The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 881

“Mom, I missed you so much.”

Nora pulled Charlotte into a tight hug. Tears streamed down her cheeks, warm drops landing on Charlotte’s neck. The heat of them burned against Charlotte’s cool skin, making her chest ache.

Missed her? Then why…

If Nora was alive, if she remembered Charlotte, why hadn’t she ever tried to find her?

“I really thought I’d never see you again. Cough… cough…”

Nora’s voice shook. She’d just managed to calm herself, but the emotions came rushing back, stronger than ever.

Charlotte frowned and gently patted her mother’s back. “Stop crying,” she said quietly.

Nora shook her head, struggling to hold back more tears. She didn’t want to cry, but she just couldn’t help it.

“Lottie.”

Once she caught her breath, Nora reached for Charlotte again, holding on like she was something precious she couldn’t afford to lose.

Watching her mom’s tear-stained face, Charlotte felt a headache coming on. She frowned again and tried to keep her patience. “If you keep crying, I’m leaving.”

That did the trick. Nora clamped her lips shut, immediately stopping her sobs. Her nose was red, and she sniffled, one hand gripping Charlotte’s arm while the other wiped at her tears. She looked so pitiful, like she was afraid to make a sound.

Somewhere along the way, the doctor, the maids, and the guards had all quietly slipped out of the room. Now it was just the three of them.

The air felt heavy and cold. No one knew what to say. The silence stretched, awkward and tense.

Nora stared at Charlotte, who had grown up into someone so beautiful, almost like a porcelain doll. The sight made her heart ache even more, sadness settling deep inside her.

Finally, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Lottie, I’m sorry…”

Franco, who’d been sitting on the sofa, finally looked up, his face dark. He probably understood some of it already. It had to be about those people from the Isle of Veil.

“Back then, I came to Solenia with the A1 Research Institute. I was supposed to be working on new medicine, but I got caught up in a huge power struggle. I made a lot of enemies because I refused to do illegal drug research. Then, by chance, I saved your father. That caught the attention of the Isle of Veil, and everything got a lot more dangerous…” Nora’s voice was low as she glanced at Franco.

The Isle of Veil was even scarier than Solenia.

Franco had been the heir to a powerful family there. Because of family drama, he was hunted by all sorts of people and ended up in Solenia. Just when he thought he could finally get some control, he was betrayed. He lost everything and barely survived.

“A lot happened back then…” Nora’s eyes went red, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Your father was being hunted. I didn’t know if he was alive or dead. The A1 Research Institute fell apart, and right then, I found out I was pregnant…”

Her words caught in her throat.

“Lottie, your identity was too dangerous. I didn’t want anyone from the Isle of Veil to find you. I didn’t want you to become a pawn in their hands.”