Chapter 32
Charlotte could smell it almost immediately - the soup contained at least five types of toxins, all plant extracts that would cause serious skin problems.
Interesting.
She looked up and met Mandy's expectant gaze.
This woman was just hoping she'd drink it down in one gulp and end up with her face completely ruined, wasn't she?
Charlotte sneered inwardly and casually handed the chicken soup to Alexander.
Her sudden move made everyone pause.
Alexander looked puzzled. "What's wrong?"
"I don't like chicken soup."
Charlotte's expression remained calm. "The smell is a bit too much for me. You drink it."
Edward laughed, deliberately teasing, "Why don't you give it to me then?"
"You're getting older, drinking too much isn't good for you - it'll be hard on your stomach. Alexander is young and strong, perfect for some extra nutrition."
Charlotte raised her eyebrows slightly, signaling Alexander to drink it.
Across the table, Mandy had unconsciously sat up straight, her whole body and expression visibly tense.
Alexander glanced at the steaming chicken soup and took it, bringing it to his lips.
But before he could drink it, he suddenly heard Mandy's somewhat nervous voice.
"Alexander!"
Alexander stopped and looked up at her.
Mandy swallowed and smiled, trying to stay calm. "This chicken soup is really rich. Too much isn't good either. You shouldn't have a second bowl."
As she spoke, she stood up to take the bowl.
Charlotte was faster, picking up the previous bowl of chicken soup that had been in front of Alexander and casually handing it to the butler.
"The butler works so hard, give him a bowl of this nutritious soup. That way everyone gets an equal share."
Alexander narrowed his eyes slightly, staying calm.
"Why not?" Charlotte asked, confused, staring intently at Mandy. "Why can't he drink it? A bit more nutritious soup won't hurt. You're so anxious - did you put something in it?"
Edward frowned, looking at Mandy with suspicion. "Mandy, what's going on here?"
"Nothing! What could be in the chicken soup? Ms. Johnson is making wild accusations. I'm just worried Alexander will drink too much and get overheated!"
Under the gaze of several pairs of eyes, Mandy quickly grabbed the soup. "I'll... I'll go deal with this!"
With that, she turned and fled.
Edward's face turned serious. Watching Mandy's retreating figure as she hid in the kitchen, he felt something was definitely off.
"Alright, let's eat." Alexander glanced at Charlotte.
Benjamin had watched the whole thing and also noticed something was wrong.
He patted Chloe's wrist under the table.
Chloe understood and stood up.
"I'll go check on Mandy - she hasn't come back yet."
She hurried to the kitchen.
Soon after, after apparently talking about something, the two of them went to the back garden together.
Charlotte watched it all, wiped her mouth, and said, "I'm going to the restroom."
In an instant, only three men remained at the dining table.
The atmosphere became much colder.
From the corner of his eye, Alexander noticed that Charlotte hadn't gone to the restroom - she was heading straight toward the back garden.
He held his teacup, his long fingers rubbing the rim, lowered his eyes to blow on the hot tea, and drank calmly.
In a corner of the back garden.
Chloe held Mandy's hand, softly comforting her. "It's okay, don't be upset. Charlotte is really smart. It's normal that she could sense something was wrong with the soup. She has all kinds of tricks."
"I wanted her to drink that soup and ruin her face, so everyone would hate her and see how ugly she looked. I didn't expect she'd actually notice something was wrong."
Mandy snorted, her eyes cold.
"I really don't know what it'll take to teach her a lesson."
Chloe's eyes flickered. Seeing the pond nearby, an idea came to her.
"Do you still have some of that stuff you put in the soup? Why not try putting it directly in her drinking water?"
Mandy frowned, hesitating. "Putting it in water probably won't work either..."
"Of course it won't work. I can smell if something's been put in water. Don't waste your energy."
A cold voice suddenly interrupted them.
Mandy jumped, turned around, and saw Charlotte standing not far away, looking at them with mocking, sarcastic eyes.
Her heart tightened - she hadn't expected Charlotte to overhear their conversation.
Chloe turned around and looked at Charlotte, taking the offensive. "Listening to people talk behind their backs - that's not a very good habit, is it?"
Charlotte said expressionlessly, "And plotting loudly in the back garden is better?"
She walked toward them step by step.
"Your little schemes are child's play to me. If you don't behave yourselves, you'll face the consequences."
Mandy immediately curled her lip disdainfully, looking at her with contempt.
"What consequences? Before my father died, he entrusted me to the Harris family. No matter what I do, the Harris family will stand by me."
She crossed her arms, looking down at Charlotte with undisguised disgust.
"Don't think that just because you have some looks, you can seduce Alexander. It's useless! He'd never be interested in you!"
Charlotte paused, then laughed. "So that's it - you're afraid I'll steal your man?"
Her thoughts exposed, Mandy decided to stop pretending.
"You're not worthy of competing with me for a man. I'm just telling you - don't flatter yourself thinking about a man you'll never have in this lifetime!"
Charlotte narrowed her eyes slightly, neither angry nor excited to argue back.
Somehow, Chloe suddenly had a bad feeling.
She'd dealt with Charlotte the most and knew exactly what this look meant.
This was the calm before the storm.
Chloe nervously swallowed, about to speak when Charlotte said unhurriedly, "Fine, I understand what you mean. You're determined to go against me."
"So what if I am?"
Mandy lifted her chin, staring at her. "What are you going to do to me? What can you do?"
Charlotte thought seriously for a moment. "How about I let you taste some dirty water first?"
Mandy froze, instinctively backing away. "What do you mean! What are you trying to do? I'm warning you, don't try anything!"
Charlotte tilted her head. "How did you know I was actually planning to try something?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she kicked a stone on the ground.
The stone flew out and hit Mandy directly on the knee.
Mandy cried out in pain, her knee buckled, and her whole body fell backward uncontrollably.
"Ahhh!!"
With a scream and the splash of something heavy falling into water, Mandy fell straight into the pond, her whole body bobbing up and down as she flailed.
Chloe's eyes widened in shock as she whipped her head around.
"Charlotte, you... you're crazy! She's part of the Harris family!"
Charlotte slowly smiled. "You didn't think you'd be left out, did you?"
"What?" Chloe froze in place.
Three seconds later, she also screamed and fell into the water the same way.