The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1755

Night had settled in. Nora, worried her daughter might have trouble sleeping in a familiar-but-now-strange room, sat beside her until she drifted off. Only then did she tiptoe out, easing the bedroom door closed behind her.

“Did she fall asleep?” Franco’s voice came soft from behind her, his arms wrapping gently around her waist.

“Looks like it, at least for now,” Nora answered, leaning into his chest. She gazed at their daughter’s closed door and let out a quiet sigh. “Lottie always pretends to be cool and aloof, but honestly, her whole world revolves around Anthony.”

Franco smiled. There was a warmth in his eyes as he tried to reassure her. “That’s not a bad thing, you know. Having someone who can actually keep her grounded—it might be good for her.”

Nora chewed her lip for a second, hesitating before she spoke again. “By the way... I heard from people on the Isle of Veil. Your dad is already on his way to Cabinda.”

Franco’s brows shot up. “I don’t remember anyone sending him an invitation.”

“Ever since he found out Lottie was G1’s granddaughter, Allanson’s been obsessed with showing her every ounce of grandfatherly love.”

He frowned, leading Nora back toward their bedroom. “If he really wants to come, it’s not like we could stop him, anyway. Lottie is his actual granddaughter, after all.”

Nora nodded, worry clouding her expression. Franco hesitated and then added quietly, “I’m just not sure what’ll happen if he and Robert end up in the same room.”

She stopped in the hallway, her eyes locked on his. “You think they’ll run into each other? That... wouldn’t turn into a scene, would it?”

“I’ll keep someone close, just in case,” Franco promised, gently stroking her hair. “Nothing’s going to ruin Lottie’s big day. If anybody tries—well—no one gets away with that. Not even my father.”

Right as the words left his mouth, a noise echoed up from downstairs. It was small, muted, but enough to catch Franco’s attention. He walked over to the window, pulled back the curtain, and looked down.

He caught sight of their supposedly sleeping daughter, halfway down a rope, scaling the balcony with the skill of someone who had clearly done this before.

Kenneth watched her go, shaking his head and letting out a sigh—part amused, part envious. Must be nice, having someone love you that much.

He pulled out his phone and tapped out a call to Emily, a little hope sneaking into his voice. “Hey, babe...”

“I’m on set. No time right now.”

Before he could answer, the line went dead.

The sigh Kenneth let out this time was even heavier. He couldn’t help it. He found himself a little jealous of Anthony.

Inside the brightly lit entrance hall, Helen was still fussing with decorations when she spotted Charlotte walking in, as if she’d fallen from the sky. The surprise was clear in her voice. “Charlotte—what are you doing home?”