The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 870

“But—”

“The presidential palace isn’t a bandit’s hideout. I doubt Franco is going to eat me alive.” Charlotte flashed a teasing, almost mocking smile. “Right, Franco?”

Franco locked eyes with her, like he was one wrong move away from snapping. He forced down the anger burning in his chest and said, “If you can’t cure her, you’d better watch yourself.”

He turned away, pushing open the door and heading inside.

Charlotte shrugged, slipped her hands into her pockets, and strolled in after him, totally unfazed.

The butler watched them go, one after the other, and felt a headache coming on. What was happening? Not long ago, Sunlight had asked if Mr. and Mrs. Hawk had a daughter, saying the young woman looked a lot like Mrs. Hawk. Now, watching their backs as they argued, the feeling was even stronger. There was something strangely familiar about the way they interacted.

But he was certain Mr. and Mrs. Hawk didn’t have any children. He must be imagining things.

…

After disinfecting her hands in the entryway, Charlotte took off her jacket and put on a fresh white coat. She crossed the room with long strides, heading for the big bed. The last time she’d come in, she hadn’t even gotten a look at the patient before being thrown out.

There was some space between the doorway and the bed. Charlotte lifted her gaze. Lying there was a woman, her long, dark hair spilling across the pillow. An IV needle was taped to her slender, pale arm, her hand resting lightly on the blanket.

Charlotte couldn’t quite make out her face, but under the soft, shifting light, she could already tell Mrs. Hawk was beautiful, with a quiet, elegant presence.

“Mrs. Hawk is still unconscious. Some of the tests will have to wait until she wakes up,” the attending doctor said, standing beside Charlotte with a thick stack of reports. He kept his voice low and careful. “These are her latest test results. If you have any questions, just let us know.”

He paused, remembering how Mrs. Hawk had gotten worked up when she saw Charlotte last time. Would she lose control again when she woke up? Honestly, he didn’t believe someone so young could really cure Mrs. Hawk.

She was—

Charlotte’s hands clenched, her jaw tightened, pain stabbing through her chest. This was real.

The woman lying in the bed was Nora. She wasn’t just a core member of the A1 Research Institute. She was Charlotte’s mother.

Her mother was alive?

It felt like her blood had frozen. Her legs gave out and she staggered back, bumping straight into a nurse.

The files slipped from her hands and scattered all over the floor.