novelraw Chapter 239 - 154 Atlas Hallow also came
Chapter 239 - 154 Atlas Hallow also came
Sometimes, things in this world are destined to be so inconvenient.
Before Atlas had a chance to tell Charlotte about Luna’s situation, someone else had already informed her.
Charlotte woke up in the morning; the sunlight was beautiful, reflecting off the first snow as she stood by the window. It was somewhat dazzlingly bright, and she gently closed her eyes, taking a deep breath with the enticing aroma of food wafting through the air.
The scent of Atlas in the vast space seemed to have faded quite a bit; he surely had already left.
He was still busy; his time was truly insufficient. It wasn’t easy for him to spare nearly a whole day to accompany her yesterday. Perhaps he went out early?
With the heater on in the house, she wore a loose robe and lazily walked barefoot on the carpet to the living room, ready to have breakfast.
Just as she was about to eat at the counter, Charlotte received a phone call.
It was unexpectedly from Jack Smith. She rarely contacted Jack, especially not during this period, as Charlotte knew very well that Atlas was highly sensitive and particularly disliked her interactions with other men. Thus, she didn’t want to invite unnecessary trouble, and Jack was a man who knew his boundaries, never calling her lightly.
The call at this time must be about something important.
Charlotte avoided the auntie making walnut rice milk for her, took the phone, and returned to her room—not because there was anything to hide, but because she was used to being cautious now. Better to deal with fewer matters than more.
Entering the room and swiping the phone to answer, Jack’s anxious voice came through: "Charlotte..."
Jack heard the shallow breaths of the woman on the phone and couldn’t help but let out a long sigh. Despite being sisters, they seemed to have nothing alike—from their speech and behavior to their interests.
"I wasn’t sure if I should call you, but after thinking about it for a long time, I still did. After all, Luna is your sister." As Jack spoke, Charlotte became nervous; what on earth happened?
"Luna is currently in the hospital." After Jack said this, Charlotte felt like her heart was about to leap out from her throat. Her face turned pale as she trembled, asking, "Did something happen to her? Why is she in the hospital?"
For the past few days, she had felt uneasy, faintly sensing that Luna must be about to get into some trouble. Although she and Luna had increasing conflicts, it seemed like sisters were connected at heart, and she had already guessed something would happen.
That’s why she asked Atlas to check on Luna, yet before Atlas could gather any news, Luna was already in trouble.
Jack, being the man most connected to Luna, knew what had happened, which was understandable. Listening to Jack’s account over the phone, Charlotte’s face grew paler until almost all color seemed to drain away, leaving her looking like a vulnerable white plum blossom in the harsh winter, ready to fall with a gust of wind.
"Right now, the doctors are still diagnosing Luna. We don’t know what’s wrong yet; conservatively estimating, her face might need a second reconstruction," expressed Jack, still unable to comprehend. Although he had never been afraid of anything, truly seeing Luna in her current condition terrified him.
It was heard that Luna often indulged in some well-known nightclubs, becoming very alluring during the vibrant evenings, deeply attracting many men partying in the clubs. Last night, she reportedly drank with numerous men and later invited a group to party in a hotel’s presidential suite, glamorously labeling it a party but essentially it was an orgy.
About a dozen men and three women.
After drinking heavily, they woke up in the morning with Luna’s face swollen and body cold, unresponsive when called, prompting panic among them, leading to an ambulance call and contacting the police.
The police found Jack’s number on Luna’s phone, calling him directly. Upon realizing an issue, Jack rushed to the hospital immediately, witnessing Luna’s appearance; her cosmetically altered face had skin already extremely thin, possibly due to an allergy, swollen, appearing fragile as if a finger press could break it, the once high bridge of her nose twisted aside and somewhat collapsed like a piece of malformed clay, and the corners of her mouth had cracked open, resembling a torn rag doll.
"Which hospital is it?" Charlotte nearly cried out, wondering if all this was her fault?
She had insisted on sending Luna to the United States for schooling and had urged the separation of the Miller Family. If she hadn’t been so decisive, would Luna have avoided constant troubles? Including her plastic surgery in South Korea, including her emotional entanglements with Jack—was this all her fault?
Her voice started to tremble; Charlotte was already somewhat unsure of how to face Luna.
Jack precisely stated the hospital’s location. Charlotte swiftly changed her clothes, wrapped herself up thoroughly, not even bothering for breakfast, and called Atlas’s arranged driver to take her to Luna’s hospital.
The auntie saw Charlotte preparing to dash out and quickly chased after her, calling out: "Madam, please take this to eat on the way; skipping breakfast is bad for your health, especially now when you need nutrition the most." The auntie handed her a packed warm vegetarian stuffed bun and a small cup of walnut rice milk.
She hurriedly accepted it, leaving no time for thanks, grabbed the small bag, and rushed out the door: "Madam, please walk slowly; the snow outside is slippery..."
The auntie noticed Charlotte’s unusual behavior and hesitated whether to call Atlas.
"Sir, Madam received a call this morning and rushed out without having breakfast. She left quickly, and I’m a bit worried." It’s better to mention it; at least if anything happens, Sir wouldn’t blame her.
"Who made the call? Did you hear what was said?" At this time, Atlas was already in the office, having spent a sleepless night, his eyes showing faint bloodshot veins, and his voice sounded hoarse.
"No, Madam answered the phone in her room, but she seemed very anxious," the auntie answered truthfully. She was merely a servant; how could she eavesdrop on what Madam was saying, which wouldn’t be proper?
She avoided others while taking the call—who was calling?
Tracking this was as easy as pie, and within minutes, the number calling Charlotte was discovered to belong to Jack.
His gaze darkened and cooled; he disliked this man always seeking opportunities to approach Charlotte.
The hospital was always crowded, perpetually filled with the scent of disinfectant; Charlotte felt bouts of nausea but endured.
"How is she? Has she awakened? What did the doctor say?" Charlotte found Jack, who was fully camouflaged, leaving only his eyes exposed, perhaps due to his status. He pulled Charlotte along the corridor to the very end.
"Luna she..." Jack was hesitant to say, feeling it strange to share with a sister about her sister’s promiscuous nightlife.
"What really happened?" Charlotte was jumping anxiously, vowing each time not to care about Luna, but knowing she couldn’t follow through. There are matters not simply achievable by wanting them; she could achieve many things but not control herself on certain matters.
"She... probably overdid it last night, drinking excessively and taking some drug containing stimulants. It seems she’s been on them for a while. Besides, there was violence, perhaps aided by some tools for... pleasure, leading to severe bleeding, and she’s pregnant but has to undergo an abortion." This was the doctor’s statement; her blood test revealed some drugs, her physical condition unsuitable for nurturing a healthy child, thus requiring the abortion procedure.
Jack’s explanation was somewhat disordered, but Charlotte had essentially understood.
Luna led the most chaotic life, without even taking precautions. Did she genuinely wish to destroy her body? Charlotte’s heart was trembling, as she was pregnant now too. Why was there such a disparity in their outcomes?
Whose fault was it, truly?
Skipping breakfast, moving too hurriedly, with the hospital’s poor air quality and the distressing news painfully tormenting, Charlotte’s vision turned foggy as her whole body wobbled, seemingly about to collapse.
Jack swiftly wrapped his arm around Charlotte, with an extremely faint rose fragrance emanating from between strands of her hair, weaving into his senses.
"Let her go..." Suddenly an entire shadow seemed to appear before him, even the air thinned as though all light and air were being absorbed by the man standing before him in a coat.
Atlas had also arrived?