The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 833

Franco’s place looked nothing like the formal reception hall. The whole space was done in crisp white, broken up by clusters of green plants. Despite the clean lines and minimal decor, there was still a faint smell of medicine in the air that you just couldn’t ignore.

Charlotte lounged in a wooden chair, legs crossed, taking in everything around her with a lazy sort of curiosity. Her eyes landed on a large sketch on the wall. It was a drawing of a girl seen from behind, sitting quietly on a white carpet. Her slender arms were folded on a table, her dark green dress showing off a delicate figure. Thick hair was pinned up in a messy bun, with a few loose strands trailing down her neck. The whole picture had a relaxed, dreamy vibe.

You couldn’t see her face, but even from the posture and the way she filled the space, Charlotte could tell the girl was probably stunning. The sketch itself was done with so much care and attention that Charlotte, with her trained eye, could spot the emotion in every line.

She wondered, was this Franco’s wife? The one who’d been ill for years?

Anthony noticed her staring. He reached over, gently taking her hand, playing with her slender fingers. “What’s got you so distracted?” he asked, his voice low. He followed her gaze and narrowed his dark eyes, as if the silhouette in the drawing triggered a memory.

“Nothing,” Charlotte said, pulling her hand away and glancing at her watch. She frowned, clearly annoyed. “Where’s Franco? He said he’d be here soon. How long are we supposed to wait?”

Anthony caught her frustration and shot Hans a look, telling him without words to go find out what was happening.

“Yes, sir.” Hans nodded and hurried toward the door.

“Adonis, bring the bag.” Charlotte called Adonis over and unzipped the backpack, just as Hans’s voice echoed from the hallway.

Milk? Not a weapon?

The butler was speechless. So was everyone else. All that tension fizzled into pure awkwardness, and the butler looked like he wanted to disappear. Sure, this group had shown up with a certain energy, and no one really knew who they were, so maybe being careful made sense. Still, he’d look back on this and cringe.

“Mr. Franco…”

“Stand down, all of you.” Franco shot his butler a look that said he’d had enough. He walked over to the main seat and sat down, his gaze settling on Anthony and Charlotte. Anthony popped a straw into the milk and handed it to Charlotte like nothing had happened.