Chapter 53
Not long after Zachary left, Mary’s men arrived and sent over all the items bought at the banquet, including that painting.
Thinking about the bloodbath tonight, Charlotte could not help but feel a chill down her spine. She pondered, ‘Now, they… What kind of situation is this? I burned all bridges with Zachary. Do Mary and Zachary have a falling out? This bloodbath seems to aim at him.’
“I can’t believe Mrs. Mary Sullivan sent so many things here.” Julie looked at those things with complicated feelings.
Charlotte replied, “Yeah.”
She was also surprised.
As far as she knew, Mary had always been an elder who was not easy to get along with and wore a cold expression.
Mary’s attitude toward Charlotte was especially obvious. When the latter married Zachary, the former, as the mother–in–law, did not make any significant gestures.
When Charlotte returned this time, she still felt Mary was indifferent to her. Yet, the latter was much kinder toward her than to Zachary.
Olivia’s call came in. “Charlotte, Mom is in a good mood today after coming home.”
“Oh?” Charlotte wondered, ‘Is she still in a good mood after falling out with Zachary?‘
Olivia asked, “Charlotte, can I go to Westrope with you this time?”
Charlotte was surprised and asked, “You want to go, too?”
Olivia answered, “Yes, I want to meet someone.”
Charlotte remained silent and thought, ‘It seems she has grown up.’
She added, “I probably don’t have much time to look after you when we’re there.”
Olivia responded, “It’s okay! I can take care of myself. I just want to go with you.”
Since the other party had said so, it did not seem right for Charlotte to reject anymore, so she agreed, “All right!”
Olivia asked, “Charlotte, have you watched the news?”
Charlotte inquired, “Why?”
– “Annie is being criticized again online.” As Olivia said that, her tone was cheerful, and she was
clearly delighted.
Chapter 53
Charlotte knew about it.
Among members of the Sullivan family, everyone else quite liked her, aside from Mary’s seemingly cold attitude.
However, Annie’s presence truly made Charlotte feel uncomfortable. Although it was common in prestigious families, the latter still felt a sense of rejection from within.
Charlotte uttered. “Olivia.”
Olivia replied, “Yes?”
Charlotte continued, “When did Zachary and her relationship start?” Besides, she also wanted to know how it began.
She had been clueless on that part.
Since they were in the same high school, Charlotte knew Annic did not have a boyfriend back then.
On the other hand, Charlotte got married to Zachary during university.
It was obvious that his involvement with Annie happened before they got married. Charlotte wondered how it happened.
“You don’t know?” Olivia, on the other end of the phone, was shocked that Charlotte did not even know such a significant matter.
Everyone in the Sullivan family knew about it, especially Mary.
“What is it?” Charlotte was not a particularly curious person. Yet, when Olivia expressed it with such a shocking tone, the former could not help but wonder about Zachary’s affair.
She learned about Annie’s existence three years ago from Jeff in the car. At that time, she was in despair, devastated, and eventually did something awful on Ruby River Bridge.
Now, looking back, it was not worth it.
After that, she automatically blocked out everything related to Zachary when she was in. Snowe City.
Olivia explained, “That incident happened when Zach was 24 years old. One night, he was set up at a banquet. Then, he was rushed to the hospital and ended up in a car accident on the way.”
“So Annie called an ambulance for him?” Charlotte raised her eyebrows.
She did not know about that significant incident in Zachary’s life. However, considering his popularity with women at that time, risking their lives to plot against him might have been a
common occurrence.
Olivia replied, “It’s not as simple as calling an ambulance. That night, it rained heavily, and he encountered another danger.”
Chapter 53
Charlotte was astonished and asked, “Another one?”
Olivia confirmed, “Yes, his opponent did it!” That was quite dangerous, not only drugging him but also trying to take his life.
It was indeed quite perilous.
Needless to say, the opponent must have ended up in bankruptcy.
Charlotte asked, “So, Annie saved his life?”
“It was him in the car who made Annie…” Olivia did not continue with the rest of her words. Yet, at that moment, Charlotte’s face turned pale.
Some memories that she had forcefully suppressed deep in the corners of her heart seemed to rush out like wild beasts at that moment.
She felt cold all over her body. Heavy rain, darkness, and a sense of impending danger…
“It’s said that it was quite serious at that time. After that, Annie lost the chance to be a mother,” Olivia uttered on the other end of the phone.
She continued, “I guess I don’t need to tell you the rest. Zach has always been very responsible, and I believe you also know that.”
Indeed, Zachary was a responsible man.
If it were not for Annie’s illness, he would have been a responsible husband in his marriage to Charlotte. It was not about love but responsibility.
Charlotte mused, ‘Could it be that he treats Annie the same way as well?‘
Olivia tried to clarify, *Charlotte, Zach actually-”
“Olivia, I’m feeling a bit tired. I’ll go to sleep first.” Charlotte’s complexion became paler. It was evident that she did not want to talk about anything at the moment.
She hung up directly without waiting for Olivia to respond.
After she went back to her room, she did not turn on the light.
She sat in the darkness for the first time in those few years. At that moment, she felt as if a wild beast was staring at her with its blood–red eyes in the dark.
She was frightened, and her hair stood on end.
Finally, she could not stand it anymore and turned on the light. It was a terrible feeling.
It was a rainy night that she never wanted to recall in her entire life. That rainy night brought her endless abyss and nightmares.
Chapter 53
No one knew how much effort her family had put in back then to help her overcome that nightmare.
She almost forgot the number of times she visited the psychiatrist and underwent psychological counseling sessions over two years.
That night, Charlotte was once again haunted by her nightmares for the entire night.
However, she woke up as if nothing had happened after the night. It did not affect her mood at all.
The next morning, Charlotte was enjoying her breakfast. When Julie saw that, she noticed it was the first time the former had eaten so well since she came back.
She said, “Ms. Lynn, you look happy today.”
Charlotte replied, “Of course!”
“Is there something to be glad about?” Julie simply could not imagine how Charlotte could still be so joyful with the uproar in public opinion.
Charlotte answered, “Because that man finally agreed to divorce.”
Julie froze upon hearing that.
However, she quickly felt relieved. “It’s okay to divorce. Actually, women have more than just one type of life to choose from. If Mrs. Moore is still alive, she would support you too.”
Charlotte did not utter a word.
Nell lacked confidence in marriage the most.
If Nell had survived that hurdle at that time, Charlotte probably would not have married so early. The former would even have supported her if she chose not to marry.
Adrian had hurt Nell so much in their marriage back then.
