Chapter 231

Chapter 231

I happened to catch Edward noticing I was awake. He rushed to my bedside, his face tight with worry. "Charlotte, how are you feeling?"

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my shoulder and knocked me back down.

Michael quickly said, "Don't move. When you got hurt, you tore the wound open even further. On top of losing so much blood, what you need most right now is rest. If you don't, it could cause problems when the wound heals later."

I heard him out and gave a tired nod.

Penelope started sobbing. "You foolish girl, how could you do something like that?"

"Don't cry, Mom. I know exactly what the Cavendish family is like. I wanted them to act on impulse and hurt me — that way it adds to the charges against them."

The others in the room couldn't argue with my reasoning, but they still couldn't stand the idea of me gambling with my own life.

William's eyes were red as he snapped at me, "Charlotte, don't you ever do anything that dangerous again! Have you thought about what would happen if something went wrong? What would your mother and I do? What about your brothers? They were so happy when you came back — are you really going to drag all of us into the darkness again so soon?"

His words hit me with a wave of guilt. Ever since Chase died, I'd been so consumed by revenge that I hadn't stopped to think about any of that.

"I'm sorry," I said, feeling ashamed.

"Silly girl, your father and I don't blame you — but you have to promise us you'll never do anything like this again." Penelope kept crying as she spoke.

Her eyes had been swollen for days because of everything that had happened to me.

Seeing her like that made my heart ache.

Unlike the others, Edward hadn't said a word. He just looked at me with deep concern and a heavy expression. I knew that even though he was staying quiet, he was holding a lot back.

Michael checked on me once more, then gave us some space.

Penelope and William were quick to read the room. They exchanged a glance, made up an excuse about going out to get me food, and slipped out of the room.

It was just Edward and me.

He sat on the edge of the bed, brow furrowed, his voice full of a tenderness he couldn't quite hide — mixed with a frustration he couldn't hold back either. "I should have seen this coming, but I still got there too late."

I smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "We must have some kind of connection — I had no idea you were coming."

"You told me this morning you were busy. I knew today was Eleanor's engagement party, so I figured out what you were up to. I just didn't think you'd put yourself in danger like that."

"You know what I'm capable of. Unless I let them hurt me on purpose, they can't touch me."

All of Edward's frustration melted into helpless concern.

"Same as what your parents said — don't you ever do something that dangerous again. I mean it. Push me on this, and I'll really lose it."

It was the first time I'd ever seen Edward get worked up in such a childlike way. Part of me wanted to laugh, but mostly I just felt warm inside.

I reached out and gently took his hand. "Okay. I promise."

My answer seemed to settle him, and his expression gradually softened.

"That's the first time you've ever actually listened to me."

I pretended to be annoyed. "If I'd listened from the start, would you even be my fiancé right now?"

That made Edward laugh. "Coming from you, that actually makes a lot of sense."

When I smiled, the movement pulled at the wound on my shoulder — it really hurt.

"Aren't you supposed to be some kind of Asclepius? Don't you have something to take the edge off the pain?"

"Of course I do. I'll have someone bring it over shortly."

Edward let out a quiet sigh. "I honestly don't know what to do with you."

"By the way — what happened to those three?"

"I've already been in touch with the police. Eleanor probably won't go to prison, but she's considered a minor accomplice, so she'll likely get a suspended sentence. Aiden and Victoria are facing multiple charges — they're definitely going to jail."

I was quiet for a moment, then said, "If I'm being honest, I wish they'd get the death penalty. But I know that's not how the law works."

"If you really want them dead, I can make it happen," Edward said.

I shook my head. "No. I don't want their blood on your hands. Even if you could walk away clean with your connections, I don't want them dirtying your hands. Let the law deal with them. They won't be getting out for at least a decade or two — that's basically the rest of their lives behind bars."

Edward gently rubbed the back of my hand, his voice low. "I just feel like it's not enough. It doesn't come close to making up for what they put you through."

I pressed my lips together. "Given where things stand right now, it's enough. At least everyone knows what they did."

"But..."

"But what?" Edward asked.

"But I still need to deal with them myself. What happened at the party today wasn't enough."

Kevin brought the medication right on time. Three days after taking it, the knife wound on my shoulder had healed significantly - enough that I could move around normally. So I decided to check out of the hospital.

Staying there, I kept seeing flashes of the night my grandfather died.

But the first thing I did after leaving wasn't go home. Instead, I had Edward take me to the jail.

He'd already arranged everything.

"Do you want me to come in with you?"

"No, I'm afraid you'll see my ugly side, and it'll scare you off."

Edward reached over and ruffled my hair. "Nothing you do could ever scare me. But I actually have an online video call I can't push back, so I'll take it in the car. Let David go in with you — that way I won't worry. Is that okay?"

I hesitated for a few seconds, then agreed.

With David leading the way, the chief of police respectfully escorted us to the cell where Victoria was being held. It was nothing like the other cells — small, completely sealed off, no windows, solid walls on every side.

The moment you walked in, the suffocating feeling hit you like a wall.

Edward had specifically requested this. He wanted Victoria to be broken down mentally.

When Victoria, curled up in the corner, saw me, her eyes were shot through with red. Her hair was a mess, and she was wearing a prison uniform.

She scrambled toward me on all fours, dropped to her knees, and started knocking her head against the floor over and over. "Charlotte, I'm sorry. It was all my fault — I was wrong. Please, let me out of here. I'm losing my mind. This place is unbearable. I'll go crazy if I stay here any longer."

I nodded to David. He signaled the guard to open the cell, and I walked in slowly. Victoria grabbed onto my leg.

A second later, I kicked her away hard. She cried out in pain.

"Don't touch me," I said, my voice cold with disgust.

Victoria bit back the pain, pulled herself up, and stayed on her knees — but she didn't dare come any closer.

"Charlotte, please, just let me go this once. I'm begging you. I can't take it anymore."