The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 879

Franco just stood there, staring at her. He didn’t even blink. Charlotte didn’t bother moving either. She set her phone down with calm, deliberate slowness, then lifted her chin a little and met his eyes, totally collected.

“I…”

Franco’s words stuck in his throat when he saw Charlotte’s clear, gorgeous eyes. He already felt uneasy, but now he was completely lost. His hands hung awkwardly at his sides, and he had no idea what to do with them.

Everything was happening way too fast. It was all just too much to take in.

One thought circled in his mind. He had a daughter. Nora had given him a daughter.

But just moments ago, he’d yelled at her, told her to get out, and locked her in a dark room.

The more he thought about it, the more his stomach twisted.

He couldn’t even look at Charlotte anymore.

A heavy silence settled over the room.

The air felt ice-cold, like the temperature had dropped in an instant. It was the kind of cold that seeped right into your bones.

“Franco, are you actually trying to kill me?” Charlotte finally spoke, her lips curving in a faint, careless smile. Her tone was almost lazy, like she couldn’t be bothered to put any real emotion into it.

That only made Franco even more nervous.

“No!” he blurted, shaking his head. He stepped forward twice, stopping right in front of her. All that usual confidence he carried around was just… gone.

He couldn’t look away from her. His eyes were full of something close to pleading, like he was desperate for her to understand.

She really did look so much like Nora. Especially her eyes. They were exactly the same.

So that’s why… they’d run into each other at the auction. Charlotte had even come to the house and almost met Nora. If Nora hadn’t lost it that day and sent her away, if he’d just seen her face under the mask, would things have turned out different?

“She is your mother,” Franco said slowly. His face was tense, and he measured every word like he was afraid to upset her. “I…”

Charlotte stayed quiet.

“I’m…”

He was about to say it, about to tell her he was her father, when the housekeeper’s voice interrupted, breathless and panicked from the doorway. “Mr. Hawk, Mrs. Hawk is getting really agitated. The doctors can’t calm her down.”

Franco’s face changed in an instant. He turned to go, but then hesitated, glancing back at Charlotte. He spoke gently, almost careful, “Your mom is upset because she can’t see you. Do you want to go to her?”

Charlotte didn’t answer at first. She stood there, her hands balling into fists, looking down at the floor. Whatever she was thinking, she kept it to herself.

After a few seconds, she finally moved toward the bedroom.

Franco followed right away, keeping a little distance but watching her closely. The walk felt longer than it should have, with Charlotte leading the way and Franco trailing behind, stealing glances and trying to find the right words. He opened his mouth a few times, wanting to say something, but nothing seemed right.