Chapter 320: Charlotte: Too Late For Regrets

In the eyes of the public, Charlotte Harris had transformed from a pitiful woman deserving of sympathy into a calculating, vindictive schemer.

The accusations against her were damning. She had allegedly put an innocent child at risk, manipulated public sympathy, and weaponized her past relationship with Kristoff Dalton to punish the man just because he rejected her.

And now, the internet was turning against her.

Her social media accounts had become virtual battlegrounds. Thousands of angry comments flooded her latest posts, while old interviews and past statements were being dug up and scrutinized.

People who had defended her only hours ago were now demanding explanations.

The damage didn’t stop there.

Brands that had once competed for the privilege of working with her began distancing themselves from the controversy. Several companies suspended their endorsement campaigns, while others announced that they were reviewing their contracts.

One by one, the opportunities she had spent years building began slipping through her fingers.

Her carefully cultivated image was collapsing before her very eyes.

And Charlotte could do nothing to stop it.

"This can’t be happening. No... No, this shouldn’t be happening!"

Inside Marco Pollus’s office, Charlotte paced back and forth like a caged animal.

Her heels struck the polished floor in sharp, uneven clicks. Her face had gone deathly pale, and her fingers trembled around her phone as she refreshed her social media accounts for what felt like the hundredth time.

Every refresh brought more bad news.

Another influential account had condemned her.

Another former supporter had joined the crowd calling her vicious.

Another brand had suspended its partnership.

Just an hour ago, people had been sympathizing with her. They had called Kristoff heartless and accused him of abandoning a woman who had supposedly sacrificed so much for him.

Now, those same people were calling her a liar.

How could public opinion turn so quickly?

More importantly, how could Kristoff allow this to happen to her?

Charlotte had always believed that no matter how badly things went between them, he would never be completely indifferent to her. Their years together had to mean something. Surely, he wouldn’t stand by and watch her reputation be destroyed.

With that desperate thought, she dialed his private number.

The call failed to connect.

The number you have dialed is unavailable.

Charlotte frowned and immediately tried again.

The same mechanical voice answered.

Her heart lurched.

"No. It can’t be..."

She checked the number, making sure she hadn’t made a mistake, then called a third time.

Nothing changed.

Kristoff had blocked her.

For several seconds, Charlotte could only stare at her screen.

He had actually done it.

After everything they had shared, he had cut her off as though she was a complete stranger.

A fresh wave of panic seized her. She quickly searched her contacts and called Owen, Kristoff’s trusted aide. If she couldn’t reach Kristoff directly, Owen might at least arrange a conversation between them.

But the result was the same.

Blocked.

Charlotte’s fingers tightened around the phone until her knuckles turned white.

Kristoff Dalton, do you really have to be this ruthless?

After everything we’ve been through, are you not giving me a way out?

Her anger flared, but beneath it lay a growing fear.

She needed Kristoff to intervene. He had the influence to contain the scandal, and his statement could still change the public narrative.

If he agreed to speak with her, perhaps she could persuade him to help repair the damage.

Without him, she might lose everything.

Setting her pride aside and biting back her humiliation, Charlotte dialed the contact number of the Dalton Realty and asked to be connected to Gracie.

The call went through after a brief wait.

"Gracie, it’s me." Charlotte forced herself to sound composed, although the desperation in her voice was difficult to conceal. "I need to speak with Kristoff. Could you please ask him to take my call? It will only take a few minutes."

On the other end, Gracie sat at her desk, reviewing the latest reports concerning the controversy. She glanced at the caller’s name on her screen before answering.

"I’m sorry, Miss Harris." Gracie’s voice came through the phone, calm and measured.

Charlotte tightened her grip on the phone. Her palm was damp, and the cool edge of the device pressed against her trembling fingers.

"Mr. Dalton is currently occupied dealing with the damage caused by your recent interview and social media posts."

Gracie paused briefly before continuing, her tone still impeccably polite.

"I’m afraid he has no time to speak with you at the moment."

Charlotte’s expression stiffened.

The words were polite, but the message behind them was unmistakable.

You created this mess yourself. Don’t expect Mr. Dalton to clean it up for you.

"Gracie, please listen to me." Charlotte lowered her voice, trying to suppress the irritation rising in her chest. "There’s been a misunderstanding. I just need to explain what really happened. Surely, you can help me arrange a few minutes with him?"

"I’m afraid I can’t help you with that, Miss Harris."

"Gracie!"

Charlotte’s voice sharpened before she could stop herself.

There was a brief silence.

When Gracie spoke again, her tone remained perfectly composed.

"If there’s nothing else, I need to return to work. Good day, Miss Harris."

The line went dead.

Charlotte froze.

She stared at her phone as though she couldn’t believe what had just happened.

Gracie had hung up on her.

Gracie, who had always treated her with courtesy because of her long-standing relationship with Kristoff, had just dismissed her without a second thought.

The humiliation burned hotter than the anger.

One by one, the doors she had once taken for granted were slamming shut in her face.

Kristoff had blocked her. Owen had blocked her. Even the people at Dalton Corporation no longer seemed willing to extend her the slightest courtesy.

It was as though she had suddenly become a nobody.

Charlotte’s chest tightened.

For the first time, she felt the terrifying weight of being completely alone.

There was only one person left who might be able to help her.

Marco Pollus.

Clutching her phone, she checked the time again.

Where was he?

He had left for an urgent meeting earlier, promising to return as soon as he could. She had been counting on him to help her deal with the fallout, but every passing minute made her more anxious.

She paced around the office, stopped beside the window, then returned to the sofa without sitting down.

Her thoughts spiraled.

What if Marco couldn’t help her either?

What if the scandal became so damaging that even her remaining connections refused to associate with her?