The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1521

Emily shook her head quickly, her lips tugging into a weak, helpless smile that made the bruises on her cheeks stand out even more. Her voice dropped to barely a whisper.

“Charlotte, don’t tease me. I’d never take advantage of you. And besides…”

She trailed off, sneaking a sideways glance at Charlotte. Color started to warm her pale cheeks, a soft pink that crept over her skin.

“Besides what?” Charlotte asked, lowering her gaze. There was still a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips, her eyes lingering on Emily with a quiet curiosity.

Emily hesitated, then admitted, “Kenneth and I… we just started dating.”

As she said his name, a gentle, dreamy smile bloomed on her face. The thought of anything more serious, like marriage, was still just a secret hope she kept tucked away in her heart.

Charlotte tossed away the used cotton swab and looked back at her, raising an eyebrow. “Give it some time. It’ll happen.”

Emily let Charlotte help her take off her clothes and blinked at her, still a little dazed. It took a moment for the meaning to sink in, and when it did, her eyes grew wide. Her voice trembled. “Charlotte, you told Kenneth…?”

Charlotte nodded. “He knows.”

She slid Emily’s shirt off carefully. As she caught sight of all the purple and blue marks coloring Emily’s skin, her face turned cold. It was obvious what had happened.

Emily had grown up sheltered, with little hardship in her life except trying to break into the spotlight. She wasn’t the type to endure pain quietly, so the fact that she had made it this far without complaining said everything.

Charlotte tried to reassure her. “At least now you don’t have to keep looking over your shoulder,” she said, her voice soft and a little amused. “Just remember to use the ointment for the bruises like I told you, and you’ll be healing in no time. Anywhere else hurt?”

Emily considered for a moment. Her head felt cloudy, but it was late, and she didn’t feel like making a fuss. She just shook her head and mumbled, “I’m just tired.”

Charlotte had wanted to do a more thorough check, but seeing how pale and exhausted Emily looked, she let up. “Alright. Rest for now. We’ll talk more in the morning.”

“Thank you,” Emily murmured, squeezing Charlotte’s hand, her eyes bright with tears. “Kenneth was holding me today… I hope I didn’t hurt his hand or anything…”

Charlotte stirred some painkillers into a glass of warm water, waited for them to dissolve, and brought it to Emily’s lips, helping her take a sip.