Chapter 71


    71. A Bastard Child Without A Mother


    Trantor: Mr Magnate


    Amanda had discreetly arranged for Charlotte to sit between Luna and herself. Although they painted


    quite a happy picture of a wholesome family, in reality, the set-up was meant to trap Charlotte between


    them so she couldn’t escape.


    When they were finally seated, one of the aunts, Aunt Leigh, turned to Charlotte and smiled at her as


    she gave her the once-over. “We haven’t seen you in years! You look so much more mature now,


    Charlotte.”


    “You looked like a girl thest time we saw you, and now you look like a woman!” Another aunt, Aunt


    Geraldine, chimed in on purpose. “Amanda, what were you saying about Charlotte’s kids? Do you


    mean that she’s already married with kids now?”


    “Yes, she already has three children. Time has flown by, hasn’t it? We’re all getting old.” Amanda


    This time, Charlotte didn’t interrupt her. Instead, she allowed her aunt to finish saying what she wanted


    to say.


    From the moment Luna bumped into her and her child at the kindergarten the other day, Charlotte


    knew that her secret was out.


    The news of her child would have spread like wildfire among the Whites and the Windts.


    From what she knew about Amanda’s personality, the older woman had probably fed the other aunts all


    sorts of vile stories about Charlotte to taint her reputation.


    Charlotte was sure that Amanda had invited her over tonight to make a mockery of her. Thetter


    probably wanted to embarrass her in front of Hector so that he would end their rtionship forever…


    “Oh gosh…”


    Everyone at the table was extremely stunned. It had been four years since theyst saw Charlotte, and


    she had returned with kids—three of them!


    A few of the uncles started to frown. Their expressions had clouded over, and the look in their eyes as


    they gazed at Charlotte seemed to turn rather usatory.


    Aunt Leigh asked excitedly, “Charlotte, when did you get married? We didn’t even know!”


    “How old are your kids?” Aunt Geraldine asked. “What does your husband do for a living? Why isn’t he


    here with you?”


    Amanda and Luna looked at Charlotte and smiled, looking as though they were grimacing instead.


    The two of them waited gleefully for her answer. How was Charlotte going to tell everyone that she had


    hooked up with a gigolo at Sultry Night and now had three of his children?


    After a pregnant pause, the woman finally spoke up, “That’s my business. I don’t suppose you think


    you have a right to know, do you?”


    Immediately, the entire room fell silent with shock. Nobody had expected her to reply to their questions


    like this.


    One of the uncles growled angrily at her, “Of course we have a right to know! We’re your elders! Don’t


    we have a right to ask you about your marital situation?”


    “Look how wishy-washy you’re being. Did you get pregnant out of wedlock?” another uncle asked.


    “Who’s the father of your children?”


    “Why aren’t you saying anything?” The others chimed in anxiously, “Did you get together with a married


    man and give birth to his illegitimate children?”


    “Haha!” One of her aunts burst intoughter beside him. “A married man is already the best-case


    scenario. It would be much worse if she doesn’t even know who the father is.”


    “How could you have done something so awful? You’ve brought nothing but shame upon all of us!” One


    uncle was so angry that he mmed down on the table and left the room.


    “Charlotte, this is simply preposterous,” Aunt Geraldine said crossly. “Four years ago, you did


    something so outrageous that your father threw himself off the building andmitted suicide in anger.


    We thought you would stop embarrassing yourself after that, but you’ve only changed for the worse!”


    “Exactly! As your elders, we can’t condone such behavior anymore…” Aunt Leigh heaved a sigh and


    continued, “If your father—bless his soul—knew how you’re behaving right now, he would be rolling in


    his grave.”


    A few of Charlotte’s aunts put their heads together and started whispering loudly, “She used to be so


    obedient as a child. What happened to her? She must have been possessed by the devil.”


    “When all’s said and done, her poor behavior probably stems from the fact that she didn’t have a


    mother to guide her when she was young. Take a look at Luna—she would never behave like


    Charlotte…”


    “Exactly! Luna is such an innocentss. She got married like a normal person would and had her


    husband’s children. As for Charlotte, however…”


    Hearing this, a smile of satisfaction appeared on Luna’s face.


    “Oh, Leigh, my dear, you mustn’t say that!” Amanda eximed, humbling herself as much as she


    could. “I’ve kept a firm rein on Luna since she was a child. Charlotte, the poor thing, lost her mother


    when she was very young. That’s why she’s gone off the beaten track now. As her elders, we should do


    our best to educate her…”


    Charlotte couldn’t stand it anymore. “Have you all said enough?”