voice was so cold it sent a chill down Damaris’s spine. Even though their relationship had never been close, Newell was usually polite, never looking at her with this kind of hostility. No, she realized, the last time she’d gone after Charlotte, his glare had been even scarier.

“The girl you saved in Cabinda years ago… that was Charlotte, wasn’t it?” Damaris stepped closer, her tone sharp and demanding.

“So what if it was? What if it wasn’t?”

Newell picked up his wine glass and took a small sip. The bitterness lingered in his mouth.

“You—” Did that mean he was admitting it?

Years ago, they’d used big data to track down a girl with rare abilities, someone who seemed to have a mutated gene. Damaris had sent Newell to Cabinda, hoping he’d bring the girl back for live genetic research. But six months later, he told her the girl had died suddenly, sick with some mysterious illness. She’d never imagined…

“How dare you!” Damaris’s lips trembled, her fear obvious. “You’d risk everything, even the Churchill family, just for a woman?”

She drew a shaky breath and forced a mocking smile. “Besides, Charlotte’s in love with someone else. I heard she’s already engaged. Their wedding’s in a few months.”

“Newell, does Charlotte even know what you’ve done for her? All your sacrifices? You’re just making it easier for someone else to have her. Is it really worth it?”

“It’s worth it.” Newell met her eyes without hesitation, his voice low and steady. “It’s more than worth it.”