Anthony and Charlotte caught each other’s eyes. For a few quiet seconds, neither of them spoke, but then they both cracked a smile.
Anthony looked pleased. He put his hand gently over Charlotte’s belly, warmth blooming inside him. “See? They know what’s good for them. They know not to mess with their mom if they want an easy life.”
Charlotte glanced over with a lazy half-squint. “Of course they do. They’re your kids, after all.”
She couldn’t help thinking about how quickly the little ones gave in. Honestly, it was almost impressive.
“Having kids who actually listen to their mom… I have to admit, it feels pretty good.”
Charlotte’s eyes lingered on Anthony’s hand resting on her stomach. Her chest felt a little tight, like her heart was overflowing.
Dad. Mom. The words sounded unfamiliar, but they came with this quiet, gentle warmth she couldn’t quite explain.
The kids probably take after their dad. If they were anything like her, Anthony would have lost his mind by now.
She turned to study Anthony, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
Right then, a loud ringtone cut through the cozy moment.
“It’s Allanson calling,” Anthony said, grabbing his phone. The second he saw the caller ID, his smile faded. “Should I answer?”
“Yeah, answer it.”
Charlotte flopped onto the couch, crossing her legs. There was a hint of steel in her posture as she tipped her chin up. “Let’s see what kind of drama he wants to start now.”
Anthony tucked a pillow behind her, unlocked the phone, and held it up for her.
“Start talking.”
The call had barely connected before Charlotte jumped in, her voice sharp and impatient. “You’ve got five minutes.”
She had a strict bedtime and wasn’t planning to miss it.
“Even with the end of the world staring you in the face, you still haven’t lost that attitude,” Allanson’s voice came through, rough and low, dripping with annoyance. “I’ll never understand how Winnie ended up with such a reckless granddaughter.”
“Maybe you should look in the mirror and ask yourself how you ended up with such a reckless granddaughter,” Charlotte shot back, grabbing a handful of chips from the table and popping a few into her mouth, not even bothering to hide her irritation.
“You—” Allanson sounded like he was about to blow a gasket.
Anthony gave Charlotte a helpless smile, then reached over and offered her a sip of warm water.
“Four and a half minutes left,” Charlotte reminded him with a chilly edge.
“I have G5,” Allanson said, collecting himself. “And I’ve also got the only original antidote formula.”
Charlotte’s eyes narrowed, her tone colder than before. “So?”
“I know you’re smart. I know you could probably come up with a cure on your own. But right now…” Allanson’s voice carried a weight that made it clear he wasn’t messing around. “You need this antidote, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Charlotte didn’t bother pretending. He clearly knew enough already. “So what’s the deal? What do you want this time?”
“Solenia and the N Organization will move under the Hawk Family. As for you…” Allanson’s voice dropped, heavy with something she couldn’t quite read. “Charlotte, I want to see you on the Isle of Veil in two days. If you’re not there…”
“Fine.”
Charlotte let out a short, mocking laugh, sounding completely unfazed. “I’ll be waiting.”
Waiting?
Allanson seemed thrown. For a moment, even he didn’t know what to say.