Chapter 12 Knows Her Place

• On the other end, Quintus stared at the disconnected call in his hand, his expression turning dark abruptly. He seethed with anger. “That wretch, daring to hang up on me after all these years!”
• As he spoke, his anger escalated as if his authority had been challenged. “She had the audacity to have children out of wedlock years ago, and after six years of absence, she's had children with another man. She's utterly disgraced our Sherrod family! What a disgrace!”
• With teary eyes, Belinda gently said from the side, “Dad, please don't be angry. It hurts me to see you upset. Maybe Lettie met someone she likes abroad.”
• Upon hearing her words, Quintus' anger only escalated, his eyes almost spitting fire. “Whoever she's fond of, her background can be easily checked. She's an unmarried mother! Truly shameless, what a contemptible woman! And what kind of attitude was that? After what she had done, shouldn't she be grateful when I called her? Did she really think that just because she's some sort of miracle doctor now, she can stand firm in Quocester? Won't she still need the Sherrod family in the end?”
• A flash of triumph quickly passed through Belinda's eyes, and her tone turned anxious. She reached out to gently touch the man's chest, her voice trembling. “Dad, perhaps all of this is my fault. After all, she is your biological daughter, and I am just an adopted child... Maybe Lettie has always blamed me for taking her place. Otherwise, she wouldn't have...”
• When Quintus heard this, his gaze immediately hardened. His voice lowered as he asked, “What has that wretched woman done? Has she been bullying you? Hmph, if only she were half as sensible as you, I wouldn't have had to send her away in the first place!”
• Belinda's face turned deathly pale, her whole being as frail as a willow in the wind, looking as if she might faint at any moment. She choked back her tears as she spoke. “I saw Lettie at the airport. She... She said I'm nothing but an adopted girl in the Sherrod family and that I've been acting like someone significant. She even brought up something from six years ago. Dad, the reason Lettie is back this time... Could it be...”
• Quintus wore a grave expression, his gaze toward her filled with tender affection. In a soft, soothing tone, he coaxed, “Belle, although you are an adopted daughter of our Sherrod family, you have long surpassed her by a thousandfold, a millionfold. Your mom and I have always considered you our child. You are our rightful heir! As for the matter from six years ago, well, I'll sternly warn her about it tomorrow. She wouldn't dare to speak of it. By the way, how are things with Mr. Quille?”
• As Belinda heard that, a weight was lifted off her heart. She replied softly, “Thank you, Dad. As for Mr. Quille, Dr. Lynch has already increased the dosage of his poison. Everything is going smoothly.”
• On the third day, Charlotte ordered a lavish takeaway early in the morning, then went to wake up the children for their meal.
• Three little ones rubbed their eyes, wobbling out of the room. In their sweet, sleepy voices, they said, “Mommy, good morning!”
• They sat in a row, obediently picking up their spoons to eat their meal.
• Charlotte gazed at the adorable and well-behaved children in front of her, her eyes filled with tenderness. She shared with them that she was going to have lunch with Quintus later that day.
• Anthony's eyes widened in surprise, and he immediately clenched his fists, declaring, “Mommy, I'm coming with you!”
• He waved his little fists and thumped his chest, promising, “If they dare to mess with you, I'll beat them up right away!”
• Bennett and Olivia both wore solemn expressions on their small faces as they echoed, “Yes, yes, Mommy. We're coming with you!”
• The expressions on the faces of the three little ones were filled with indignation, yet they appeared unusually mature for their age, melting Charlotte's heart. Unable to resist, Charlotte reached out and gently tousled their hair.
• “It's okay for me to go alone. Don't worry about me. This time, I promise I won't let myself be mistreated!”
• Quintus had a tendency to use harsh words, so she was afraid that the children would feel upset if they heard him. That was why she was reluctant to bring them along.
• Charlotte's expression gradually turned icy, yet her voice remained soft. “You believe in me, don't you?”
• Seeing her expression, the three kids knew their plea was hopeless. They hung their heads in disappointment and said, “Okay then, Mommy. You must promise to take good care of yourself!”
• After finishing her meal, Charlotte retreated to her bedroom to choose her outfit. She picked out a wine-red gown that almost swept the floor, draped a black shawl embroidered with gold over her shoulders, and stepped into towering twenty-centimeter heels. Her makeup was bold and commanding, with high-arched eyebrows and fiery red lips. Once she was fully dressed, she emerged from her bedroom.
• “Wow!” Olivia was stunned when she saw her. She quickly scurried over and clung to her long legs, “Mommy, you're so cool!”
• Bennett's and Anthony's eyes sparkled as they gathered closer, exclaiming, “Mommy, you're so assertive!”
• Charlotte nonchalantly curved her red lips into a smirk, slipping on a pair of dark, oversized sunglasses. In a soft voice, she said, “I'm going out now.”
• The three little ones made a cheering gesture. “Go, Mommy, go!”
• She hailed a taxi to Oceanic Hotel, the largest hotel in Quocester. It was a place of grandeur and opulence where the Sherrod family had once held all their major banquets. Yet, despite being the biological daughter of the Sherrod family, she was never deemed worthy to attend. Instead, it was Belinda, the adopted daughter, who was present at every event.
• Memories of the past flooded Charlotte's mind as she, with a cold expression, walked in. The attendant at the door, seeing such a commanding woman approach, hurriedly greeted her and asked in a hushed tone, “Hello, do you have a reservation?”
• Charlotte casually asked, “Where is Quintus Sherrod's private room?”
• The attendant glanced at the registration form, humbly saying, “It's on the sixth floor, Wavelet Private Room.”
• Charlotte then entered.
• Inside the expansive private dining room, Belinda asked her parents insincerely, “Dad, Mom, it's getting late. Is it possible that Lettie won't show up?”
• Quintus was clad in a black suit, which accentuated his towering figure and icy demeanor. He furrowed his brows, then scoffed dismissively. “She wouldn't dare. But there's a chance she might be stopped by the attendant at the door.”
• Once upon a time, Charlotte had secretly desired to attend the Sherrod family's banquet. However, back then, she was clad in tattered clothes, standing at the entrance of the hotel, and was promptly turned away by the attendant.
• It seemed that Belinda also remembered that scene, unable to suppress a triumphant smile that slipped from the corners of her mouth. Lowering her head in feigned concern, she said, “Oh, right. Mom, Dad, should I go downstairs to meet Lettie first?”
• Quintus wore a cold expression. Next to him stood a woman cloaked in a dark red gown, Yolanda Miller. She scoffed and said, “Belle, just sit here obediently. Let that wretch suffer a bit downstairs. When she comes begging your father, then you can go down.”
• “Hmph, it's probably for the best that she knows her place!”
• As Charlotte approached the door, she overheard that statement. Her gaze turned even colder, her presence sharp as she forcefully pushed the door open. With a faint smile, she asked, “What are you all talking about? Who needs to know their place?”