The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1281

“Yes, ma’am.”

Hans froze for a second before snapping back to reality and calling his guys to lock down the North Station exit.

“Get the car,” Anthony ordered. He slipped off his jacket and draped it over Charlotte’s shoulders, then took her hand and led her outside.

He drove himself. Charlotte sat in the passenger seat, silent and withdrawn. She leaned back against the seat, her hands folded in her lap, her eyes cast down and her face expressionless.

“There are some things you have the right to know,” Anthony said softly as he buckled her seatbelt, his gaze gentle and steady on her. “After you hear it, if you still want to see Newell, I’ll go with you.”

“Go ahead,” Charlotte replied, glancing up at him with a cold, crooked smile. “I’d actually like to know why he kept his identity a secret.”

“Weren’t you ever curious why Newell saved you?” Anthony took her hand, holding it carefully. His words came out slow and cautious. “It’s because you’re a genetic mutant. You were a perfect candidate for the experiment.”

Charlotte’s eyes narrowed and a cold, distant air settled around her.

“And then?” she asked.

“But your body was too weak back then.” Sensing her mood shift, Anthony leaned in and pressed his forehead to hers. “To help you recover enough for surgery, Newell… gave you a catalyst.”

A catalyst? As a doctor, she understood immediately what that meant.

She went stiff, the truth sinking in but not breaking through. For a long moment, she just sat there, frozen.

So Newell only saved her to use her as part of his research. Every kindness had a hidden motive.

Memories of being rescued and cared for by Newell flashed through her mind. Her eyes burned and turned red, but she held the tears back.

After a while, he pushed open the door and stepped out, coming face-to-face with Charlotte.

“How are we supposed to talk from that far away?” Newell said, closing his eyes for a moment to steady himself. He forced a smile. “Come closer. I wouldn’t stand a chance if you wanted to fight me now.”

Charlotte stared at his face, both familiar and strange, her brows knit tight as emotions tangled inside her.

“I’ll wait for you here,” Anthony said quietly, letting go of her hand. “Try not to get too upset, okay?”

She nodded, then walked straight up to Newell. The dim, shifting light played across her face, highlighting every sharp angle.

“I thought I could keep this secret until the clinical trial was over,” Newell said, seeing the way Charlotte looked at him. He could guess what she knew now, and his smile finally faded. “You have good judgment. Anthony’s a good man.”

Looking at the gentle, fatherly smile on his face, and remembering all the times he’d shown up as Mr. Churchill, Charlotte suddenly had no idea what to feel.