Chapter 208
At that very moment, across the narrow street, Ethan’s steps slowed.
A familiar figure had entered his line of sight.
A woman in simple athletic wear stood at the crosswalk, a large travel backpack hanging off her shoulders. She was waiting for the signal light to change.
Almost as soon as Ethan noticed her, she seemed to notice him too.
Their eyes met for a brief second.
Then, as if startled, the woman quickly turned away and changed direction, walking off down a side path without hesitation.
Ethan’s gaze followed her calmly.
He didn’t rush.
Didn’t call out.
He simply watched as she crossed the road and disappeared into a nearby private hospital.
Charlotte only stopped once she was inside the hospital elevator.
The doors closed.
Only then did she exhale heavily, her shoulders loosening in relief.
She hadn’t been mistaken.
That man outside…
It really was Ethan.
And beside him—there had been a woman.
A profile she felt she had seen somewhere before, but couldn’t quite place.
It left an uneasy knot in her chest.
Not fear.
Not familiar.
Something in between—as she had accidentally glimpsed something she wasn’t supposed to see.
Charlotte shook off the feeling and stepped out of the elevator.
She pushed open the door to a shared ward in the inpatient area.
Inside, the room was cramped and dim.
Her mother lay asleep on the narrow bed by the wall, breathing shallowly but steadily.
Her younger brother, Christopher Xander, sat beside her, carefully adjusting the thin blanket.
“Charlotte,” he said immediately when he saw her.
She lifted a finger to her lips.
“Shh.”
Her eyes moved toward their mother.
Still asleep.
Only then did Christopher nod quietly and lower his voice.
Charlotte placed the bags she was carrying on the floor and began unpacking supplies—food, medicine, daily necessities.
Her movements were practiced, almost automatic.
This had become her life.
Their mother had been diagnosed with cancer when Charlotte first entered university.
Back then, everything had collapsed at once.
Her mother could no longer work.
Christopher, only twelve, had been sent to boarding school just to keep him stable.
And Charlotte…
She had given up graduate school the moment she had earned admission.
Instead, she entered the workforce immediately after graduation.
She had no other choice.
Fortunately, she had been lucky in one respect.
Her first job had been under Khloe at Fox Group. The pay had been stable, even generous for someone starting.
Later, after transferring to Morrison Group, her income improved further.
But no matter how much she earned, it never felt enough.
Her mother’s medical bills were endless.
Like a bottomless pit that swallowed everything.
After organizing everything, Charlotte quietly led Christopher out of the ward.
Outside, she handed him a thick stack of cash.
“Keep this for school,” she said softly. “Don’t lose it.”
Christopher hesitated. “Sis, this is too much—”
“Take it,” she cut in gently but firmly. “I’ll manage.”
He nodded reluctantly.
They went over a few more things—school, meals, expenses, reminders he had already heard a hundred times before.
Only after she was certain he understood did Charlotte send him back inside.
She returned briefly to check on her mother.
The older woman was still asleep.
Only then did Charlotte finally leave the hospital.
By the time she stepped outside, night had fully fallen.
Streetlights flickered along the road, casting long shadows across the pavement.
The air felt heavier now.
Quieter.
“Charlotte!”
A voice—low and sharp—cut through the silence behind her.
She froze.
That voice.
Slowly, she turned around.
Her father stood a few meters away.
Unshaven. Smelling strongly of alcohol and cigarettes. Eyes red and restless.
For a split second, instinct took over.
Charlotte turned and ran.
But he was faster.
Too fast.
He caught up in seconds, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her back with brutal force.
Slap!
Her head snapped to the side.
Before she could recover, his hand clamped around her throat and shoved her hard against the wall at the corner of the street.
“Ah—!”
Her breath was cut off instantly.
“Five thousand,” he growled.
His breath reeked of alcohol as he leaned in close.
“I heard you’re making good money now.”
“Give it to me.”
Charlotte’s vision blurred, but she forced herself to speak.
“I don’t have it…”
Her voice trembled.
“Mom’s treatment… Christopher’s school… everything’s already gone there. Where would I get five thousand?”
Her father’s grip tightened.
“I know you have it!” he shouted. “You’re just hiding it from me!”
His eyes were wild.
Bloodshot.
Unstable.
“I’m your father! If you don’t give it, that’s disobedience!”
His voice dropped into something colder.
“I can kill you if I want.”
Charlotte’s stomach dropped.
She knew he wasn’t bluffing.
Not this time.
Her hand slowly moved behind her back.
Searching blindly.
Her phone.
If she could just reach it…
If she could just call someone…
But her movement didn’t go unnoticed.
“What are you doing?” her father snapped.
In an instant, his grip twisted her arm violently.
Her phone flew out of her hand and clattered onto the ground.
Then—
A small blade flashed in his hand.
Cold steel pressed against her cheek.
“You got this pretty face from me,” he said darkly.
“Want me to ruin it?”
Charlotte froze completely.
Tears welled in her eyes almost immediately.
“N-no…” she choked out.
Her voice broke.
“Dad… please…”
“I really don’t have any money right now…”