The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1760

Anthony stood there, lost in thought. After a while, he set a hand on his hip and gave a cold, low laugh. “Fine. Very fine,” he said, voice deep and steady.

Everyone was just waiting for their chance to take him down. That was clear now. Well, let them try. Once the wedding was over, he’d deal with every last one of them.

The Gates estate was full of energy upstairs. Charlotte was stretched out on her bedroom sofa, casually watching Kenneth rally the group as they schemed about how to trip Anthony up.

“Finding the shoes is the final round,” Kenneth said. “We really have to hide them.”

“Where, though?” Andrew piped up. “Maybe Stella should hold on to them?”

“As if. I’m too scared to even look Anthony in the eye, let alone go up against him. He’d probably just have to glare and I’d cave right away.”

Andrew grinned, getting more excited. “But Stella, you barely know Anthony and you’re Charlotte’s friend. No way would he actually go hard on you. I honestly think hiding the shoes with you is our best shot.”

Stella, sitting next to Charlotte and looking a little spaced-out, flapped her hands in a hurry. “No, no, no way. I… I’m scared of Anthony too.”

He didn’t even need to say a word. Just having him in the same room was enough to make her nervous. She wasn’t exactly brave.

“So what do we do?” Andrew sighed, swinging the bright red heel from his finger. Turning, he eyed Charlotte, who was halfway through a wedge of watermelon. He scooted closer, eyebrows raised. “How about you, Charlotte? Want to hide the shoes? What do you say?”

If there was anyone in the house Anthony might tread lightly around, it was Charlotte. If she had the shoes, he’d probably just stand there and wait for her to hand them over.

Kenneth shot that idea down fast. “Absolutely not,” he said, seeing straight through Andrew’s plan. “If you hide them with Lottie, you might as well just give them to Anthony now.”

Charlotte’s eyes narrowed as she watched the car outside. Her voice turned rough. “Is it someone from Isle of Veil?”

Nora reached for Charlotte’s hand, squeezing it tight. “Allanson is here. He’s in Cabinda.”

Allanson. If her mom hadn’t brought up his name, Charlotte probably wouldn’t have remembered the old man at all.

“What does he want?” Her voice cooled, eyes going sharp. “Mom, where’s Grandpa?”

“I think Grandpa’s…” Nora stopped short as the realization hit her. She suddenly hurried toward the stairs. “Oh no, your grandpa usually gets back from his run right around now.”

What if those two ran into each other? Just picturing it made her heart race. That scene was not something anyone wanted to witness.