Chapter 158: Charlotte’s Schemes

Meanwhile, Charlotte left the hospital with a storm brewing inside her.

Her expression remained composed as she walked down the corridor, but every step felt heavier than the last.

Kristoff had ignored her.

Again.

She had arrived early that day carrying a carefully packed lunch, convinced that if she showed enough sincerity, perhaps she could mend the distance that had quietly grown between them.

She spent over an hour in the kitchen preparing his favorite braised pork.

Every ingredient had been measured carefully.

Every flavor adjusted to match the way he liked it.

She had even tasted it repeatedly before sealing it into the lunch box, hoping the familiar dish would remind him of the countless meals they had once shared.

She had imagined the scene on her way to the hospital.

Kristoff would smile. He would thank her. Perhaps they would finally talk like they used to.

Instead...

Reality had been far colder.

The day before, the moment Isobel and the Foster family had left the hospital, Kristoff had practically dismissed her as though her presence was nothing more than an inconvenience.

She had felt wronged and humiliated.

Yet she had swallowed every complaint and quietly left because those had been his wishes.

Today, she had returned, believing yesterday had simply been a bad day.

But she had been wrong.

"Kristoff..."

Charlotte forced a gentle smile as she walked into the room.

"I brought you lunch."

She carefully placed the insulated lunch box on the bedside table before opening it, allowing the rich aroma of braised pork to fill the room.

"It’s your favorite. I spent over an hour making it."

Kristoff didn’t even spare the food a glance.

His attention remained fixed on the tablet resting on his lap, his fingers moving steadily across the screen.

"Just leave it there."

His voice was flat.

"I’ve already eaten."

Charlotte’s smile stiffened.

"Kris..."

Only then did Kristoff lift his head. His gaze met hers.

It was cold and distant.

Almost impatient.

Charlotte’s heart skipped a beat. She instinctively took half a step backward.

That look...

It wasn’t disappointment. It wasn’t frustration. It was as though he no longer wanted to see her.

A frightening thought surfaced in her mind.

Did he find out...?

Did he already learn what I did to Alexander?

Her palms instantly turned cold.

"Why are you here, Charlotte?" Kristoff asked indifferently. "Don’t you have a photoshoot today?"

"I do..."

She quickly composed herself, forcing a fragile smile onto her face.

"I have a three-hour break, so I wanted to spend it with you."

The corners of her eyes reddened ever so slightly, making her appear pitiful and vulnerable.

Once upon a time...

Seeing her like this would have softened Kristoff’s heart. He would have pulled her close and reassured her.

But now...

All he felt was weary annoyance.

"I’m fine."

His tone remained as detached as ever.

"You don’t need to worry about me."

He lowered his eyes back to the tablet.

"I’ll have the driver take you back."

Charlotte silently clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms.

She didn’t want to leave.

Not yet.

If she walked out now, the distance between them would only grow wider.

She desperately searched for another excuse to stay—a few more minutes, another conversation, anything.

But Kristoff had already returned his attention to the tablet, as though she no longer existed.

The silent dismissal hurt far more than harsh words ever could.

She wanted to ask him why he was treating her this way.

She wanted to demand an explanation.

She wanted to tell him how much she had sacrificed for him over the years.

Yet none of those words made it past her throat.

She forced herself to loosen her clenched fists.

No.

Now wasn’t the time.

Kristoff had always disliked women who argued with him.

If she wanted to repair their relationship, she couldn’t afford to push him any further away.

Taking a slow breath, she lowered her eyes obediently.

"...Okay."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"I’ll follow your arrangement."

With one last reluctant glance at Kristoff—hoping, almost praying, that he would ask her to stay—

She turned toward the door.

He never looked up.

...

Charlotte instructed the driver to take her to Viridian Heights.

One of the city’s most prestigious residential towers rose into view, its glass exterior gleaming beneath the afternoon sun.

She owned a luxurious penthouse there.

It had been another gift from Kristoff.

Back then, she had accepted it with a smile, believing there would be countless more gifts in the years to come.

Now...

Looking at the green tinted building only filled her with unease.

If Kristoff truly abandoned her...would she eventually lose all of it?

The penthouse. Her luxurious lifestyle.

The future she had spent years carefully building.

The thought made her chest tighten.

After showering and changing into fresh clothes, Charlotte glanced at the clock.

Her scheduled shoot was moved to the evening.

She still had a few hours before she needed to be on the set.

Ordinarily, she would have used the time to rest or review the day’s script.

Today, however, she couldn’t sit still.

Kristoff’s cold eyes kept replaying in her mind.

The indifference. The impatience. The silent dismissal.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was losing him.

"No..."

She clenched her fists.

"I can’t let this continue."

She had to do something.

Then a familiar face surfaced in her mind.

Alexander.

A trace of resentment flashed across her beautiful features. Ever since that little bastard appeared, everything had begun to fall apart.

Kristoff’s attitude toward her had changed.

The warmth in his eyes had disappeared.

Even the trust he once had in her seemed to be slipping away.

It had all started with Alexander.

Then...

She would start with Alexander as well.

If Kristoff saw her sincerely taking care of his son... wouldn’t his opinion of her gradually change. Wouldn’t he realize she was trying?

Charlotte’s eyes brightened.

It wasn’t a perfect plan...but it was better than doing nothing.

Her excitement lasted only a few seconds before another thought struck her.

Kristoff had explicitly forbidden her from visiting Alexander.

Her expression stiffened.

Then, suddenly, she remembered something the maid at the old Dalton Mansion had mentioned.

Henry and Mary were staying in Kristoff’s mansion since he was at the hospital.

A smile slowly returned to Charlotte’s lips. Kristoff wasn’t there.

That meant...

He wouldn’t know. Even if he did, Henry and Mary would be her shield.

Without another moment’s hesitation, she grabbed her handbag and car keys.

A few minutes later, the engine of her red Porsche roared to life.

The sleek sports car sped toward Aurelian Village, where Kristoff’s mansion stood quietly behind its towering gates.

Charlotte tightened her grip on the steering wheel.

This was her chance.

She wasn’t about to let it slip away.