Chapter 51
"Dad, Charlotte designed an outfit for me and said she'd help me win first place in the parent-child competition."
Hearing the bragging tone in Philip's voice, Landon tightened his grip on the documents. "Philip, stop showing off in front of me."
Forbes Estate.
Alexander was in a terrible mood. After scolding Owen to tears for being difficult and refusing to sleep, he stormed back to his study in anger.
The documents piled up like a mountain on his desk, but he couldn't focus on any of them. Instead, he found himself pulling out a neatly folded old handkerchief.
This handkerchief was the only thing Charlotte left behind when she departed.
He recognized it almost immediately—it was his handkerchief.
No, it was a handkerchief he'd used many years ago.
He remembered that day was Lynn's funeral. Halfway through, he suddenly noticed Charlotte was missing, so he snuck out to find her.
After searching for a while, he finally found her in a corner.
Seeing her small figure curled up, sobbing continuously, something in his heart inexplicably started to ache too.
After hesitating for a long moment, he gently pushed her shoulder, handed her the handkerchief and said, "Stop crying. I'll protect you from now on."
Those words still echoed in his ears, yet he and Charlotte had already reached such an impossible situation...
Lost in thought, a floral scent suddenly drifted closer.
"Alexander, are you okay?" Sabrina came up behind Alexander and began massaging his temples familiarly. "Actually, you can't be blamed entirely for this."
"You're so busy with work every day, worrying about all kinds of things. How can you remember everything clearly? Besides, Charlotte didn't even remind you."
Seeing Alexander close his eyes without speaking, Sabrina probed again, "How about I call Charlotte and explain for you?"
Alexander opened his eyes and pulled her hand down. "No need. I'll explain to her myself."
"But..."
Alexander interrupted her, "Alright, you have work tomorrow. Get some rest."
Seeing Alexander's firm expression, Sabrina had to swallow her words and left the study reluctantly.
But just as she reached the door, Alexander suddenly said quietly, "You've recovered pretty well. I'll personally take you back in a couple of days."
Sabrina clenched her fingers. "Okay."
Turning back to her room, Sabrina could no longer contain herself. She grabbed something and smashed it hard on the floor!
"Charlotte, I will never lose to you!"
Sabrina's face twisted as she panted heavily through gritted teeth. Then suddenly, her eyes turned cold. Taking a deep breath to calm her emotions, she dialed Calvin's number. "Hello, Calvin, what have you been busy with these days? Why haven't you come to see me?"
On the other end, Calvin looked disheveled, having just been kicked out of his father's study.
"Don't even ask. Our family business has been hitting walls everywhere lately, and my dad blames it all on me without even asking questions."
"Just got chewed out by him. I'm so pissed."
Sabrina's eyes flickered as she swallowed her words and said instead, "I didn't expect Charlotte to be so ruthless."
Calvin tugged at his hair viciously. "How could Charlotte have that much power?"
Sabrina rolled her eyes at the phone impatiently. "Calvin, don't underestimate Lynn's connections. She was an internationally renowned designer."
Sure enough, after hearing this, Calvin immediately flew into a rage. "Charlotte wants to ruin me? Then I'll destroy her first!"
Sabrina smiled slightly. "Calvin, even though she's my Charlotte, she went too far this time. I'm on your side."
Encouraged, Calvin became even more vicious. "Sabrina, just wait. I definitely won't let Charlotte off easy."
A new day. Charlotte dropped Philip off at the school gate and was about to leave when she saw Owen standing nearby talking loudly with classmates.
Actually, Owen had spotted her the moment Charlotte walked up with Philip. A thought suddenly occurred to him, so he grabbed a classmate and kept talking while waiting for Charlotte to approach.
When Charlotte got closer, he suddenly changed the topic. "Sabrina is the best designer. She said she'd personally design clothes for me."
"With Sabrina's help, I'm confident I'll definitely win first place in this competition!"
Owen bragged loudly.
His classmate looked envious. Only then did Owen smugly look for Charlotte...
But he quickly realized Charlotte had already turned and left, nowhere to be seen.
The pride that had filled his heart turned entirely into disappointment. Owen couldn't help but stomp his foot hard.
Today was Sabrina's first day working at the Forbes Group.
However, because everyone knew her relationship with Alexander, the employees were all very warm to her, even somewhat flattering.
In the design department director's office, Sabrina surveyed everything before her and couldn't help but make a satisfied sound.
Sure enough, having money and status was the way to go.
Being just a design director at the Forbes Group was already so prestigious. If she later added the title of Mrs. Forbes...
Just as she was feeling pleased, her assistant knocked and entered. "Ms. Spencer, there's a national design competition next month. Mr. Forbes wants you to select people to participate."
Sabrina raised her hand slightly. The assistant paused, then respectfully placed the notice in her hands.
After taking it, Sabrina glanced at it casually and tossed it onto the desk. "No need to select anyone. I'll participate myself this time."
A trace of surprise crossed the assistant's face.
But Sabrina turned around and slowly said while facing the floor-to-ceiling window, "Mr. Forbes invited me back to work. I should do my best to win back some honor for him."
After the assistant left, Sabrina turned back and slowly opened a drawer... Inside were several design sketches she had discovered in the Forbes Family master bedroom.
She reached out her hand, stroking over the sketches as if treasuring them. "Lynn's work is indeed excellent."
"When the time comes, I'll just select two of them, modify them slightly, and winning an award will be easy."
"Anyway, Lynn never made these designs public. Apart from Charlotte, who knows the truth?"
"As for that idiot Charlotte, forget about her having any chance to access the design competition—even if she did, who would believe what a housewife says?"