novelraw Chapter 830: Epilogue 2
Chapter 830: Epilogue 2
Due to an emotional breakdown, Charlotte Smith spoke incoherently, but Robert Stephens still pieced together the truth from her words—
In the future, Charlotte would choose to perish along with him after being provoked by her family’s words, but because he chose to protect her in the face of danger, it led to him becoming incapacitated and dying young.
It was completely absurd, even somewhat ridiculous, but at that moment, Charlotte was crying her heart out, and her increasingly strange behavior during this period made his expression turn somber.
He didn’t understand as he gently embraced Charlotte’s trembling body as she cried; she was truly heartbroken. It seemed that after revealing this secret, she had relaxed but couldn’t stop her tears.
He gently touched her tearful eyes and coaxed softly, "Please stop crying, alright? I would never treat our child like this. Charlotte, to be honest, it’s you who haven’t trusted me during this time. Not only did you not tell me you’re pregnant, but you’ve also been at odds with me everywhere."
Charlotte sobbed and looked up at him, "You’re going to marry Janet Madison..."
"Didn’t I explain to you that it was just a fake news released for business purposes? I have nothing to do with her, but it’s truly my fault for not explaining clearly to you, leading to your misunderstanding."
Charlotte lowered her eyes and remained silent. What Robert said was airtight, and it seemed it was indeed her who had gone overboard.
Now that she had revealed her final secret, whether Robert regarded her as crazy or not, she had already done her utmost for herself and their child.
If the future couldn’t be changed, she would have to resign to fate.
"What I said earlier is all true," Charlotte said softly, "Please believe me..."
Robert sighed lightly, holding her, "You’re tired, Charlotte, get some sleep."
Charlotte was indeed exhausted. She was a bit unwilling, yet she drifted off into a deep sleep under Robert’s coaxing.
*
When she woke up, she was already back at the Stephens family home.
Robert was not there; he had traveled back from Vietnam to bring her home personally, and now he was busy going to a company meeting.
Charlotte ate breakfast alone in the dining room when someone from the Smith family came, saying that her parents missed her and wanted her to come home for a few days.
As soon as she got home, her mother discovered she was pregnant.
"Is it the child of the eldest young master?"
Charlotte nodded.
Lady Smith showed a very concerned expression, "What should we do? He won’t want this child."
Charlotte said, "He said he would marry me in the future."
"Silly child, a man’s words aren’t to be trusted," her mother said with the air of someone who had been through it all, "They always say one thing and do another behind your back. He’s now being very intimate with Miss Madison and has gotten you pregnant. These words are just to placate you."
"..." Charlotte pressed her lips together. She wanted to say that Robert had already agreed to have this child, but remembering her experience in the previous life, she couldn’t say it after all.
In conclusion, the trust between her and Robert had long been gone.
Seeing her expression, Lady Smith didn’t say much more, suggesting she stay home for a while, saying she looked very pale and that no matter what, she should nourish herself during the pregnancy.
It just so happened that Charlotte didn’t know how to face Robert, so she agreed conveniently and then called Robert, saying she would stay at the Smith family home for a few days.
Robert’s reaction was indifferent, and he didn’t oppose; after all, her staying at her parents’ home was better than wandering around outside.
Having lived with Robert since she was young, Charlotte rarely returned to her own home and had a distant relationship with her parents, but a mother is, after all, a mother. Perhaps due to her pregnancy, the once cold and strict mother was now very caring towards her these days, and she rarely felt the warmth of home.
However, a change occurred a week later.
In the morning, while Charlotte was drinking chicken soup in the dining room, Lady Smith hurriedly came over, telling her to quickly hide upstairs.
She was slightly stunned, raised her head, and saw a group of people coming in from outside, led by a stern-looking middle-aged woman, Robert Stephens’s housekeeper.
A memory from deep within flashed through like lightning, and Charlotte quickly ran upstairs, the cold voice of that woman coming from behind, "Go catch her!"
When her shoulder was forcefully seized by someone from behind, Charlotte forgot to struggle—why did it happen earlier?
She was a bit incredulous.
The time Robert Stephens had ordered her to be taken to the hospital for an abortion, why did it come early?
Was it retribution for revealing heavenly secrets?
Just a few days ago, he had gently coaxed her, saying he wanted to raise the child with her; why had he changed his face so quickly?
Her mother hurried over, "What are you doing?"
"It’s the order of the eldest young master, to take Miss Smith to the hospital for an abortion." The housekeeper’s voice was cold, "Please do not obstruct us; offending the eldest young master won’t be good for anyone!"
Charlotte was dragged away.
In the previous life, she couldn’t believe it and struggled desperately, but now she was already numb.
The mandate of heaven cannot be defied.
The conflict between her and Robert Stephens was irreconcilable.
This child was destined not to be born.
Sitting in the car, she was very quiet, so quiet that even those who were holding her found it strange.
The group exchanged glances, and the housekeeper asked her, "Miss Smith, aren’t you upset?"
Her reaction seemed a bit off.
Charlotte glanced at her without speaking.
The hospital arrived quickly, and she was brought inside by the housekeeper.
"Miss Smith, please don’t blame me; it’s the order of the eldest young master. I am also compelled to do this. I didn’t expect the eldest young master to be so ruthless, though he usually treats you the best."
Charlotte raised her head and gave her a curious glance.
She was no longer the seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl protected by Robert Stephens; she sharply detected the woman’s insinuations in her words.
Did she say so much when she abducted her for an abortion back then?
Probably not. After all, her world had collapsed at that time, filled with hatred towards Robert Stephens, and she couldn’t hear anything.
Being looked at like this, the housekeeper seemed to realize she had said too much; she gritted her teeth and said to the nurse, "Take her in for surgery!"
Charlotte offered no resistance and followed the nurse.
Her mind was particularly chaotic, unable to understand why this was happening, and she stopped in her tracks, "I want to make a call to Robert Stephens..."
"No way!" the housekeeper promptly replied, "Young Master is currently at the company; it’s inconvenient for him to take your call..."
"Well, you finally thought of calling me!"
A voice filled with hidden anger came from not far away.
Charlotte instinctively raised her head, seeing a line of armed bodyguards rushing down the corridor, swiftly surrounding the nurse and the housekeeper.
"Young Master, how could you..."
The housekeeper’s face turned pale; her eyes widened in disbelief.
Robert Stephens said nothing, gestured, and the bodyguards immediately took them away.
Charlotte stood where she was, confusedly looking at the suddenly appearing Robert Stephens.
The man’s face was exceptionally grim, even somewhat irritable; he gestured to her, "Come here."
Charlotte didn’t move from her spot.
Robert went over, pulling her into his arms, feeling her body cold as ice.
In an instant, his anger dissipated.
He pressed her head gently, "In your past life, did you hate me like this?"
Charlotte looked at his face, as if recalling something, her eyes slowly widening.
*
Within a month, all prestigious families allied with the Stephens faced a bloody purge.
First and foremost was the Smith family.
Countless people died; Robert Stephens’s thunderous methods left him faintly carrying the scent of blood upon returning.
But for her sake, Robert did not kill her parents, instead imprisoned them.
The Smith family’s dealings were far from clean, their accumulated crimes enough to doom them to spend the rest of their lives in prison.
During Robert’s dealings with these matters, Charlotte remained silent.
She did not stop him.
Her past life felt like a joke, loving someone she shouldn’t have, hating someone she shouldn’t have, being used by those she trusted the most, turning against Robert.
Until her death, she was a pawn of the Smith family.
Those enduring wounds over more than a decade, and the hatred towards Robert, were all a farce.
She couldn’t let go of it instantly.
After Robert handled the rebellion, he became the youngest ruler of the Stephens, with power highly centralized, unprecedented before and after.
He spent a month allowing Charlotte to introspect, but by the time he finished handling matters, he found her still listless.
He finally grew impatient, seizing an opportunity to ask her how long she’d remain despondent.
Charlotte sullenly looked at him.
"Indeed. Discovering you’ve been a fool your whole life isn’t easy to accept," Robert told her, "But your intelligence has always been low, so it’s normal you didn’t realize."
"..." Was this guy here to mock or comfort her?
Robert looked at her, then laughed, pulling her into his embrace, "But look, you’ve improved; you even thought to call me to confirm something. You’re much smarter than in your last life."
"..." That was only because she had grown a little older.
Robert caressed her swollen belly, laughing, "I wonder if it’s a boy or girl."
Charlotte looked down at her belly, "Should be a boy."
*
Seven months later, Charlotte gave birth to a seven-pound baby boy in the hospital.
Robert stayed by her side the entire time.
Named him George Stephens.
Charlotte paused upon hearing the name from Robert’s lips.
Then she finally let go.
After twists and turns, George was still their child.
Only in the past life, he arrived a bit later than in this one.