Chapter 1

"You've been on a business trip for two months. Now that you're back, you only want to do it once? Is something wrong with you?" said Charlotte Perry.

It was early in the morning. After an intense and passionate night, Charlotte felt like she'd died and come back to life.

Sweat clung to her skin, her body was sore and weak, and her breathing was still unsteady. Yet, she wrapped her arms around Brian Norman's lean waist, asking the question softly.

Brian got off the bed and headed into the bathroom. However, he stopped when he heard her question.

He grabbed her chin, his voice low and husky. "What? I didn't satisfy you?"

"Of course you did. You gave me more than what I needed. But if something's wrong, we should schedule a check-up. Better to catch it early."

Before she could finish, he kissed her fiercely, almost angrily.

"Charlotte, you'll pay for what you did."

Charlotte knew that Brian liked things to be passionate. Even though he didn't love her, he gave her the illusion that he did with every touch. Still, Charlotte didn't mind.

They'd been married for two years, and she was willing to keep trying, hoping she could one day win over his heart. She dreamed of building a family with him and having children together.

That thought made her reach up and wrap her arms around his broad shoulders again.

It was already four in the afternoon by the time it was all over.

Brian had made it very clear that, physically, he was in perfect condition.

After showering, he dressed up as usual in a shirt and slacks. His tall, lean frame filled the clothes perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His strikingly perfect features looked like they had been carved by God himself.

His beautiful eyes held a depth that could make anyone feel seen, and he carried himself with elegance and power.

As Brian buttoned up his shirt, a sudden ringtone broke the silence. He paused and picked up his phone with one hand.

He listened for a moment. Whatever the person said, it left him stunned. He hung up a few seconds later, his gaze landing squarely on Charlotte.

She was barely clinging to consciousness from exhaustion, but when she saw his expression, she forced herself awake.

"What is it? Who was it?" she asked.

Brian replied calmly, "It was my mom. She said you're not actually the Perry family's daughter. You and Louis Perry aren't related, and now his real daughter has been found."

Charlotte's heart skipped a beat, and her mind snapped to full alert.

A month ago, her father, Louis, went in for a routine check-up and discovered that their blood types didn't match. That revelation led the Perry family to launch a public search for their real daughter. Two weeks ago, they found her—Lydia Perry.

The night Lydia returned, the Perry family hosted a grand welcome party. But Lydia fell into the pool during the event and accused Charlotte of pushing her.

The Perry family was furious. People even accused Charlotte of attempted murder.

As the fake daughter, she was cast out without hesitation.

Brian had been away on business and clearly hadn't heard of this until now.

Charlotte had planned to tell him herself, but she never expected his mother, Estelle Sanders, to break the news first.

She nodded slowly, her fingers clenching the bedsheet. "Yeah. It's true. Did your mom say anything else?"

Brian's tone remained eerily flat. "She said this marriage was arranged between the Norman and Perry families. Now that the real daughter is back, the engagement should return to its rightful owner."

In other words, Estelle wanted Charlotte to give up her marriage to Lydia.

Charlotte's face paled.

No one expected this identity mistake to happen.

She and Brian had already been married for two years, and that wasn't something that could be erased overnight.

Still, more than Estelle's cold reaction, what Charlotte cared about most was Brian's.

"And you? What do you think?" she asked, her fingers gripping the sheets tightly as she looked at him hopefully.

In her mind, she considered herself nearly perfect as a full-time wife for the past two years. She handled his meals, routines, and life with dedication and care. She thought even if Brian didn't love her yet, maybe he at least liked her a little.

But his following words hit her like a bucket of cold water. "I haven't really thought about it. It's just a marriage agreement. It doesn't matter who it's with. It doesn't change much for me... I've got a flight tonight. Business trip to a neighboring city. I'll be gone a few days."

With that, he grabbed his blazer and left without waiting for her response.

As the door clicked shut, Charlotte suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe. It was as if someone had driven a knife straight into her chest.

His words kept repeating in her mind.

He didn't care who he married. It could be anyone.

To Brian, their marriage was nothing more than a disposable accessory. Everything she did was out of her own self-delusion.

Only now did Charlotte see how cold and indifferent that man truly was. No matter how much she tried, she could never win over his heart.

An hour after Brian left, Estelle showed up at the door with divorce papers in hand.

She threw the documents at Charlotte and sneered. "Two years of marriage and not even a single child to show for it. And now it turns out you're not even the real daughter of the Perry family? I knew you didn't have the look of someone wealthy. I was right all along.

"And now you've got a shady background, plus an attempted murder accusation? What kind of vile woman are you, trying to stay in the Norman family? Sign the damn papers and get out."

Charlotte was already emotionally ruined, and getting a divorce agreement thrown at her left her completely speechless.

It took a moment before she found her voice. "Is this what he wants? Or just you?"

Estelle didn't hesitate and answered, "It's what we want. You think someone like you belongs in our family? Once the divorce is finalized, Brian will marry Lydia next month. She's worthy of joining the Norman family."

Charlotte felt a sharp pain in her chest.

Brian just couldn't wait to divorce her. He hadn't even boarded the plane yet and had already sent her their divorce papers.

While swallowing the lump in her throat, she opened the file. Her heart ached more when she read that she was to leave with nothing on the divorce agreement.

In this day and age, even housekeepers got paid. She had been his wife for years, and in the end, she walked away with less than a housekeeper.

Charlotte let out a bitter laugh.

Maybe sensing she might protest, Estelle added mockingly, "What, not satisfied? If it weren't for the mix-up, would you have ever gotten to live as a pampered rich wife for two years? Count your blessings. Don't you dare try to ask for more. Sign it now, or I'll have someone make you."

Charlotte felt something tighten in her throat. In the end, she said nothing. She picked up the pen and signed her name.

She thought that Estelle might be finally satisfied.

However, Estelle wasn't finished. She pressed on furiously, "Oh, you have to return your wedding ring. That's a rare blue diamond, custom-designed by a renowned jeweler. It's worth millions. You're not worthy of it! You also have to return the matching necklace set!"

Charlotte replied coldly, "They're in the safe. I never wore them."

Apart from their wedding day, she hadn't touched them once.

Estelle sneered. "At least you have some sense. Just remember, you're not leaving with a single thing that belongs to the Norman family!"

Charlotte looked at her and felt nothing but disgust.

"Don't worry. I won't take anything that doesn't belong to me," she said calmly.

Nothing there had truly belonged to her, not even Brian.

Finally satisfied, Estelle ordered someone to pack Charlotte's things and threw her out of the house.

…

One week later, a fleet of luxury Bentlys sped down the Juxburg expressway toward Marindale.

A young man in the car spoke urgently into his phone. "I've found our sister. I'm on my way to get her now. You don't need to come."

"Are you kidding me?" came a voice on the other end. "Our precious sister has been missing for 20 years, and now that we've finally found her. Of course, I'm coming! I've already dispatched over a dozen helicopters. She deserves a royal welcome home!"

"Lottie is the Howard family's only daughter. The entire family has been waiting for her. A dozen choppers isn't enough. Send more! Line them up in formation to show her our sincerity!" another man said.

As the three brothers argued back and forth, the deep voice of a middle-aged man cut in, "All of you shut up! Lottie is my baby girl. This had nothing to do with you kids! None of you are going. Your mom and I will be going ourselves!"

The rest shouted back, "Doesn't matter! Whoever gets there first brings her home! I don't care even if you're my father!"

…

Six years had passed, and Charlotte had just finished a six-hour surgery at Marindale First Hospital.

The moment she stepped out of the operating room, her phone lit up with a barrage of messages from her daughter Amber, all the way from Juxburg.

"Mommy! So many people came to propose today, saying they want to be my new daddy! Grandpa got so mad that he let the dogs out and chased them away! Uncle Sky asked them where they found the guts. It was so funny!

"Those guys really have no shame. My mommy is the most beautiful and amazing woman in the world. She deserves the world's most handsome man!

"Don't worry, Mommy. I'll make sure to stop those men! No one's going to bother you!"

Charlotte couldn't help but laugh as she read. She could practically picture the chaos unfolding at home.

Still chuckling, she typed back, "Thanks, sweetheart."

She tucked her phone away and turned to head back to the staff lounge.

A few whispers caught her attention as she passed the nurses' station.

"That little boy came to find a doctor for his dad. Apparently, whoever can cure him gets to be his stepmom. That kid's from one of the richest families!"

"Seriously? Then they'll need the best doctor available. What about Susan? She's skilled, young, and gorgeous!"

Charlotte usually had no interest in gossip. However, she had just heard that someone wanted to be her daughter's stepdad—now someone was out there searching for a stepmom?

With her curiosity piqued, she slowed her pace and glanced over.

In the middle of the crowd, she saw a small child surrounded by hospital staff.

He looked to be around four or five years old, his features strikingly delicate. His round, chubby face had an angelic softness to it, and his rosy lips made him look ridiculously adorable.

The boy sat on the bench, swinging his feet back and forth. He scanned the crowd with a thoughtful gaze.

Chapter 2

A pretty woman stood before the boy and said sweetly, "Hello. I'm Susan Hall. I'm a pretty good doctor, and I'd love to help your daddy."

When Kayden heard Susan introduce herself, he scrunched his face in annoyance.

Although he was here with his father to seek medical aid, he never said anything about choosing a stepmother.

He wondered where in the world that ridiculous rumor came from. Besides, where did this lady with a face full of thick makeup get the confidence?

Disgust was written all over Kayden's face.

Charlotte watched the whole scene, looking at his expression closely.

Although Kayden didn't say anything, she could feel exactly what he was thinking.

Charlotte couldn't help but chuckle.

Her sudden laugh attracted the attention of everyone else.

When they saw her, they straightened up immediately and greeted in unison, "Dr. Mandy!"

Someone whispered under their breath, "Damn, how could we forget about her? Her skills are legendary, even if she's only here temporarily for surgery. Susan doesn't even compare."

Charlotte quickly realized she had unintentionally become the center of attention. She wiped the smile off her face and said politely, "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I just think maybe there's been a little misunderstanding. I don't think this boy is shopping for a stepmom out here."

Everyone looked at Kayden suspiciously, wondering if they had misunderstood him. But they got the news straight from the janitor, who had overheard it outside the director's office. It had to be true.

"How would you know he's not?" Susan snapped, clearly annoyed that her moment had been interrupted.

Charlotte shrugged. "It's just a hunch."

Susan frowned and was about to say something when Kayden jumped down from his seat and interrupted innocently, "She's right. I wasn't planning on looking for a stepmom. But now, I've changed my mind. Ma'am, I've fallen in love with you at first sight. Would you like to come home with me and be my mommy?"

Everyone was stunned to hear that, including Charlotte.

She hadn't expected Kayden to confess his love to her. After a moment, she broke into a smile.

This boy looked like he was being serious.

She looked at him with a gentle smile. "Sweetheart, picking a stepmom is not a joke. Does your daddy know you're doing this?"

Kayden replied earnestly, "At home, I make the decisions! Anything I say goes!"

Charlotte laughed helplessly, thinking that Kayden was playing around. After all, Amber was also as cheeky as Kayden was. Sometimes, when Amber saw a handsome man, she'd whisper, "That guy has real dad potential!"

Kayden looked around the same age as Amber.

Charlotte kneeled down and gently patted his head. "Sorry, sweetheart. I'm not in the market to become anyone's stepmom. Maybe try someone else, okay? I have to leave now."

Then, she pulled her hand back and quickly returned to the lounge to change.

Charlotte didn't think much of the encounter just now.

Still, running into such an adorable kid stirred something in her. It made her think of her own son, who had passed away.

He would have been around that age if he had lived.

Six years ago, after her divorce from Brian, she was briefly homeless. She tried to find a job to support herself, but the Perry family had put out the word so nobody would hire her.

Just when she was at her lowest, her birth parents and brothers appeared out of nowhere and took her back to Juxburg.

Later, she became pregnant and gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. But the boy had died at birth, leaving only her daughter behind.

The memories brought a wave of sorrow over Charlotte, and her good mood from earlier vanished instantly.

She quickly finished changing and got ready to leave. After such a complicated surgery, she was pretty exhausted. All she wanted was to go home and rest.

But once she opened the door, Kayden greeted her at the doorway.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected Kayden to have followed her. He was really persistent.

Kayden smiled sweetly at her. "Wow! I knew it! Earlier, when you wore a mask, I couldn't see your whole face, but I knew you were gorgeous. And I was right! I have quite an eye! You're so pretty!"

Charlotte couldn't help but laugh—Kayden was way too good at sweet-talking. She wondered where he had learned it from. At this point, he would be unstoppable when he grows up.

She couldn't resist reaching out to pinch his cheek. "Even if you flatter me, I still won't agree to be your mommy."

Kayden's smile faltered a bit. "Why not? My daddy is super handsome! Like, really handsome. You guys would look great together!"

He was doing his best to pitch his dad.

But Charlotte just gave a dismissive shrug. "There's no reason. I don't even know your daddy. And being good-looking doesn't mean anything. More importantly, I'm not looking to get married, so give it up."

Kayden looked genuinely disappointed.

Even though it was his first time meeting this lady, he couldn't explain why something about her felt naturally warm and familiar.

He didn't feel that with anyone else.

But clearly, she wasn't interested. He had no choice but to accept it. "Okay."

Then, he quickly changed the topic. "Ma'am, could you help treat my daddy? I asked around, and they said you're the best. They called you a miracle doctor and said you just finished a tough surgery! My daddy has been sick for a long time. He's seen tons of doctors, but no one can cure him.

"So, can you please help him?"

He looked up at her with a hopeful expression.

Charlotte hadn't planned to spend more time on this. She had a lot of work to do in Marindale, and she'd only agreed to perform that surgery as a favor.

But something about Kayden's hopeful expression softened her heart.

She let out a sigh. "If it's just a consultation, I suppose I could take a look. Is your daddy in the hospital? If he is, take me to him. I'll try my best to help him."

Kayden's eyes lit up instantly, and his excitement bubbled over. "He's here! He's in the director's office. I'll take you!"

He reached out with his hand and grabbed hers as if afraid she might slip away.

In return, Charlotte laughed softly and gently held his hand, letting him lead the way.

…

Meanwhile, Brian had just finished discussing business with David Foster in the director's office.

Today, he'd come to the hospital specifically to ask David to introduce him to a doctor named Mandy. As a show of goodwill, he'd even donated a batch of medical equipment for free.

David smiled as he walked him out.

The moment they stepped outside, Brian noticed that his son was nowhere in sight.

His sharp gaze scanned the hallway, but Kayden was gone. He frowned and asked, "Where's Kayden?"

His assistant, Henry Houston, embarrassedly explained, "He ran off. Word got out that you were here today. Somehow, someone leaked it, and now the whole hospital's buzzing with rumors that whoever can cure you gets to marry into the family and become Kayden's stepmom!

"Kayden said he wanted to investigate who started the gossip."

Chapter 3

When Brian heard that, he furrowed his brows instantly, and he muttered coldly, "Everyone knows I'm here?"

Henry quickly replied, "No one mentioned your name specifically. The rumor just says a powerful man from Marindale is visiting. Don't worry, I've already taken care of it. I'll speak to Mr. Foster again and make sure no one says another word."

Brian gave a slight nod, though his expression remained grim.

Brian continued, "Where is Kayden right now?"

Henry looked even more embarrassed. "Well... I'm not sure. He didn't want anyone following him. I tried tracking his location with GPS, but the signal's gone. I think he found the tracker and disabled it."

Brian went silent for a few seconds before giving an order. "When we return, tell the tech department to develop a new one. They must be useless if even a five-year-old can hack their technology."

"Yes," Henry replied quickly. He knew it wasn't the tech that was the problem—Kayden was just too smart.

He was barely five years old and already a skilled hacker. Nobody could handle him.

Brian had no idea about Henry's true thoughts. He quickly pulled out his phone and called Kayden.

At that moment, Kayden held Charlotte's hand as they stepped into the elevator, heading to the floor where the director's office was.

The phone rang, and he answered immediately.

"Hi, Daddy!" Kayden greeted cheerfully.

"Kayden, where did you run off to?" Brian's cold voice cut through the speaker.

The elevator was small, and Kayden's phone volume was turned up. Charlotte heard every single word, loud and clear.

She froze on the spot, thinking she must have misheard. She could recognize that voice anywhere—it was that bastard, Brian.

This was too much of a coincidence.

Kayden, utterly oblivious to Charlotte's reaction, answered sweetly, "I got bored waiting, so I took a walk. But Daddy, guess what! I met this super pretty lady! She's a miracle doctor, and I convinced her to help treat you!"

He was so proud of himself, sounding like he was delivering the best news in the world.

Charlotte, on the other hand, was utterly stunned.

She never expected that this adorable boy was Brian's son. She couldn't believe Brian had a son who was this old already.

Her mind spun as she stood there in shock. Meanwhile, Kayden had already given Brian their exact location.

Brian replied coldly, "Wait for me right outside the elevator. Don't move. I'm coming to get you."

And with that, the call ended.

Kayden put his phone away, then said to Charlotte with a big grin, "Ma'am, my daddy's on his way! You're about to meet him!"

Charlotte was overwhelmed with emotions. Only now did she recognize that Kayden was a miniature version of Brian. How had she missed it earlier?

Besides, when she first met him, she had overheard people saying he was from a powerful family from Marindale. She should've connected the dots and realized they were talking about the Norman family.

Charlotte had no interest in getting involved with Brian again.

Her expression darkened as she changed her mind.

"Sorry, sweetheart. I know I told you I'd help, but something urgent came up. I'm afraid I won't be able to treat your daddy after all," she said apologetically.

As she spoke, the elevator arrived on their floor.

She led Kayden out, then added, "I'm really sorry, but I've got something I need to take care of. I have to go now."

"What?" Kayden froze, clearly stunned. Instinctively, he tried to stop her. "Wait! Please don't go!"

But Charlotte had already pressed the elevator button and turned away.

She did feel a bit guilty toward Kayden since he had pleaded so earnestly.

But his father was Brian, and she wanted nothing to do with him.

Her trip to Marindale wasn't just for the surgery she had just performed. The real reason she was here was for a major pharmaceutical research project tied to her family's company.

Her father, Samson Howard, was the head of Howard Group, Juxburg's leading pharmaceutical empire.

Howard Group had built its reputation on medicine, with a vast network spanning traditional medicine, medical equipment, hospitals, and drug development.

One of the company's branches in Marindale was tackling a challenging research problem, and they needed her expertise.

Even though this place held many painful memories, those who hurt her were no longer part of her life.

So, Charlotte had no choice but to reject Kayden.

…

Charlotte left very quickly. She didn't notice that as the elevator doors closed behind her, a group of people turned the corner at the far end of the hallway. Brian was at the forefront of the group.

He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit and walked with such confidence that it drew everyone's attention.

People along the corridor glanced up as he passed, but he didn't so much as blink in their direction. His sharp gaze had already locked onto Kayden, who was standing alone just ahead.

He happened to glimpse the figure in the elevator behind Kayden.

It was only a fleeting moment, not even long enough to see her face, but it was enough to make him stop in his tracks.

His eyes narrowed, and there was a flash of surprise.

That woman looked familiar—she looked like his ex-wife, Charlotte.

He wondered if she was back.

Brian's expression shifted instantly, and without a second thought, he began to chase after her.

Chapter 4

Just then, Kayden spotted Brian.

Kayden was upset because Charlotte left, and he couldn't help but complain, "Daddy, what took you so long? The pretty lady is gone!"

When he saw Kayden visibly disappointed, Brian decided to let it go.

Maybe he had been mistaken.

Charlotte had vanished six years ago without a trace. No matter how hard he searched, there had been nothing. How could she suddenly show up now?

After snapping out of his thoughts, Brian looked down at Kayden. "What pretty lady? The one you mentioned on the phone? The so-called miracle doctor?"

Kayden nodded, still glancing in the direction Charlotte had gone. He looked genuinely sad. He wondered if he could still catch her if he ran fast enough.

Brian, missing the point entirely, shrugged it off. "If she left, so be it. It's no big deal."

He didn't believe Kayden had really met a miracle doctor. Besides, the woman he glimpsed had looked young. She couldn't possibly be that skilled in medicine.

Besides, he had already obtained the contact information for the real miracle doctor from the hospital director, who was a far more promising lead.

But Kayden wasn't having it. He scrunched his face in frustration.

"How can you say that?" he huffed.

Kayden had worked so hard to convince the woman to help. Besides, she left because Brian arrived late. Now, he was acting like it didn't matter at all.

Kayden was so angry that he stomped off down the hallway.

Brian couldn't understand why Kayden was throwing a tantrum. He frowned and asked, "What are you upset about?"

"You don't even care about the miracle doctor! You think the pretty lady isn't capable, don't you?" Kayden grumbled.

In frustration, he added, "You have to believe me! I asked around. She's really amazing! She just finished a hard surgery that no one else could do!"

Still, Brian wasn't convinced. He kept his voice calm, trying to soothe Kayden. "I'm not saying I don't believe you. I just know my own condition better than anyone. It's not something any regular doctor can fix. That woman you met—she may be skilled, but that doesn't mean she can help."

What puzzled Brian more than anything was how attached Kayden had become to this stranger.

Over the years, countless women from wealthy families in Marindale had tried to cozy up to him, hoping to become Kayden's stepmother. He thoroughly rejected every single one of them.

Even Lydia, who had close ties with the Norman family, was barely tolerated.

This earned Kayden a reputation for being mean, and everyone in Marindale knew about it.

This was the first time Brian had seen Kayden so taken with a woman. He couldn't help but wonder if this woman had approached his son with ulterior motives.

It was best to nip this in the bud if that were the case.

"I already got the contact for the real miracle doctor. Mission accomplished for today. Let's go home and stop making a fuss," Brian said firmly.

Kayden felt his heart sink when he heard that the woman wasn't the miracle doctor Brian was looking for. That also meant he might not see her again.

Even though he had just met her once, Kayden really liked her for some reason. She hadn't been gone for long, and he already missed her. He really longed to see her again.

"I've decided I'm going to look for her!" he vowed to himself.

If she couldn't heal Brian's sickness, she could become Kayden's mother instead.

The thought sparked something in him, wiping away all the earlier gloom.

…

After leaving the hospital, Charlotte went straight home.

Her mind was a mess; no matter how long she sat with her thoughts, they wouldn't settle.

Although she had been divorced from Brian for six years now, and any feelings she'd once had for him were long gone, the thought of Kayden still stirred something she couldn't ignore.

Kayden looked about the same age as Amber—which meant Brian had a child with someone else not long after they separated.

She wondered if it was with Lydia.

The idea almost made her laugh.

When she and Brian were married, she'd mentioned wanting a baby several times.

He'd shut it down every time. He never had any intention of becoming a father. In fact, after every time they were intimate, he'd make her take birth control.

However, the Norman family's plans were the opposite of that. For years, she'd been pressured and belittled by Estelle, all because she couldn't get pregnant.

Brian never knew about this.

Then, the moment they divorced, he suddenly decided he wanted a child.

There was nothing left for Charlotte to guess—Brian never hated the idea of children. He just didn't want to have children with her.

When she thought about it, Charlotte couldn't help but curse him under her breath. That man was nothing but a bastard.

Right in the middle of her internal tirade, Ivy Shaw, her best friend, called her.

Charlotte took a deep breath to collect herself before answering. "Hey, Ivy, what's up?"

Ivy's cheerful voice came through, "Hey, Char! Are you done for the day?"

"I've just wrapped up. I'm heading home now," Charlotte replied.

Ivy immediately protested, "What do you mean home? You're in Marindale, so you had better have a meal with me! Besides, you just did surgery all day. You need some real food!"

Charlotte chuckled at her words. "Alright, fine. You're treating. Send me the address, and I'll meet you there."

"Alright! Come to Clarke's Table. I'm waiting!"

With that, Ivy hung up.

Charlotte slipped her phone away and leaned forward to speak to her driver, Shane Brown.

"Shane, I won't be eating at home tonight. Take me to Clarke's Table."

"Yes, Ms. Howard," Shane replied and started the car.

Half an hour later, Charlotte met up with Ivy at the restaurant.

They hadn't seen each other in two months. When she walked in, Ivy spotted her and came rushing over with arms wide open.

"Char, you're finally here!"

Ivy grinned mischievously and hooked a finger under Charlotte's chin.

"Why do you keep getting prettier? Seriously, it's not fair. The universe gave you looks and talent. I'm so jealous I could scream."

Charlotte kept a straight face and replied, "First of all, the looks are thanks to my parents. Second, the talent is a born gift."

Ivy burst out laughing. "You narcissist!"

Charlotte couldn't help but burst out laughing, too.

Chapter 5

"Alright, sit down. I already ordered your favorites. You must be starving after such a long day," Ivy said, pulling Charlotte into a seat before plopping down beside her.

Charlotte nodded and quickly dug into the food.

"I am starving. I even skipped lunch because of that surgery!"

Even though putting Susan in her place had felt good, Charlotte felt tense throughout the entire surgery. It had dragged on for hours, and there had been no way to switch surgeons midway. Lunch wasn't even an option.

Ivy felt her heart ache upon hearing that. "You poor thing. Eat more," she said, piling Charlotte's favorite dishes onto her plate.

Charlotte devoured the food heartily.

It wasn't until she had eaten her fill that they settled in for a proper conversation.

They had met four years ago while studying abroad and had been inseparable ever since.

Ivy asked, "How long do you think you'll stay in Marindale for that project?"

Charlotte shook her head. "I'm not sure. Maybe two or three months if I'm lucky. If not, maybe half to a year."

Projects like these were highly unpredictable. Besides, the new drug they were developing this time was quite tricky.

Ivy perked up at that. "Good! That means I'll have you around for a while. By the way, I'm taking you to meet a few of my friends after dinner. Remember those two rare herbs you asked me about? I tracked them down through the Lambert family here in Marindale. Mr. Lambert will be there too. You should talk to him."

Charlotte was exhausted. She planned to head home after dinner and rest, but Ivy's words changed her mind.

"Definitely. I've been searching for so long. I can't miss this chance."

So, after dinner, Charlotte and Ivy went to a private club.

As they pulled up, another car happened to stop at the entrance.

It was Brian, who was there to meet a client for business talks.

But just as he exited the car, he caught a flash of a familiar silhouette. It was Charlotte again.

He wondered if he might've been mistaken once more.

Henry got out after him and noticed Brian standing still.

"Mr. Norman, are you okay? Is something wrong with your eyes?"

Brian shook his head and said calmly, "No. Let's go."

"Yes, Mr. Norman," Henry replied and quickly hurried after him.

Charlotte, unaware of any of this, followed Ivy into a private room where several people were already waiting.

Judging by their refined manners and tailored clothes, it was clear they all came from impressive backgrounds.

Ivy called out to them.

Upon seeing her, they greeted her warmly, "You're late! We've been waiting for a while!"

"You'll have to drink in compensation!" someone teased.

"No problem!" Ivy laughed, grabbing a cocktail and downing it in one go like a champ.

After setting the glass down, she waved a hand toward Charlotte.

"Almost forgot! Let me introduce you. This is my best friend, Charlotte. She's a doctor."

No one there knew Charlotte's true identity, but everyone was more than welcoming once they heard she was Ivy's friend.

"Wow! She's gorgeous!"

"Hi, Charlotte! Mind if I get your phone number?"

"Relax, we're all friends here. You don't have to be so polite!"

They greeted her enthusiastically, and Charlotte smiled and responded kindly in return.

"Alright, you guys keep doing your thing. I have some stuff to talk about with Char," Ivy said, waving her friends off before hooking her arm through Charlotte's and dragging her to sit beside a refined-looking man.

"Matthias, this is the miracle doctor I told you about!" Ivy said.

Charlotte looked at the handsome and soft-spoken man in front of her. He must be the man from the Lambert family Ivy mentioned.

She smiled politely and greeted him, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Lambert."

Matthias Lambert smiled warmly and said, "Nice to meet you, too. I've heard a lot about you. I read your paper on Ancient Acupuncture Therapy. It was truly refreshing. Plus, your reputation as a doctor precedes you. I never imagined you would be so young."

Charlotte remained modest and replied, "You're too kind, Mr. Lambert."

Matthias chuckled. "Ivy mentioned you're looking for some rare herbs. As it happens, our family's herb garden cultivated a few rare strains a few years back. They're quite priceless, but meeting someone like you feels like a fair trade. Let's set a time, and you can come pick them up. You can give me your number so we can keep in touch."

"Of course. Thank you very much," Charlotte said, pulling out her phone to exchange numbers with him.

Once the business talk was over, the atmosphere relaxed, and everyone started mingling comfortably.

Since it was mostly a casual gathering of friends, drinking games naturally became involved.

The room buzzed with laughter, and under the cheerful vibe, Charlotte also found herself having a few drinks. But she wasn't great at holding alcohol. Even though the drinks were light, it didn't take long before she started feeling a little dizzy.

"Char, do you want another?" Ivy asked as she was about to pour Charlotte another glass of whiskey.

Charlotte quickly waved her off. "No way. I'm already feeling tipsy. I need to hit the bathroom."

"You're drunk already? Want me to come with you?" Ivy asked, worried that she was actually drunk.

Charlotte shrugged. "It's fine. You stay here. I know the way. I'll be right back."

"Alright, but be careful!" Ivy called after her with a wave.

Charlotte left the room but did not head to the bathroom. Instead, she went toward the emergency stairwell to get some air.

The noise faded behind her, and the quietness of the stairwell was a welcome relief.

While leaning against the wall, she pulled out her phone, planning to call Amber.

Just as she unlocked her screen, the door slammed open.

Two drunken young men stumbled through, supporting each other as they laughed loudly.

When they saw Charlotte there, they both jumped slightly, clearly surprised.

"Huh? I didn't think anyone would be here," one of them mumbled. But the second he got a good look at Charlotte's face, he froze—Charlotte was stunning.

Their eyes lit up, and their gazes were practically glued to her.

"Well, you're gorgeous."

"Hey, beautiful. Hanging out here all by yourself? Why don't you have a drink with us? Maybe later, we can have some real fun," the other added in a sleazy tone.

Their eyes roamed over Charlotte's body. It was clear their intentions were filthy.

Charlotte caught sight of them and cursed under her breath.

What terrible luck. Of all places, she had to run into two drunk creeps here.

She had no intention of engaging. She put away her phone and turned to leave.

But the two men quickly moved to block her way.

"Hey, gorgeous, we're talking to you!"

As they leaned in, the stench of alcohol coming off them hit her like a wave, making her stomach churn.

Charlotte frowned, her patience wearing thin. "Move! I'm not interested," she said sharply.

But these two drunken idiots either did not understand or simply did not care, for they advanced forward.

…

Meanwhile, just outside the stairwell, Brian had just wrapped up a business meeting and was making his way down the hall when he caught the sound of a voice.

He never expected to hear this voice here.

He had already caught a glimpse of a familiar figure at the hospital and again outside the club entrance earlier tonight, and now he's hearing her voice. Everything was too much of a coincidence.

Brian's gaze turned sharp as he stared at the closed door before him.

It had to be Charlotte. She had finally shown herself.