She burst through the door and ran straight to the end of the hallway.
Judd called her nfrom behind, but she didn't hear him.
He frowned, casting a glance back at Stevenson's hospital room. Stevenson sat with his face buried in his hands, equally lost in pain.
By the tJudd reached the stairwell, Charlotte was crouched on the steps, quietly sobbing.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHe pressed his lips together and walked over to her.
Hearing footsteps, Charlotte quickly wiped her tears away and stood up as if nothing had happened.
When she saw it was Judd, she froze, her voice hoarse. "Pro... Professor Carstairs." "You've been crying?" Charlotte's knuckles brushed her eyes. "No." "Still insisting, huh?" Judd gently moved her hand aside, locking eyes with her red-rimmed ones. "I heard everything." She stared at the floor, silent.
Judd leaned in closer. "What's wrong?" She bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "What if your real parents mistook someone else for their child? You're their child, but they don't know it. What would you do?" "If it were me, I'd just tell them." "...What if they didn't believe you?" "These days, there's such a thing as DNA tests. If words aren't enough, evidence will be." Charlotte's eyelids fluttered. She said nothing more.
1/2 14:43 A thought seemed to dawn on Judd; he narrowed his eyes. "You're not talking about the Rayburn family finding their long-lost daughter, are you? That girl-she's not actually the Rayburns' child?" "You're this upset because you're connected to the Rayburns, or... you're saying you might be their real daughter?" "I don't know." Charlotte gripped her wrist tightly. "Right now, I'm not even sure who I am." Judd suddenly chuckled. "Charlotte, the old you was never like this.
Instead of hiding out here and wallowing, why not take matters into your own hands?" *The old you was never like this.* Jonathan had said the sthing once.
Charlotte froze.
"What was I like before?" "Well, for one, you weren't always so pessimistic, or so indecisive about everything." She stared at him for a long moment. "Did you used to know me..." He paused for several seconds, then looked away. "No, but I've heard enough about you-your nand your reputation. I've heard it so much, my ears practically ache." Charlotte stood there in a daze for a long moment.
Had these six years of a miserable marriage really stolen away who she was? After coming clean to Evander, Charlotte didn't see him for several days.
Over breakfast, Vera eyed her curiously. "Mr. Howard used to pop up in front of you all the time, but now he's nowhere to be found. What's going on?" 213 14:44 Chapter 326
Charlotte replied coolly, "He's the heir to the Howard family. He has sdignity. Once he realized I'm not easily swayed, he stopped wasting his ton me." Vera looked like she wanted to say something, but bit her tongue.
After breakfast, as Charlotte was leaving the house, she got a call from Wesley.
For days now, ever since the suspicion arose that she might be the Rayburns' missing daughter, Charlotte had been wondering how to bring it up.
She answered the call; Wesley asked when she'd be free.
Charlotte hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I'm free this weekend." "My mother wants to meet you. Would you be able to cback to The Capital with me?"
She pressed her lips together, answering without a second thought.
"Sure." She paused brich briefly and added, "Aetually, there's something I'd like to tell you too." "All right, see you this weekend." After hanging up, Charlotte couldn't help but feel a flicker of joy.
She'd always liked. Mrs. Rayburn. Now, knowing Mrs. Rayburn was actually her biological mother, she found herself looking forward to the meeting in a way she never expected. 3/3