Chapter 109: The Little Girl Has Grown Up
Charlotte walked into her home, where her grandma Agnes was waiting for her.
"Get ready, dear, we have to go somewhere."
"Is it important, Grandma..?"
Grandma Agnes nodded, a soft smile on her face. "Hmm... I have an appointment with my old best friend today."
Charlotte headed upstairs to her room to get ready. She opened her closet and scanned her dresses, finally selecting a beautiful, ivory Chanel frock with intricate lace trim and delicate floral patterns embroidered along the hem. The classic A-line design and subtle sheen of the fabric exuded timeless elegance.
To complement her outfit, she chose a pair of simple yet sophisticated pearl earrings, their lustrous spheres suspended from delicate silver hooks. The understated glamour of the earrings perfectly complemented the Chanel dress, creating a polished, refined look.
Charlotte took a final glance in the mirror, smoothing her ivory Chanel dress. "Ready?" she asked herself, satisfied with her reflection.
She slipped on her two-inch heels, the click of the shoes echoing as she made her way downstairs.
The chauffeur was waiting outside, holding open the door to their stylish black Bentley. Grandma Agnes and Charlotte slid into the backseat, and soon they arrived at the esteemed "Le Belle Époque" seven-star restaurant.
As they stepped out of the car, the manager, Mr. Renold, greeted them with a gracious bow. "Good evening, Madam Wright, Young Miss. It’s a pleasure to welcome you tonight."
"Good evening, Mr. Renold." Grandma Agnes replied warmly. "How have you been?"
"I’m doing well, thank you, Madam," Mr. Renold said with a smile. "Madam Watts has already arrived. Right this way, please."
He led them through the elegant foyer and into a private dining room. Charlotte followed closely behind her grandma, her heels clicking softly on the polished floor.
As they entered the room, Charlotte’s eyes adjusted to the soft lighting, and she caught sight of a familiar figure waiting for them – Madam Watts, Grandma Agnes’s old best friend.
Beside Madam Watts sat a captivating young woman with porcelain skin and espresso-brown eyes that sparkled with intelligence. Her raven-haired beauty was styled in loose waves, framing her delicate features and accentuating her polished smile. A tailored navy blue blouse and pencil skirt showcased her refined elegance.
"Agnes... you’re still looking the same." Madam Watts exclaimed, her eyes shining with warmth, as she rose from her seat to envelop Grandma Agnes in a tender hug.
The young woman stood, her gaze darting briefly to Charlotte before settling on Grandma Agnes. A warm, disarming smile accompanied her confident stride, drawing all eyes to her.
"Victoria, dear, this is Agnes and her granddaughter Charlotte." Madam Watts introduced, as the young woman nodded graciously, warmth spreading from her gaze.
"Charlotte, you have grown so beautiful." Madam Watts exclaimed, her eyes shining with delight, as she opened her arms to envelop Charlotte in a warm hug.
"Nice to meet you, Grandma Watts." Charlotte replied, smiling, as she returned the hug.
"Did you remember her?" Madam Watts’s eyes twinkled as she asked.
"Your granddaughter, Sister Victoria?" Charlotte replied, her eyes darting to the young woman with renewed interest.
Madam Watts nodded. "Hmm."
Charlotte’s gaze locked onto the woman, and her eyes sparkled with surprise. "Sister Victoria! You’ve changed so much—I wouldn’t have recognized you!" she exclaimed, her smile warm and genuine.
"Even I couldn’t recognize you at first," Victoria replied, her dark espresso eyes warm with nostalgia. "The little girl has grown up."
"I’m a woman now."
Victoria’s gaze held hers, her smile tender. "Indeed, the little girl has grown up." She whispered softly, her fingertips grazing her hair with gentle affection.
Madam Watts broke the silence. "She’s returned from abroad, having completed hee studies."
Victoria’s gaze drifted off, contemplative. "And now, will you be staying here?" Grandma Agnes inquired.
Victoria paused, her expression thoughtful, before responding in a subdued tone. "Hmm...yes." Her eyes narrowed slightly, her nod deliberate.
Victoria’s eyes landed on Charlotte, who was deeply engrossed in her phone.
The two old friends were deeply engrossed in conversation. Madam Watts turned to Charlotte with a curious gaze. "Charlotte, do you have someone special in your life?"
Charlotte’s eyes darted to her Grandma Agnes before responding hesitantly, "Ah...that..." Her lips brushed together, her words escaping in a gentle whisper. "I do have someone I like."
Charlotte’s words brought a happy glint to Victoria’s eyes, accompanied by a gentle smile.
"You little brat.." Grandma Agnes teased, "you haven’t breathed a word about this to me. Who is he?"
Charlotte’s expression turned annoyed. "Grandma, I’ll tell you later, okay?"
Her gaze locked onto Victoria, her tone teasing. "Your turn, Sister Victoria. Are you harboring a secret crush?"
Victoria’s hesitation was brief before she offered a cryptic "Hmm."
Charlotte’s grin widened as she turned to Grandma Agnes. "Looks like we’ve got a mystery on our hands, Grandma."
Grandma Agnes’s eyebrows shot up, her voice infused with curiosity. "Victoria, spill the beans. Who’s captured your heart?"
"Victoria, you’ve got some explaining to do. When will we meet your man?"
"When the time is right, I’ll bring him to meet you all." Victoria replied, her focus remaining on his plate as she continued to savor her food.
Inside the car, Charlotte stared out the window, her thoughts elsewhere.
"Did you go to Thea’s house?"
"Yes, I delivered everything you asked me to."
"That’s good to hear." Grandma Agnes added, her voice warm.Charlotte’s gaze remained fixed outside.
"Charlotte, I’m hurt ..you didn’t tell me about this person you like." Grandma Agnes said gently.
"If I had told you, you would’ve told your son, and then both your son and your daughter in law would’ve taken me away from here."
Grandma Agnes looked concerned. "Don’t you trust me, your own grandma?"Charlotte’s eyes met hers, a hint of pain in her voice. "You’ve betrayed me before."
Her expression then shifted, a playful glint in her eye as she looked at Grandma Agnes mischievously.
"Because of you, I missed out on participating in that art competition with Thea."
Grandma Agnes’s expression turned thoughtful. "You still harbor resentment towards me for that, don’t you?"
Charlotte nodded, her eyes sparkling with unfulfilled longing. "Of course. She got to meet my idol, and if I had been there too, I would have had the chance to meet her."
Charlotte’s gaze wandered outside as she spoke, and she caught sight of a familiar figure at the red light.
"What is he doing?" she wondered.
"Charlotte..." Grandma Agnes started.
"Shh, Grandma..." Charlotte motioned, her focus remaining outside.
Grandma Agnes shook her head.
"How can that bitch touch him?" Charlotte snapped.Grandma Agnes looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"That..." Charlotte began, before quickly censoring herself.
Her eyes met Grandma Agnes’s, and Charlotte knew she had said too much.In that instant, Charlotte realized she had inadvertently revealed something she shouldn’t have. Her eyes locked onto Grandma Agnes’s, filled with a mix of alarm and regret.
"I saw a couple busy doing something," Charlotte said hastily, attempting to deflect attention.
Grandma Agnes raised an eyebrow, her expression knowing. "Youngsters these days are quite frank about these matters."
Inside Thea’s bedroom....
She settled into bed, fresh from a refreshing shower, and closed her eyes, seeking relaxation. But her mind refused to unwind.
The image of the wallpaper on Ryder’s phone lingered, haunting her thoughts. "Why do I have this nagging feeling that I’ve seen that bracelet somewhere?" she wondered.
Her thoughts swirled in confusion, unable to pinpoint the memory.
Reaching for her phone, she discovered three missed calls from Ryder. She had silenced her phone, explaining why she hadn’t noticed them earlier.
She called him back. "Hello?" she said.
"Have you reached home?" Ryder asked.
"Hmm... It totally slipped my mind to inform you.Have you arrived?"
"Yes," Ryder responded.
An awkward silence followed.
"If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up." Thea said, breaking the silence. "Good night."
"Good night...." Ryder replied before hanging up.
"At least he’s still worried about me."
As she scrolled through her phone, a message from Charlotte popped up: "Sleep?"
Thea quickly typed out a response: "No, just lying down..."
A voice call came quickly from Charlotte.
"How was the event? Did Mr. Thompson get taken aback by your stunning appearance?"
Thea: "He didn’t bat an eye."
Charlotte: "Not even a word of praise?"
"His compliments aren’t my concern."
Charlotte teased, "Aww, is my baby a little sad about that?"
"No more jokes, how did it go for you?"
"I went to accompany my grandma to meet her best friend, and guess what? I met another childhood company of my friend." Charlotte shared.
"Who’s involved?"
"Sister Victoria." Charlotte revealed. "I’ve known her since I was 9; we met in Canada."
