Chapter 159: Charlotte’s Comeuppance

"Charlotte, it’s good to see you."

Mary’s face brightened the moment Charlotte stepped into the living room.

Charlotte immediately put on her sweetest smile and walked over to greet her.

"Hello, Aunt Mary."

She affectionately kissed the older woman on the cheek before taking a step back to admire her.

"You look absolutely radiant today."

Mary chuckled, unable to hide her delight.

"That’s all thanks to the skincare set you gave me. I’ve only been using it for a few weeks, but everyone keeps saying I look years younger."

She gently patted her smooth cheek, clearly pleased with the results.

"It truly works wonders."

Charlotte smiled gracefully.

"I’m glad you like it. I spent quite some time choosing the right one for you."

Inwardly, however, she scoffed.

Of course it worked.

The skincare set had cost a small fortune.

But the price had never bothered her.

After all...

She hadn’t spent a single cent of her own money.

Every gift she gave the Daltons had been paid for by Kristoff.

As long as it helped maintain her place in the family, it was money well spent.

"I also brought a few things for Baby Alex."

Charlotte gestured toward the stack of branded shopping bags behind her.

"Some clothes, shoes, toys, and diapers."

She smiled warmly.

"He’s growing so quickly. I thought the ones he has at home might already be too small."

Mary’s expression softened even more.

"You’re always so thoughtful."

She slipped her arm through Charlotte’s with unmistakable affection.

"Come. Let’s see what you’ve bought him."

The two women made their way up the grand spiral staircase toward the second floor, chatting pleasantly along the way.

Behind them, a maid struggled after them with both arms loaded with luxury shopping bags bearing the logos of several high-end children’s brands.

When they reached the nursery, Alexander’s nanny was just preparing the little boy for his afternoon bath.

Alexander lay on the changing table, happily kicking his chubby legs while babbling to himself.

Seeing Mary nearby, Charlotte immediately seized the opportunity.

"Let me help."

She stepped forward with a warm, practiced smile.

"I haven’t seen Baby Alex in so long. I really missed him."

Without waiting for a response, she gently stroked Alexander’s tiny hand before turning to the nanny.

"I can undress him."

The nanny hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Of course, Miss Charlotte."

She stepped aside.

"Just remove his diaper first, then he’ll be ready for his bath."

Charlotte smiled confidently.

"Leave it to me."

She leaned over the changing table, carefully undoing the adhesive tabs on Alexander’s diaper.

"There we go..."

She cooed sweetly, trying her best to look like a doting mother.

"Baby Alex, do you remember Mommy? Mommy missed you so much."

Alexander blinked his big round eyes at her.

Then...

He giggled.

Charlotte smiled back, pleased that he seemed to recognize her.

The next second—

A warm stream shot through the air.

"What—"

Before she could react...

Splat!

The tiny fountain landed squarely on her face.

Some even sprayed into her open mouth.

For a heartbeat...

The entire nursery fell silent.

Charlotte stood frozen, her smile still hanging stiffly on her face as her mind struggled to process what had just happened.

Then her eyes widened in horror.

"...Urgh!"

"AAAAAHHHHH!"

Her shrill scream nearly shook the walls of the nursery.

She staggered backward, frantically wiping her face with both hands.

"He peed on me!"

"He peed in my mouth!"

Alexander, startled by the piercing scream, puckered his lips.

A second later...

"Waaahhh!"

The little boy burst into tears.

The nanny rushed over at once, scooping Alexander into her arms.

"Oh, Baby Alex! Don’t cry, don’t cry."

Mary stood rooted to the spot for a moment before pressing her lips together, trying—and failing—not to laugh.

Even Henry who just entered the nursery, quickly turned his face away, his shoulders trembling suspiciously.

Meanwhile, Charlotte continued spitting into a stack of paper towels, her entire face twisted with unmistakable disgust.

She felt like throwing up.

Never in her life had she suffered such humiliation.

The faint smell lingering on her lips only made her expression grow uglier.

Damn that bastard.

Charlotte scrubbed her lips again and again with a handkerchief, her face pale with revulsion.

He really is a bane in my life!

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

Ever since Alexander appeared, nothing in her life had gone right.

Kristoff had grown distant.

And now...

That little brat had dared to humiliate her like this.

Charlotte glared at Alexander, who was nestled safely in the nanny’s arms.

Instead of feeling guilty, the little boy had already stopped crying and was blinking at everyone with innocent, curious eyes.

The sight only made Charlotte’s blood boil.

"You little—"

She took a step forward before she could stop herself.

"Charlotte! What do you think are you doing?"

Mary’s sharp voice rang through the nursery.

Charlotte froze.

Only then did she realize everyone was staring at her.

The nanny instinctively held Alexander tighter.

Henry frowned ever so slightly.

Mary’s gaze was calm, but there was unmistakable disappointment in her eyes.

Charlotte immediately realized she had nearly exposed herself.

She quickly lowered her head and forced a smile that looked far more strained than gentle.

"I... I’m sorry."

She let out an awkward laugh.

"I was just startled."

"But Baby Alex really gave me quite a surprise."

No one responded.

The silence was far more uncomfortable than any reprimand.

Charlotte’s cheeks burned with embarrassment.

She had come here hoping to repair her image in the Dalton family’s eyes.

Instead...

She had made a complete fool of herself.

Unable to bear another second, she picked up her handbag.

"I need to go. I have a shoot later and I need to take a long bath."

"I’ll visit another day."

Without waiting for anyone to reply, she hurried out of the nursery.

Her high heels clicked rapidly against the marble floor as she almost fled the mansion.

Only after the gates of Aurelian Village disappeared in her rearview mirror did she slam both hands against the steering wheel.

"Damn it!"

Her voice echoed inside the Porsche.

"I should never have come!"

She had endured Kristoff’s indifference...

Only to be humiliated by a baby who could barely stand.

The more she replayed the scene in her mind, the tighter her grip on the steering wheel became.

Her knuckles turned white.

"This isn’t over."

Her eyes gradually darkened with resentment.

"Alexander..."

"I’ll remember today’s humiliation."

"And one day..."

"I’ll make you pay for every bit of it."