Chapter 1764
Charlie paid her no mind, instead turning to a bewildered Noreen and spoke in a subdued voice, “Spill it, what happened three years ago? Once you've spilled the beans, I'll wire the money to you immediately. But I want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth"
Noreen was too scared to breathe. Jonathan handed her the appraisal certificate, making it clear that Charlie was oblivious to the situation. Emily had just returned from abroad, and seeing Charlie treat her like a stranger, Noreen thought she could exploit the situation, swindle some cash, and make a run for it.
By the time Charlie would piece it all together, she would be long gone with enough money to save her boyfriend and lay low for a while.
Little did she know that Charlie would call Emily.
Only then did she realize that she had been manipulated by Jonathan.
Now, with all the cards on the table, there was no point in Noreen hiding anything. Trembling with guilt and anxiety, she glanced at Emily and confessed how she and Gina had tricked Emily into drugging Charlie, using Gina's illness as an excuse.
In conclusion, she added, "Emily took it upon herself to climb into your bed, it had nothing to do with me. I was furious at the time, I never thought she'd get pregnant, let alone have the baby."
"So,’ Charlie's voice, laden with hidden meaning, wavered slightly, "The one who was with me that night was Emily?"
"Yes." Noreen admitted, head bowed.
Emily stood there, stunned. At this moment, she felt as if Noreen had stripped her bare and thrown her in front of Charlie.
The secret she had kept hidden for so long, the one thing she feared Charlie finding out, was now irrevocably exposed.
Charlie turned to Emily, his eyes stormy with a mix of heartache and anger.
“Emily, you've done a fine job, keeping this from me for three whole years."
Emily shivered, stepping forward to hold Kya.
Charlie grabbed her wrist, "What now, planning to run off with my daughter?"
Emily wanted to go back and bring Kya home, but after seeing Charlie's reaction, she feared it wouldn't be that easy.
Her feelings were a tangled mess of regret, panic, and worry.
Noreen left her there and went back inside. Emily stood there for a while until a hotel bellboy approached her, "Miss, are you okay? Do you need me to call you a cab?"
Emily's mind flashed back to a morning three years ago at 9th Mansion, when a bellboy had offered her help. It felt like she was trapped in a cycle she couldn't escape from, and her feelings of uncertainty had returned.
When Noreen returned to the 9th Mansion, she saw Charlie holding Kya and heading out.
"Charlie, I admit I lied to you, but in a way, I did help you discover your daughter, didn't I?" Noreen hurried to catch up, “You don't have to give me the full one million dollars, anything will do. Emily still owes me money from back then."
“The money will be transferred to you. Get out of my sight. Once you get it, I don't want to see you again.” Charlie looked at her with disgust before striding away.
Noreen was relieved and exclaimed in joy.
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