Chapter 156
Alexander stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows with a glass of red wine, a woman in a champagne-colored mermaid gown at his side.
She had a slender figure and an elegant, gentle air about her.
At the moment, she was gazing up at him, her eyes warm and her lips curved in a smile as she spoke.
The man tilted his head slightly toward her, seemingly listening intently, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
From a distance, they looked perfectly matched.
Seeing this scene, Charlotte felt her heart clench involuntarily. Her chest tightened as if something unbearably heavy was pressing down on it, making it impossible to breathe.
In a daze, she remembered their bitter parting at the Harris Group a few days ago. Those hurtful words still seemed to echo in her ears.
She'd thought maybe Alexander felt something different for her too. Now it seemed she was the only one trapped in this mess, the only one getting hurt.
As the head of the Harris Group, he'd never lack for exceptional women by his side.
At that thought, Charlotte gave a self-mocking twist of her lips and pulled her gaze away, as if that momentary lapse had been nothing but an illusion.
She turned, ready to search for Edward elsewhere, when a sharp, spiteful voice rang out nearby.
"Well, well. Look who it is—our own Ms. Johnson."
"What's this? Did you come to the wedding to see how happy Benjamin and Chloe are, so you could finally let go?"
At those mocking words, Charlotte frowned and turned to see Mandy's face—impeccably made up, yet unable to hide the arrogance underneath.
Mandy sauntered over, stopping in front of Charlotte with undisguised contempt.
"I thought after Alexander dumped you, you'd be too ashamed to show your face anywhere near the Harris family again."
"What happened? Did you finally wise up and realize you're not good enough for him, so now you're here to bless my nephew?"
She glanced toward Alexander, and her face lit up with unconcealed smugness.
"See that woman next to him? That's Elaine, the real heiress of the Kingsley Group."
"She's an honors graduate from a top university—nothing like some country bumpkin."
"She and Alexander standing together—now that's what you call a perfect match."
"Unlike some people, who have nothing but a pretty face and empty insides, yet still dream of climbing into the Harris family. Absolutely delusional!"
Mandy's voice wasn't particularly loud, but the nearby onlookers—who'd already perked up their ears for the drama—heard every word.
One by one, appraising glances drifted toward Charlotte.
Noticing this, Mandy's expression grew even more triumphant.
Today, she intended to humiliate Charlotte in front of everyone, to make her understand that being cast aside by Alexander was proof she'd never been worthy in the first place.
Charlotte listened to the taunts with an utterly unchanged, even cold, expression.
She paid no attention to Mandy's jabs. Instead, she focused on one key detail.
Her argument with Alexander hadn't been widely publicized. How did Mandy know about it?
Where did she hear it? Unless...
Charlotte's thoughtful look, in Mandy's eyes, became proof of acceptance and heartbreak. Her smugness intensified.
Chin lifted high like a victorious peacock, she was all too eager to flaunt her win.
"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Did I hit too close to home, so now you're too hurt to speak?"
Mandy snorted and rolled her eyes, her malice undiminished.
"Charlotte, I suggest you face reality. You and Alexander were never from the same world."
"Elaine—her family, her education, her refinement—she's the one who stands on equal footing with Alexander. Give up this pipe dream already."
Charlotte stared at Mandy's relentlessly spiteful, smug face and felt a surge of irritation.
She knew the high-society crowd around them was watching the show, openly or otherwise. After all, such blunt humiliation was far more entertaining than polite small talk.
But Charlotte had no intention of being their zoo exhibit, nor did she want to waste any more time here.
She'd come to find Edward, not to listen to this pointless drivel.
So she let out a cold laugh, lifted her eyes, and gave Mandy a dismissive glance.
"You're loud."
Those few light words cut Mandy's tirade short, lodging in her throat. She seemed stunned for a moment, then her eyes widened.
A second later, she laughed as if she'd heard the funniest joke.
"I'm loud? Charlotte, is that the best you've got when you're embarrassed? Useless comebacks?"
"Do you know what you look like right now?"
"Like some pathetic, jealous shrew, screaming and mocking the truth!"
Hearing that, Charlotte suddenly thought of something. A hint of amusement flickered in her eyes as she crossed her arms.
"Right, right. Whatever Ms. Miller says."
"Only, if I remember correctly, the Harris family has always had very strict rules."
"Grandpa Edward had you grounded for quite a while."
"I thought you'd still be locked up at home. Didn't expect them to let you out so soon."
"Oh, but I wonder—if you insult a guest at this party, especially the very person you tried to sabotage last time and got grounded over, what do you think might happen this time?"
"You—!" Mandy's face turned ashen. She glared at Charlotte through gritted teeth. "Are you threatening me?"
That grounding had been the most humiliating experience of her twenty-some years!
Being punished by Edward with confinement had left her unable to hold her head up in the entire Harris family.
Now, having Charlotte bring up that shameful episode so casually in front of everyone felt like her face was being ground into the dirt.
At the thought, fear and humiliation flooded through her, twisting her features uncontrollably. The elegant, noble facade she'd maintained shattered completely.
"Charlotte! You bitch—"
"Enough of this squabbling! What kind of behavior is this?"
Suddenly, an aged but authoritative voice rang out, cutting off Mandy's curse mid-sentence. Her face went pale in an instant.
The surrounding crowd turned toward the voice. An elderly man with silver hair but sharp, vigorous eyes approached, flanked by attendants.
He held a cane, his gaze as keen as a hawk's, radiating an air of natural authority.
It was Edward himself!