The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 858

“Won’t this just make Franco our enemy?” Charlotte asked, her lips soft and pink as she spoke.

Anthony looked at her with gentle eyes, but his voice was cold enough to send a chill down her spine. “He should count himself lucky he didn’t catch you tonight. If he had, I’d have a lot more to lose than just him.”

“Really?” Charlotte raised a brow.

“Even if it means going up against all of Solenia, so what?” There was a wild confidence in his voice.

Charlotte watched him for a few seconds, then reached out and hooked her finger under his chin with a teasing smile. “If you end up losing, I’ll fight with you.”

Anthony smiled and leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. “You’ll protect me, huh?”

She laughed as he stumbled toward the bathroom, leaving Charlotte alone in the dimly lit room. She pulled the blanket tighter around herself and stared up at the ceiling, feeling a little empty now that he was gone.

Her mind wandered back to the information Jackson and Adonis had uncovered. In all of Solenia, there was really only one person with the power and the motive to control Covid-X.

Franco.

If Franco really had the Covid-X, getting it away from him would be nearly impossible. The thought lingered as Charlotte reached for her phone on the nightstand.

Dr. David: [Charlotte, sneaking back into the lab tomorrow?]

Charlotte: [Yeah.]

…

On the other side of the city, Franco stood in front of a huge window, wearing nothing but a thin robe. His eyes, dark and deep, stared out at the city lights.

Despite the years, the sharp lines of his face still held a commanding presence. Every movement he made felt deliberate, almost royal.

Cabinda.

He hadn’t set foot here in over ten years. Back then, Solenia was in chaos, and the A1 Research Institute had gotten caught in the middle, targeted by powerful enemies.

“No, not Mrs. Hawk,” the butler said quickly, pausing before he went on. “X Organization has taken over all our operations in Cabinda.”

“X Organization?” Franco’s body tensed, then a cold anger flickered in his eyes and seemed to fill the room.

When did X Organization get involved in Cabinda? And since when did Solenia and Apex cross paths? What right did God have to meddle in his business?

“Yes,” the butler said, “and the men we brought have already been forced out of the country.”

Franco had power in plenty of places around the world, but never in Cabinda. Mrs. Hawk never liked it there.

“And there’s more. Our entry permits have been cut from a week to just two days.”

If they didn’t leave tonight, they’d be staying illegally, and getting out would be a nightmare.

Franco’s face was hard as stone. The anger in his eyes said everything. He wanted to crush X Organization—and Charlotte—more than anything.