"Understood. I’ll find a suitable ti and invite Mr. Taylor," Tobias replied, imdiately requesting Everett’s schedule from the secretary.
Ten minutes later, Tobias inford Everett that the dinner was set for 5:30 PM at the Hy Hotel across the street. The Taylors had all agreed to attend.
At exactly 5:30 PM, Everett arrived at the private dining room Tobias had reserved. Charlotte was visibly delighted, mistakenly believing Everett had finally co around.
Mr. Taylor was also pleased. Though the Langston family’s roots weren’t in Country S, maintaining a long-term partnership with them still held great value for Taylor Group.
Even though Taylor Group currently had small-scale collaborations with the Langstons, they lacked the capability to secure major projects.
"Everett, it’s been such a long ti since we last t! I was just thinking about inviting you to dinner, but you beat to it," Mr. Taylor said with a smile.
Everett shot a cold glance at Charlotte and said flatly, "Uncle Taylor , Auntie, I invited you here tonight for sothing important."
Mrs. Taylor smiled warmly. "Well, let’s discuss it over dinner. Mingming, pour Everett so tea and apologize."
Charlotte looked at her stepmother in confusion before letting out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Why should I apologize? What did I do wrong?"
Mrs. Taylor was at a loss for words. When Charlotte was younger, she had been obedient, but as she grew older, she beca more defiant and uncontrollable.
Mrs. Taylor had once helped Ella in the past. She, too, was a stepmother, but she wasn’t a narrow-minded person.
However, this stepdaughter of hers had always been difficult to ta.
"How dare you! When you’re told to pour tea, just do it!" Mr. Taylor barked sternly.
Charlotte’s face flushed red, then turned pale. Deep down, she wanted to make a good impression, but thinking about how Everett had defended that little vixen, she couldn’t help feeling resentful.
After pouring the tea, she sat down beside Everett, flashing him a charming smile. "Everett, what made you invite us to dinner tonight? I’ve been following entertainnt news lately, and I heard that woman has been bothering you again?"
Everett looked at her bright, smiling face, his gaze still as cold as ever, his expression distant and indifferent.
If it weren’t for Mr. and Mrs. Taylor’s presence, he would’ve dumped a bowl of soup right on Charlotte’s face.
Did she really think she could pull off the innocent act? She was nothing but a manipulative, scheming woman—exactly the kind Everett despised the most.
Every ti he saw won like her, he was reminded of his own mother—shaless, hypocritical, and utterly fake.
"Charlotte, have you done anything you’d feel guilty about recently?"
Everett’s tone was calm, but his expression was dark. His words imdiately made Mr. and Mrs. Taylor exchange glances, a bad feeling rising in their hearts.
Charlotte widened her eyes in shock, feigning innocence as she shook her head. "Of course not! Everett, how could you suspect so casually? I am the daughter of the Taylor family, a lady of noble upbringing. Do I look like soone who would do anything disgraceful?"
Mrs. Taylor frowned at Charlotte but chose to remain silent.
Even though Mr. Taylor wasn’t particularly fond of Charlotte, she was still his daughter. Forcing a smile, he said, "Everett, what happened? Is it sothing related to my daughter? She’s a good girl, just a bit spoiled and headstrong. Whatever she did, please don’t take it too seriously."
Charlotte Huffed, Feeling a Bit Aggrieved
Mrs. Taylor was utterly embarrassed. Mr. Taylor had previously accused her of being too strict with Charlotte, so, out of frustration, she had stopped trying to discipline her altogether.
But Charlotte was stubborn and willful. Even if Mrs. Taylor wanted to discipline her, it was unlikely she would ever listen to her stepmother.
Everett let out a light chuckle—Mr. Taylor still had too much faith in Charlotte.
"Uncle Taylor, our families have been business partners for generations. Grandfather Taylor and my grandfather were also very close classmates. It was indeed my fault for calling off the engagent..."
Everett spoke with an air of indifference. Charlotte, secretly delighted, wondered if he had co here to reconcile.
The thought of it made her imdiately act coy. "Oh, stop it! I never blad you. If you want to get back together, you should say it to in private. Why bring it up in front of Dad and Mom... It’s so embarrassing!"
A flicker of disdain crossed Everett’s eyes.
Was Charlotte truly this brainless? Did she really think he wanted to reconcile? Even if every woman in the world disappeared, leaving only Charlotte, he still wouldn’t marry her.
"Sorry, but that’s not what I—"
Before Everett could finish, Charlotte, blushing, interrupted with a giggle. "Everett, let’s step aside and talk privately..."
She was desperate to hear him apologize, to have him alone, to make him hers again...
"Charlotte," Everett’s voice turned icy. "Did you impersonate and order people to kidnap Miss Aurora’s boyfriend, Mr. Alexander?"
His tone was sharp, cutting through the air with no trace of politeness.
Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were startled. Just monts ago, they had secretly been relieved, thinking Everett was here to make ands, but now...
"W-What? I didn’t!" Charlotte shot up from her seat, panic written all over her face.
Mr. Taylor felt a headache coming on. He knew his daughter’s personality all too well, but he hadn’t expected things to escalate this far.
"They’ve already confessed. If you don’t believe , feel free to call the police," Everett said coldly.
Charlotte’s face turned deathly pale. It was her first ti doing sothing like this, and under the pressure, she practically confessed on the spot.
"I-I... It’s because you made so angry! I just wanted the dia and that bitch’s boyfriend to see her for what she really is! She was the one who climbed into your bed, yet you’re still defending her—"
Before she could finish, Mr. Taylor slapped her hard across the face. The impact left her dazed, and she collapsed back into her chair, disoriented.
Mrs. Taylor looked at Charlotte with bitter disappointnt. "Mingming, how could you do sothing so shaless? This is a cri!"
After marrying Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Taylor had never had children of her own. She had poured her heart and soul into raising Charlotte, yet now, this stepdaughter had utterly disgraced herself.
"You disgraceful child! How could you commit such a vile act? Do you realize the sha you’ve brought upon the Taylor family?" Mr. Taylor roared.
The Taylor family’s business was thriving in S City, and Charlotte’s cousin was even a high-ranking official there.
If this scandal got out, it would not only ruin Taylor Group’s reputation but also drag Warren down with it.
After all, if his own cousin had broken the law, would he arrest her—or not?
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