Chapter 4
Looking at the message, Alexander's brow furrowed deeply.
What on earth was Charlotte doing?
Vantage Mall, the most upscale shopping center in River City.
Charlotte wore a brand new flowing dress, as she walked out of a luxury store with her best friend Jenna Hayes, both carrying bags of all sizes.
"So? Do you feel better after shopping?" Naturally vivacious, Jenna was practically glowing with excitement.
Charlotte let out a long breath and smiled. "Yeah, I do feel much better, but it was a bit too extravagant."
"Extravagant?" Jenna looked at her disapprovingly. "You've been married to Alexander for over six years, and all the money you've spent combined doesn't even match what he spent on one bag for Sabrina! Charlotte, can you please stand up for yourself?"
"Let's hit the next store! We are not going to stop until we've spent ten million!"
But Charlotte checked the time. "No more shopping. The lawyer should be arriving soon."
Jenna gave Charlotte an exasperated look, then asked tentatively, "Are you really sure about the divorce?"
"Yes!" Charlotte answered without hesitation.
Jenna gave her a thumbs up while looking at Charlotte with sympathy. "What about Owen? The Forbes Family probably won't let you take him..."
Charlotte fell silent for a moment. "Owen... I don't want him either."
Jenna looked shocked. "You're willing to give up your son!"
Charlotte glanced back at Jenna calmly. "Why wouldn't I be? He and Alexander both love Sabrina."
Jenna's eyes widened in surprise as she spat in disgust. "He's been fooled by Sabrina, too!"
"When you were pushed and went into premature labor, you risked your life to give birth to him. Then you spent almost every day at home taking care of him to help him recover. And in the end, he chose Sabrina over you!"
Watching Jenna fuming with anger, Charlotte felt a warmth in her heart...
Compared to Alexander and Owen, to whom she had devoted years of emotion and effort, Jenna was the one who truly cared about her.
"Alright, calm down. I don't care about them anymore."
"Really?" Jenna stopped, looking at Charlotte with reddened eyes, then suddenly hugged her. "But I still feel sorry for you. What should I do?"
Being bumped repeatedly on the back by the bags in Jenna's hands, Charlotte didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Come on, let's go downstairs and wait for the lawyer."
Jenna secretly wiped the corner of her eye. She started chatting and laughing again as she accompanied Charlotte downstairs.
Neither of them noticed that someone on the other side of the mall was staring intently at them...
The Forbes Estate.
The payment notification had just stopped when the phone rang again.
It was a call from Sabrina.
Alexander immediately pressed the answer button.
Before he could speak, Sabrina's sweet, clear voice rang out. "Alexander, guess who I just saw at the mall?"
Alexander asked. "Who?"
Sabrina replied. "Charlotte."
Alexander's hand unconsciously tightened around the phone. "Where is she?"
Sabrina glanced at Charlotte, who was sitting face-to-face with a male stranger, and pressed her red lips together. "At Vantage Mall."
A few moment ago, Jenna had left due to an urgent matter, leaving only Charlotte and the lawyer she had introduced, Jared Evans, to continue discussing the divorce agreement at the café.
"Miss Spencer, is there anything else you'd like to add?" Jared handed the newly drafted terms to Charlotte on his laptop.
Charlotte took the laptop and looked it over. "Looks good, no problem..."
Before Charlotte could finish, a sweet voice suddenly rang out from behind her.
"Charlotte? What are you doing here?"
Charlotte turned around to see Sabrina in a white dress, standing there with a look of delighted surprise.
Charlotte's expression turned cold. "What am doing here has nothing to do with you."
At that moment, seeing Charlotte's new look, a flash of darkness quickly passed through Sabrina's eyes.
Charlotte looked so good!
Was she trying to attract Alexander's attention again? No, absolutely not!
Despite her inner resentment, Sabrina still looked fragile. "Charlotte, please don't take it the wrong way. I was just asking casually. After all, at this time you're usually at home preparing lunch for Alexander and Owen."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Sabrina tilted her head with an innocent smile. "Oh! right, and my soup too."
Sabrina's voice was soft and gentle, with a light smile on her face, she looked like an innocent young girl.
In contrast, Charlotte seemed harsh and somewhat cold.
However, Charlotte caught the provocation and mockery hidden in Sabrina's words.
She slowly looked up. She saw the smugness in Sabrina's eyes that she hadn't had time to hide. "Want soup? Make it yourself."
Sabrina's expression changed, but she quickly showed a look of panic.
She stepped forward and grabbed Charlotte's hand, her voice urgent. "Charlotte, did I say something wrong again? Please don't be angry..."
Suddenly, Sabrina paused, leaned close to Charlotte's ear, and lowered her voice. "Actually, being angry won't help. I told you, Dad is mine, the Spencer Family is mine, and eventually Alexander will be mine too..."
Looking at Sabrina, who no longer hid the provocation in her eyes, Charlotte suddenly remembered a scene from years ago...
River City, Main Street.
At one end of the street, her mother, Lynn Talbot, held ten-year-old Charlotte's hand.
At the other end, Charles Spencer held Sabrina with one hand and his mistress Jasmine Lawson with the other, looking as intimate as if they were the real family.
During the silent standoff, Sabrina suddenly let go of Charles and ran over, affectionately taking Charlotte's hand.
Charlotte looked down at her hand being held, feeling a bit lost.
Just then, Sabrina suddenly leaned close to her ear and said in what should have been an innocentvoice, the most vicious words in the world: "Why isn't your mom dead yet? Dad said once she dies, he'll bring Mom and me back to the Spencer Family, and then Dad and everything in the Spencer Family will be mine."
With Sabrina's childish yet vicious voice echoing in her mind, Charlotte finally couldn't help but jerk her hand back. "Let go! You disgust me!"
Unexpectedly, Sabrina quickly surveyed the surroundings, suddenly cried out, and fell straight backward.
Sure enough, before Charlotte could react, a tall figure rushed over and caught Sabrina just as she was about to fall.
"Sabrina! Are you okay?"
Sabrina's face was pale, as if in shock. When she saw who it was, her eyes immediately reddened with grievance. "Alexander, I'm fine. Charlotte didn't push me."
Only then did Alexander follow her gaze to Charlotte, his tone full of impatience. "Charlotte, apologize!"
Owen, who had arrived right after, also stood beside Sabrina, his little brow furrowed tightly, his small hands on his hips. "Mom, why are you bullying Sabrina again? Apologize now!"