The Harvey family was in chaos once again.


    "Charles, didn''t you say you''d take care of this? That bastard child of that woman is living under our roof now!" Rosalind was beside herself with rage.


    Charles wrapped his arms around his wife, his voice soft and cating as he tried to exin. "Please, darling, calm down. She''s my blood, after all. I''ve managed to officially register her as my adopted daughter, but if anyone looks too closely, they''ll find out the truth. Her mother''s still in the hospital, in aa. If this mess gets out, do you really want the world calling your husband heartless and cruel? Things have finally settled-if we stir things up again, who knows what will happen?"


    Rosalind snapped, "So what, are you nning to pay for that woman''s treatment now?"


    "Of course not!" Charles soothed, holding her close. "That woman''s days are numbered, karma''s already caught up to her. For now, we just keep her daughter pacified. Once that woman''s gone, we''ll find an excuse to throw the brat out, simple as that."


    "Are you serious?" Rosalind eyed him suspiciously.


    "Absolutely. The Harvey Group belongs to both of us. I''d never use your money, our money, to pay for someone like her. I wouldn''t do anything to threaten our family''s happiness."


    Rosalind''s anger finally ebbed. She gave his shoulder a half-hearted punch and let the matter drop.


    Charles, arms still around his wife, let out a quiet sigh of relief, though his eyes remained cold and calcting.


    ...


    The Harvey family dining room.


    It was lunchtime, a rare asion when all three of them were home together. Charlotte, looking effortlessly elegant, descended from her room and entered the dining room.


    "Dad, it''s lunchtime-why didn''t anyone call me?" she asked, sliding into the chair beside Giselle with an air of entitlement, her smile sweet as she waited for the maid to bring her a ce setting.


    The maid nced nervously at Mrs. Harvey at the head of the table, unsure what to do.


    Rosalind''s expression was icy as she snapped, "Get up. Go back to your room. Your meals will be brought to you from now on."


    Charlotte blinked, her gaze lingering on Mrs. Harvey before shifting to Charles. Her eyes grew red-rimmed, and she bit her lip, sniffling softly. "Dad, can''t I eat with you?"


    Charles didn''t even have a chance to answer before Rosalind cut in, her patience gone.


    "You know exactly what you are. Letting you live here is generous enough. You have no family here, so keep to your room and stay out of our sight. No one wants to see you."


    Rosalind''s words were blunt and final. Charles kept his head down, eating in silence. Whatever tears Charlotte had been faking vanished in an instant—she was in no mood to keep up the act.


    Wiping her eyes, she offered a bright, falsely sweet smile. "Mrs. Harvey, before I came here, I heard all about your charity work-how you donate to the needy, help build schools, always the good Samaritan. Everyone calls you a true phnthropist, and I''ve always admired you."


    "I thought, someone as kind as you would understand."


    "I wasn''t even born when all that happened between the adults. None of it was my choice. I was innocent, just a child. My mother''s been bedridden for years, and while my father lives in luxury, I spent my whole life alone, too poor to even go to school. It''s been a lonely, hard road, but I never med anyone."


    "I finally found my father. I don''t want anything-just the chance to be by his side,


    to be a good daughter. He''s the only family I have left."


    She lowered hershes, silent tears slipping down her cheeks.


    Charles, who''d been quietly eating, froze mid-bite. His fork hovered in the air as aplicated expression flickered across his face.