Chapter 3
Inside the mansion, the butler handed her a glass of water. "You just got back. Why don't you go upstairs and rest for a bit?"
Charlotte took it and replied flatly, "Okay."
"Also..." The butler paused. "The Langley family sent word asking when would be convenient for them to hold a welcome party for you. Mr. Thomas Langley and several elders are looking forward to seeing you, and your mother... misses you very much."
Charlotte's hand froze mid-sip.
The Langley family was indeed a mysterious and powerful clan.
Compared to the Johnson family's attitude of wanting to squeeze every last drop of blood from her, the Langley family's careful approach was much more comfortable.
"No rush." Charlotte set down the glass. "The day after tomorrow, the Johnson family is having an engagement party. I need to go deliver a big gift."
Since they'd cut ties, might as well make it clean.
She hadn't settled the score with Chloe for publishing her manuscript yet.
"Let's set the welcome party for this weekend."
"Yes." The butler breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Charlotte was willing to meet them, that was good enough.
At 2 PM, Charlotte changed clothes and went out.
White T-shirt with cargo pants, her baseball cap pulled down low, showing only her chin.
She didn't ask the driver to take her, instead taking a taxi to the downtown mall.
This was Imperial City's most high-end luxury shopping center, and one of the properties under her name.
Charlotte had just reached the jewelry section on the second floor when a familiar voice rang out.
"Oh my, who do we have here? Isn't this the stray dog who just got kicked out of her home?"
What a narrow road for enemies to meet.
Charlotte paused slightly and looked up.
Not far away, Susan was holding Chloe's arm, looking at her with complete disdain.
Today Chloe wore a Vesante haute couture dress with perfect makeup, and was trying on a necklace.
She recognized it immediately—it was Queen's work from last year, "Galaxy." But...
Charlotte's gaze lingered on the necklace for a second, a smile playing at her lips.
"What? Got kicked out of the Johnson family and can't even afford food? Coming here to mooch off the air conditioning?" Susan looked Charlotte up and down, and seeing her cheap outfit, the disgust in her eyes deepened. "How dare someone like you even come in here? Get lost!"
Just thinking that Charlotte was her biological daughter made her blood boil with nameless anger.
So low-class. How did she give birth to this thing?
Chloe tugged at Susan's sleeve, speaking softly and weakly, "Mom, don't talk to Charlotte like that... She probably just wants to see what it's like here... After all, she grew up in the countryside and has never even seen a mall like this..."
As she spoke, she deliberately puffed out her chest and touched the necklace around her neck.
"Charlotte, don't you think this necklace is beautiful? It's a limited edition designed by the master Queen! It costs five hundred thousand! Mom said she'd buy it for me as an engagement gift..."
The sales associate standing nearby looked awkward, wanting to say something but holding back.
That was a high-quality fake used for display!
"Ms. Johnson, actually this necklace..." The associate was about to explain.
But Charlotte suddenly laughed softly.
"Five hundred thousand?" She raised an eyebrow, her gaze landing on Chloe's vain face. "It really suits you."
Counterfeits match with trash.
A perfect match.
Chloe didn't catch the deeper meaning in her words, thinking she was just jealous.
The next second, she lifted her chin proudly. "Of course! Benjamin said only Queen's designs are worthy of me! Unlike some people who will never get to wear such expensive jewelry in their entire lives!"
"Really?" Charlotte put her hands in her pockets, her tone lazy. "If you like it so much, then buy it. Or is it that... the Johnson family can't even come up with five hundred thousand now?"
This comment hit Susan right where it hurt.
They'd lost a ten-million-dollar deal this morning, and the cash flow was indeed a bit tight.
But in front of this wretched girl, she absolutely couldn't lose face!
"Who says we can't afford it!" Susan pulled out a card from her bag and slapped it on the counter. "Wrap it up! Charge it!"
The sales associate completely panicked.
If they sold this and it was discovered to be fake, it wouldn't just be about returns—it would ruin the mall's reputation!
"Mrs. Johnson, this isn't..." The associate was sweating nervously.
"What? Afraid my card doesn't have money?" Susan glared at her. "Just charge it! What are you dawdling for!"
Charlotte stood to the side, finding the scene even more ironic.
She held a black card between her fingers and casually flashed it in front of the sales associate.
A black gold supreme card.
Only ten in the world.
Also proof of being the mall's behind-the-scenes owner.
The sales associate looked at this ordinarily dressed girl in disbelief.
She was the boss?!
Charlotte nodded slightly, her eyes signaling: Sell it to her.
The associate was smart and immediately understood Charlotte's meaning.
She took a deep breath and instantly put on a professional smile. "Alright, since Ms. Johnson likes it so much, it's our honor. I'll wrap it up for you right away."
If someone was willing to spend five hundred thousand on a glass fake as a treasure, why not make it happen?
And it was the boss's instruction—even if the sky fell, the boss would handle it.
"That's more like it!" Chloe snorted coldly and glanced at Charlotte haughtily. "See that? That's the difference! Some people are destined to only play in the mud in the countryside!"
Chloe touched the necklace around her neck, feeling delighted.
With this necklace, she'd definitely be the center of attention at the engagement party!
Meanwhile.
At the third-floor railing of the mall.
A tall figure stood there.
The man wore a perfectly tailored haute couture suit, his posture straight, his features deep and defined. Especially those eyes—deep and sharp, radiating an innate nobility.
At this moment, his gaze was fixed on the girl in the baseball cap downstairs.
He'd seen everything that just happened, including the moment when the girl secretly flashed her black gold card.
Alexander Harris's thin lips curved slightly, letting out a soft laugh.
"Mr. Harris, what are you laughing at?" His assistant behind him was so shocked he nearly dropped his jaw.
The eternal iceberg actually smiled?
"I saw a..." Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Interesting little wildcat."
Dressed in cheap clothes but possessing that top-tier black gold card.
Could have exposed them on the spot but chose instead to watch those two idiots jump into the pit.
That mischievous streak really appealed to him.
"Go find out." Alexander withdrew his gaze, his tone returning to its usual coldness. "Who she is."
"Yes."
The assistant followed his line of sight and only saw a retreating figure.
Who was this unlucky person? Once Alexander set his sights on someone, they probably couldn't escape for the rest of their life.
Charlotte had no idea what was happening on the third floor and simply walked out of the mall in a good mood.
That fake—anyone with even a bit of knowledge could spot it at a glance.
When the time came at the engagement party...
The scene would definitely be spectacular.
She was starting to look forward to the day after tomorrow!