Chapter 241

Chapter 241

William looked a little embarrassed. "I just want to give my daughter a proper send-off. Charlotte, it's fine — showing up as this gives you face. Let your classmates get a good look, and nobody at school will dare mess with my precious daughter."

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Dad, I'm not going to get pushed around even without all this. Don't worry."

"That won't do. It's your first day, and I want everyone to know you arrived in style. I want everyone to know you're William's daughter."

Before I could respond, Penelope smacked him on the back.

"William! Are you out of your mind? How old are you? You're acting like a little kid. I told you last night not to do this, and by the time I got up this morning you'd already set the whole thing up. Do you ever listen to me? Charlotte said she doesn't like it — get rid of it, now."

William had no choice but to shoot Edward a desperate look.

Edward sighed. "Charlotte really doesn't like this kind of fuss. And honestly, showing up to school with this much fanfare might not be a good thing. You know how competitive students can be these days, and Charlotte has always preferred to keep a low profile."

That was enough to make William back down.

Just as he was about to give the order to clear everything out, Cleo sidled up and put on her sweetest voice. "Oh, Daddy, I think what you did is wonderful."

Then she turned to me. "Charlotte, this is Dad's way of showing us he cares. We can't just brush that off — he'd be so hurt."

I gave a small smile. "I only said I didn't want it. If you want it, feel free to keep it exactly as is."

Cleo's face flushed red all the way to her ears, and she looked like she wanted to disappear on the spot.

She instinctively glanced at Edward, but he didn't even look her way.

I almost felt bad for her in that moment.

Penelope chimed in. "Since Cleo likes it, Charlotte, would it be alright if we just sent you in the Rolls-Royce?"

I nodded. "Sure."

Not that I had much of a choice anyway. The family had over a hundred cars, all of them luxury.

At breakfast, Penelope and William kept piling on advice, clearly worried I wouldn't be comfortable. I had no choice but to pull out the dorm photos Eli had sent me earlier.

"Mom, look at my dorm. It's great."

Penelope's jaw nearly dropped. "Hamilton Law's dorms are this nice? I gave a lecture there a few years ago, and it definitely didn't look like this."

"They built a new one."

Cleo immediately jumped in. "I heard Charlotte is really close with the president of Hamilton Law. Some people say he had that whole dorm building constructed just for her."

Of course. Cleo never could help herself.

I smiled coolly. "Well, of course we're close. He's my godfather — practically the same as a real grandfather. He's Eli, one of the most well-known lawyers in the country. Oh, and Mom, Dad — his grandson is Michael, the doctor who treated Chase. You've met him."

The mention of Michael made my parents' eyes light up immediately.

William beamed. "So it's Eli! I've worked with him before — an incredibly sharp lawyer. I had no idea you two were that close, Charlotte. Looks like I need to start getting on your good side."

That made me laugh. "Come on, Dad, stop it."

"My daughter is just amazing — she knows people in every field."

Edward's eyes were full of pride. "Right. When I first met Charlotte, she had already helped my grandmother win a pet rights lawsuit. It was a landmark case — opened up a whole new chapter for animal rights litigation."

"Oh my goodness, that's incredible."

For a moment, the whole family was showering me with praise, while Cleo sat to the side, left out and visibly fuming.

After breakfast, everyone got ready to see us off to school.

Since Cleo's school was on the way, we dropped her off first.

I'd originally planned to split into two groups, but my parents insisted on personally sending both daughters themselves, so I went along with it.

Edward and I rode with my parents and Cleo in a stretch Lincoln. Behind us were ten Audi A8S carrying luggage, with a Rolls-Royce leading the way — I'd switch to that car once we'd dropped Cleo off.

"Charlotte, our schools aren't that far apart," Cleo said, stirring up trouble again. "I'll come visit you sometime, or you can come see me. Ashford University is better than Hamilton Law, after all — I can give you a tour."

I replied lazily, "Thanks, but no thanks. I've got a lot on my plate, so I won't have time to hang out. You go have fun on your own."

Cleo's expression darkened instantly, like someone had thrown cold water on her in public — embarrassed and furious all at once.

William added, "Yeah, Cleo, Charlotte has several companies to manage on top of going to school. Don't go bothering her. Spend your free time with your other friends."

"Cleo, the family has money, but now that you're in university, you still need to work hard. Don't embarrass the Sinclairs."

"Still, both my daughters have done me proud — one got a perfect SAT score, and the other ranked in the top hundred in the city. I couldn't ask for more." William grinned from ear to ear.

At those words, Cleo glanced at me with a flicker of guilt, and I looked back at her with a quiet, knowing smirk.

A little over two hours later, they arrived at Ashford University. The attendants stepped out and lined up in two rows, and Cleo walked out with her head held high. A large crowd of incoming freshmen and their parents had gathered outside the gate, and the sight of such an extravagant arrival drew everyone's attention.

"Oh wow, these people are loaded."

"All those luxury cars — who is this?"

"I think it's Mr. Sinclair from the Sinclair Group. I heard his daughter got into Ashford University."

"Rich and smart — unreal."

I stayed in the car. Edward certainly wasn't getting out. William was too busy chatting with Edward to bother. Only Penelope and a few of the staff stepped outside.

"Cleo, Charlotte needs to get to her own school, too. Let the staff help you carry everything up. Call me anytime." Penelope pulled her into a hug.

But Cleo wasn't happy. "Mom, aren't you and Dad — and Edward — going to walk me in? Look, all the other parents are taking their kids inside."

"You've got five or six people helping you. They'll make your bed and get everything sorted. Charlotte has school too." Penelope tried to soothe her.

But Cleo kept pouting and whining.

Penelope had no choice but to turn back to William. "William, get out. Walk your daughter into the school."