Chapter 64

Charlotte was worried about Grandpa's death and immediately drove to the Davis Manor.

To her surprise, when she arrived at the Davis Manor living room, she found not only Victoria there, but also many Davis family relatives she didn't know.

Richard was keeping Victoria company over tea. Seeing her arrive, he personally pulled out the chair across from Victoria.

"Come sit."

At those words, the relatives' expressions all changed.

With Victoria sitting there having tea, none of them dared to sit down easily.

A young girl—what made her worthy of Richard personally offering her a seat?

What was her background?

Not only that, but what surprised them even more was that Victoria didn't mind at all that Charlotte sat down.

Her face was full of warm kindness that she had never shown to other Davis family members, and she beckoned to Charlotte.

"Charlotte, come taste this tea and see if it's fragrant."

"Grandma Victoria, how are you feeling?"

Charlotte walked over with an obedient smile.

Victoria nodded, finding Charlotte more and more satisfactory the more she looked at her.

She couldn't help but take Charlotte's hand and announce publicly: "With you coming to see me, how could I not be well? If you and Richard could settle things, I'd feel even better."

Charlotte froze and looked at Richard.

Richard lowered his eyes, looking at her tenderly, reminding her, "Grandma means, are you willing to set a wedding date with me?"

"A wedding date?!"

Richard's aunt immediately changed her expression and looked Charlotte up and down.

"What's Ms. Brown's background? How can she marry into the Davis family? Didn't they say... she's a farm owner's daughter!"

Hearing this, the others became even more disdainful and started whispering among themselves.

"Victoria, are you confused? How can you let a girl from a farm background marry the Davis family heir?"

"Richard seems quite fond of her. Girls from that kind of background are good at figuring out how to please men."

"Their family backgrounds don't match at all. This isn't appropriate, right? Just randomly finding someone with unclear origins to marry?"

Charlotte heard clearly, but before she could react, Richard's expression changed, and he stepped forward to shield her behind him.

His eyes suddenly became very imposing, his tone carrying a hidden warning: "She's not of unclear origins. She's the only person I've decided to marry. Anyone who looks down on Charlotte is looking down on me, and they don't need to come here anymore."

After he spoke, those who had been whispering all shut their mouths, not daring to speak.

None of them had expected Richard to protect Charlotte like this.

Victoria nodded with satisfaction, "Charlotte is recognized by both Richard and me. If any of you can't stand it, you can leave now, and you don't need to come visit me in the future either."

With both of them speaking up, who dared to have an opinion?

Everyone obediently lowered their heads, and no one dared to look at Charlotte with those frivolous eyes anymore.

Peace returned to the living room. Charlotte laughed it off, brushing past the marriage topic, and kept Victoria company in conversation.

Laughter and cheerful voices occasionally drifted out from the living room.

In the courtyard under a tree, a figure stood quietly listening.

If you didn't look carefully, you wouldn't notice her presence at all.

Standing under the tree was Ellie.

She had heard that the Davis family relatives were all coming to visit Victoria today, so she bought gifts to pay a visit.

Victoria valued Richard the most. She thought, someone who had wandered outside with a complicated past—even if she was the real Brown family daughter, Victoria might not feel comfortable letting her marry in.

Unlike herself, who grew up in the Brown family. Even without Brown family blood, she was still raised with care by the Brown family parents.

Well-educated, gentle, and polite.

Ellie specially brought supplements and gifts to visit Victoria.

But she never expected Charlotte to be there too, and so liked by Victoria!

Why...

Just a wild girl. Besides being the real Brown family daughter, what made her better than her?

Ellie fiercely dug her nails into her palm, staring resentfully at that figure.

She wished she could drag Charlotte out and sit in front of Victoria herself as the future Mrs. Davis!

"Ellie."

A very soft voice came from behind.

Ellie snapped back to reality and looked at Stella, who had come with her.

"Didn't I tell you to just drop me off and leave? Why did you follow me!"

Stella pouted and quietly stirred up trouble: "I just can't stand Charlotte. She hasn't been with the Brown family for so long; everyone assumed you were the one engaged to Mr. Davis. Why should she be able to steal Mr. Davis away as soon as she shows up! It's not fair!"

A flash of murderous intent crossed Ellie's eyes, then she resumed her usual weak and innocent appearance.

She coughed lightly, "I won't let their engagement be settled just like that. Just wait and see."

Ellie walked straight in.

In the living room.

Everyone was talking.

Victoria was chatting with others, while Charlotte was talking with Richard in a corner.

From a distance, the two seemed to have a very good relationship.

Victoria noticed from the corner of her eye and smiled with satisfaction.

"What's the situation with the codebook?" Charlotte looked at the handsome man before her.

Richard held a glass of champagne, lazily taking a couple of sips before smiling unhurriedly.

"It's being decoded. In a few days or a week or two, we'll know the results."

Charlotte let out a breath, "Okay, I'll wait for your news."

Richard looked at her, suddenly put down his glass, and leaned closer, his half-smiling eyes containing a hint of probing.

"Earlier, when my grandmother asked if you wanted to settle the marriage, why didn't you give a clear answer?"

Charlotte's eyes flickered. Being stared at by him, she suddenly felt uncomfortable for some reason.

She turned her head away and coughed lightly. "I... what do you want me to answer?"

Richard moved another step closer, able to smell the jasmine fragrance from Charlotte's hair.

He restrained the feeling of his heart beating twice as fast, his throat moving: "I want you to agree to marry me. Can you?"

Charlotte looked up in surprise, meeting Richard's gaze.

Before she could speak, a servant suddenly came in from outside.

The servant's voice was loud, reaching almost every corner.

"Mrs. Victoria Davis, there's a young lady outside asking to see you. She says she's the Bliss Group heiress, Ellie."

Everyone went cold.

"Ellie? Isn't that the Bliss Group adopted daughter who's been chronically ill and rarely appears in public?"

"Why did she suddenly come? The Brown family and the Davis family had an arranged engagement. Could it be that she heard Richard wants to marry another woman, so..."

Several gazes fell on Charlotte's face, full of scrutiny and surprise.

Victoria slowly frowned, "Let her in."

Richard didn't move at all, just raised an eyebrow at Charlotte, "Why did your sister suddenly come?"

Charlotte pursed her lips. "She wants to marry you, obviously."

Richard laughed, "I won't marry her. I only want you to be my wife."

Charlotte's heart stirred, and she turned her head to the side.

Soon, the servant brought Ellie in.

Ellie wore a plain white dress, her long hair flowing, gentle, elegant, and innocent.

She carried gifts and spoke in a soft tone: "Grandma Victoria, I heard you were hospitalized some days ago. Since I rarely return to the country, I specially came to visit you."

Ellie paused, then acted as if she had just noticed Charlotte.

"Oh, Ms. Brown is here too?"