Chapter 128
At the dining table, besides Amanda and Debra, there was one more person.
Jordan.
Seeing Charlotte and Philip, Amanda and Debra immediately came over to greet them.
And what a coincidence, they arranged for her to sit right next to Jordan, saying young people would have more to talk about sitting together.
Sitting down triggered a dormant memory for Charlotte; suddenly, she was thirteen again, shrinking into her chair next to the detached top student.
As if seeing through Charlotte's unease, Jordan actually smiled at her and handed her a glass of juice: "Mango juice, your favorite."
No way. The aloof nerd smiled at her again? What happened to all that cold, distant attitude?
And he even knew she loved everything mango—mango juice, mangoes, mango cake...
He must have caught her secretly drinking mango juice during class back then.
She’d forgotten how sharp those academic types could be. Years had passed, yet he recalled her history as if it were still the previous semester..
Worried Charlotte might be nervous, Jordan pretended to look after the two elders while secretly stealing a glance at her.
Unlike yesterday's dreamlike beauty, today she looked particularly elegant and poised. Yet her eyes were unchanged; bright, sparkling, and still full of starlight.
A few sips of mango juice were all it took for Charlotte’s nerves to vanish, leaving her perfectly at ease beside her former academic crush.
She took care of Philip while chatting and laughing with Amanda and Debra.
Amanda and Debra looked at Charlotte like she was their own daughter.
Actually, Debra's gaze was more like looking at a daughter-in-law—as if she couldn't wait to make Charlotte her daughter-in-law right then and there.
Watching Debra, Jordan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
'Mom, please tone it down. Keep this up and you'll scare Charlotte away,' he thought.
Oblivious to any underlying tension, Charlotte mistook Debra’s lingering grip for a moment of genuine warmth and affection.
Philip sat right beside Charlotte.
His big round eyes looked at Amanda, who was holding Charlotte's hand tightly across a seat, then at Jordan's helpless expression. A very uncomfortable feeling suddenly arose in his little heart.
It felt like Charlotte was about to be taken away!
He rolled his big eyes, then tugged at Charlotte's clothes. "Charlotte, Dad asked me to call him, and I forgot."
Charlotte asked, "Really? Should I tell him for you?"
But Philip slid down from his chair, pulled out his phone , and waved it at Charlotte: "No need, you keep chatting. I'll go to the doorway to make the call and come right back."
Without waiting for Charlotte's response, he ran out on his little legs.
Charlotte felt uneasy and was about to follow, but Debra and Amanda stopped her.
"Don't worry, the club is very safe."
Debra added, "That's right, the door's open and Philip's standing right outside. We can all see him."
Charlotte glanced at Philip's small figure standing in the hallway and relaxed.
In the hallway.
Philip sneakily glanced at the private room, then dialed the number.
The call connected quickly.
"Philip, this better be important."
Hearing Landon's deep voice, Philip looked around alertly again before lowering his voice. "Dad, something's up with Charlotte."
On the other end, Landon's voice became noticeably more serious. "What? Did Charlotte make blueberry cake again?"
Philip secretly scorned him. "No, Charlotte's been really busy these days, no time to make cake."
Then Philip lowered his voice even more. "Listen, Charlotte brought me out to eat."
On the other end, Landon gritted his teeth. "Are you calling to brag?"
Philip got a bit anxious.
He finally couldn't hold back. "Dad, it's not just me and Charlotte at dinner. There's also a really good-looking man."
Landon's voice revealed a rare hint of urgency. "A man? What's his name?"
Philip tried hard to remember. "I think it's Jordan? Oh right, we met him at Mr. Walker's birthday."
Landon immediately ordered Philip, "Where are you now? Tell me quick."
Philip looked around and finally spotted the club's name, then immediately reported it to Landon.
"Philip, keep an eye on Charlotte and Jordan for me." After saying this, Landon hung up without another word.
Looking at the disconnected call, Philip suddenly felt worried.
What did Landon mean?
Was he coming or not?
Whatever, he'd better get back inside and make sure Jordan didn't steal Charlotte away!
After putting away his phone, Philip quickly slipped back into the private room.
Charlotte’s questions triggered a strange, unearned guilt in him, as though he were hiding a secret he didn't even know he had.
At this moment, Amanda found Philip adorable and well-mannered, and out of curiosity, asked a few more questions.
Learning that Charlotte had tried to bid on Lynn's artwork at the auction but was maliciously outbid by Sabrina and Alexander, and finally had to exchange taking care of Philip with Landon to get Lynn's work back, Amanda became angry and felt even more heartache for Charlotte.
Combined with what Debra had secretly told her about Cynthia's actions, she felt Charlotte deserved so much better.
A husband who didn't care, a son who wasn't close, and a mother-in-law who was mean-spirited and shameless—the Forbes family was truly vicious!
Sitting beside her, Debra's eyes were also full of sympathy, and she couldn't help secretly glaring at Jordan.
If Jordan had woken up earlier, given Debra and Lynn's relationship, she would have switched the arranged marriage partner to him long ago.
Then Charlotte wouldn't have had to suffer so much!
Getting glared at by Debra for no reason, Jordan was a bit confused.
He could only smile apologetically and try his best to please the three women present.
Charlotte noticed and couldn't help secretly smiling.
When did the aloof top student change his style?
Following orders, Philip kept secretly watching Charlotte and Jordan.
Seeing Charlotte trying to hold back laughter, Philip immediately felt alarmed.
'Dad, if you don't show up soon, Charlotte's going to run off with someone else!' he thought.
The next moment, the private room door was pushed open from outside.