Chapter 195: Don’t Unlock
In her dreams....
Just as Charlotte’s tiny hands were about to grab Ryan’s neck, he opened his eyes, seized her collar, and tossed her across the room.
"Ow, ow, ow! Let go! I didn’t mean it... kind brother, I just started. Let’s talk nicely... it hurts!" Ryan had no intention of releasing his grip. He was determined to teach Charlotte a lesson.
"What did I warn you about?" Ryan demanded.
Charlotte hesitated, "I... I don’t remember."
Ryan’s grip tightened, and Charlotte yelped in pain. "I remember now! I remember... you said not to hug."
Ryan’s expression darkened. "What else?"
"Not to kiss," Charlotte replied, her voice trembling.
Ryan’s face twisted in annoyance. "Charlotte, listen carefully: stay at least three steps away from me."
Charlotte nodded vigorously, her tiny head bobbing up and down. "Got it, got it."
Only then did Ryan release her, brushing off his hands.
In the next moment of her dream, the scene shifted. Charlotte envisioned herself as a powerful queen, determined to bring down the arrogant Ryan. With a fierce glint in her eye, she vowed to discipline him with a whip and candle until he knelt before her, begging for mercy.
"See if you can still be arrogant then!"
Thea whispered softly, "Your cheek... look at your face, it’s as red as a baboon’s backside!"
Charlotte, lost in thought, snapped back to reality. "Did I say something out loud?"
Thea leaned in, her voice barely audible. "Charlotte, what were you thinking? Why did you mention his name? Are you thinking of him?Don’t tell me.."
Charlotte’s face turned even redder as she snapped her chopsticks on the table. "No way... I didn’t mean that, Grandma, Father, Mother."
Grandma Agnes looked up. "What’s going on, Charlotte? What are you saying?"
"Grandma, it’s nothing," Charlotte said, trying to downplay it. "I was just lost in thought."
Thea, Charlotte, and Grandma Agnes had just landed. As they made their way out of the airport, Grandma Agnes asked, "Are we heading straight to your great-uncle’s house?"
"Are you coming?" Thea inquired.
Charlotte nodded. "Yes, I am."
"Charlotte, Thea, take the car with you.." Grandma Agnes instructed. "The driver will be waiting."
"Okay, Grandma.." Charlotte replied.
First, the car dropped Grandma Agnes off at home. Then, the two friends set off for Thea’s great-uncle’s house.
As the car came to a stop in front of Thea’s great-uncle’s house, the girls stepped out onto the curb. Mr. Norris, greeted them at the door.
"Grandma—"
The moment Charlotte entered the main residence, she ran headlong into Grandma Grace’s embrace. Like a kid who never grew up, she acted coquettishly with her, "Grandma, I miss you so much!"
"I too miss you two.."
Charlotte turned her head and replied, "Thea, why are you standing there? Come and hug your grandma," before hurriedly snuggling into her Grandma’s warm embrace.
Thea retorted, "If you only hug her from where I can hug?"
"Grandma," Charlotte protested, "Grandma, look at her. She is jealous... Wanting to split us up, isn’t that annoying?"
"Alright, alright! Put your bag down and go wash your hands. It’s time to eat," Grandma Grace said.
"Alright! Grandma Where’s Great Uncle?" Thea asked, noticing that Silas was nowhere to be found in the living room.
"He just left. He will be back soon!" Grandma Grace replied.
"Then let’s wait for him before we start." Thea suggested.
"Sure, sure." Grandma Grace agreed.
Charlotte and Thea bounced toward the washroom to wash their hands.
Silas returned half an hour later. "Great Uncle bought these for you.." he said, placing the packet on the table.
"Great Uncle, thank you.." Thea uttered gratefully.
Thea then introduced Charlotte. "Charlotte, meet my Great Uncle."
Charlotte smiled politely. "Great Uncle, I am Charlotte. Nice to meet you."
Silas smiled warmly, murmuring a gentle "Hmm" before heading off to wash his hands.
After they finished their lunch, Silas got up and opened the packet he had bought. He distributed the blueberry-lemon flavored muffins to them. "Try it.." he replied.
"I’ve heard it’s quite famous around here.." Silas said.
Charlotte looked at him curiously. "But Great Uncle, why aren’t you having any?"
Silas declined, saying, "I don’t have a sweet tooth."
Grandma Agnes chuckled and teased, "Don’t be modest, brother. When we were kids, you were always sneaking sweets from me!"
A faint glimmer of tears welled up in Grandma Agnes’s eyes as memories of the past flooded her mind.
In the room...
Thea was lying on the bed. "Thea, in the evening we’ll go sightseeing." Charlotte said, sitting on the armchair and gently rocking back and forth.
Thea hummed softly, "Hmm..." as she lay down, and soon drifted off to sleep. Meanwhile, Charlotte continued to browse through her phone.
"Thea, wake up... quickly wake up.." Charlotte urged.
"Charlotte, let me sleep for five more minutes," Thea mumbled, still half asleep.
"See who came to meet you," Charlotte said, trying to rouse her.
"Who?" Thea murmured, her voice groggy with sleep.
"Mr. Thompson. He came to see you," Charlotte replied, shaking Thea gently.
Thea’s eyes snapped open. "Ryder," she exclaimed, suddenly wide awake.
Thea hastily got off the bed and rushed to the living room. "Grandma, Ryder came?" she asked, looking around expectantly.
Grandma Grace looked up at her, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Thea, why would Ryder come here?"
Thea’s expression faltered as she realized she had been misled. "Charlotte... she said..."
Grandma Grace’s eyes twinkled with knowing. "Did she say Ryder came?" she asked, her tone gentle but teasing.
Thea re-entered the room, where Charlotte was sitting with a sly smile.
"Thea, as soon as I said Mr. Thompson, you were like a new person!" Charlotte exclaimed, laughing. "You went from being a sleepy log to a lively spark!"
Thea simply glanced at Charlotte, still looking a bit annoyed.
"We’re going out," Charlotte announced. "Get changed."
Grandma Grace looked up, interested. "Where are you two off to?"
"Grandma, I want to go sightseeing around here.." Charlotte replied.
Silas, who had been listening, spoke up, "Take Norris with you."
The place was stunningly beautiful. As Thea and Charlotte walked alongside him, Norris pointed out various landmarks and shared tales of the past.
"How long have we been staying with Great-Uncle, Uncle Norris?"
"Miss, I’ve been in Sir’s service for the past 20 years."
"Is your family here with you, Uncle Norris?" Thea asked gently.
A tinge of sadness crossed Norris’s face. "I’m afraid I’m alone now, Miss. My wife left us nine years ago. My two daughters are grown and married, with lives of their own."
As they stepped into the house. "How did you girls like the place?" Grandma Grace asked.
"Yes, Grandma." Thea replied with a smile.
The next day...
Grandma Grace, Thea, and Charlotte were packed and ready to depart.
As they prepared to leave, Thea turned to Great-Uncle and said, "Great-Uncle, I’d love to visit you again with Grandma."
"I’d like that too.." Charlotte added.
Grandma Grace smiled. "Elder Brother, next time I’ll take you to our home."
Silas nodded, smiling. "Okay, next time we’ll all do that."
After exchanging warm goodbyes, Silas walked beside the car. As Thea was about to get in, he handed her a small packet. "Thea, this is a little something from me."
"Great-Uncle, why did you need to prepare this?"
"As your great-uncle, and with you being my only grandniece, I felt it was only right to give you a little something..."
Inside the car, Grandma Grace asked, "Charlotte, did you like the place?"
"Yes, Grandma," Charlotte replied. "Yesterday, when we went sightseeing, I fell in love with the scenery."
"Grandma, next time you come, can I accompany you too?" Charlotte asked.
"Of course, Miss Charlotte" Grandma Grace replied. "You’re most welcome."
The car dropped them off at their home before heading back to Charlotte’s house. "See you on Monday.." Charlotte said.
"Hmm..." Thea waved back as the car drove away. She then entered her house.
"Grandma, what are you looking at?" Thea asked, noticing Grandma Grace standing still in one spot.
"I’m almost out of my medication tonight," Grandma Grace said, "I really should go pick up a refill."
Thea smiled reassuringly. "Grandma, don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it for you."
Grandma Grace handed Thea the prescription.
Thea took the prescription and gave her grandmother a reassuring smile ," I’ll be right back with your medicine." With that, she headed out the door to the pharmacy.
Grandma, what are you looking at?" Thea asked, noticing Grandma Grace standing still in one spot.
"I’m almost out of my medication tonight," Grandma Grace said, "I really should go pick up a refill."
Thea took the prescription and gave her grandmother a reassuring smile ," I’ll be right back with your medicine." With that, she headed out the door to the pharmacy.
Grandma, what are you looking at?" Thea asked, noticing Grandma Grace standing still in one spot.
"I’m almost out of my medication tonight," Grandma Grace said, "I really.....
