Chapter 12: It's just a transaction

Maria clung to Charlotte's arm, her eyes brimming with scalding tears. "It's a blessing you found her. I'll keep mum about it, Lottie. I've wronged you enough; I can't let the past haunt your sister." While Charlotte weighed the truth of her mother's words, the door burst open, and Robert was shoved, subdued by a towering brute. It was Griffin! Thrown to the floor, Robert yelped in pain. Catching sight of Charlotte, he blustered. "I've already spent the money; I can't pay it back! If you want, you can take my daughter back with you for some more fun. But let me be clear: if she runs away again, I'm washing my hands off it for good!" Griffin's menacing gaze settled on Charlotte. "Heard that? Your old man's broke. Time to settle your debts with me!" Charlotte smirked. "I've obtained the surveillance footage from the bakery. Kidnapping is a crime, Griffin. I'm sure you wouldn't want your farm to crumble with both father and son behind bars, would you?" Griffin's face turned red. "It was your father who promised you to us, dowry paid. It's only right that I come to collect my bride!" "Save it for the police," Charlotte retorted coolly. Griffin countered, "Besides, this was your father's plot. Call the cops, and he'll be bunking in jail too!" "Exactly what I'm hoping for," Charlotte replied her voice light as a feather. Griffin hesitated, noting the dashing gentleman at Charlotte's side. "So what, we just let this slide? You expect me to swallow this loss?" "Not at all. The $400,000 is owed, and it's not like it just blew in with the wind. You'll get your money." Charlotte glanced disdainfully at Robert sprawled on the floor, his sleazy face inducing a wave of nausea. "Debts have their debtor. Go after the one who took your money. He's done enough wrongs and wouldn't dare call the cops." Vincent looked on, surprised. Charlotte's words were a clear shove for Robert into the fire—Robert wouldn't dare involve the police, leaving Griffin free rein. Griffin's son, having grown up amid slaughter, was a chip off the old block, graduating from killing animals to people... His son, maybe because he saw too much pig slaughtering when he was little, started killing cats and dogs around the age of seven or eight. As he grew up, he even dared to... If they kept Robert on a tight leash, there'd be no murder, just enough for his son to get his kicks. Robert's brawny frame could take it. Seeing Griffin about to drag him away, Robert, who was in defiance moments ago, wilted, pleading for mercy at Griffin's feet. "Take my girl instead! She's got use, she's a woman!" Griffin remained unmoved. Charlotte had once outsmarted his son and could just as easily alert the police now. She might appear fragile, but she was steel through and through; Griffin wasn't about to tangle with her. Robert, thwarted, concocted another scheme. Clinging to a fire hydrant, he blustered, "Who dares cross me? Do you know who my daughter's betrothed to? Liam! From the Parker Group! Ever heard of him?" But his words fell on deaf ears. No one believed him. "If Liam truly is your son-in-law, then I must be the Jesus himself!" Scoffed Griffin, just as a sleek black car pulled up nearby. Stepping out was a figure exuding an air of icy nobility - it was none other than Liam Parker himself. Overcome with relief, Robert cried out, "Mr. Parker! Save me, please, Mr. Parker!" "Mr. Parker?" Charlotte's gaze followed to where Liam stood by the car. Why on earth was he here? Before she could make sense of it, Liam's stride halted abruptly, his eyes flashing a fiery red as they fixed on something behind her. Turning around belatedly, Charlotte's eyes met Vincent's, and she stammered, "Mr. Blackwood and I... our meeting was a mere coincidence..." Liam withdrew his glare from Vincent and turned it to Charlotte, his voice frosty. "Charlotte, I asked you to wait for me, not to keep company with another man while you did." Charlotte began to explain but then thought better of it, choosing silence over words. Liam's anger flared at her silent acquiescence. Spotting Robert crawling over, he kicked him away without mercy, sending him sprawling several meters. "Mr. Parker! I beg you, save me!" cried Robert, ignoring the pain as he scrambled towards his last hope. "Why should I?" Liam sneered. "Hasn't your darling daughter found herself a new protector? Go to him." His words pointed to Vincent Blackwood. Robert, shivering, glanced at Vincent, who stood not far off and pleaded, "Sir, for the sake of my daughter..." Vincent turned away in disgust, his refusal clear. With no other recourse, Robert fell to his knees before Liam once more. "Only you can save me, Mr. Parker!" "I warned you, if she displeases me, you'll pay with your life." With another kick, Liam coldly told Charlotte, "Come home tonight, and we'll pretend this never happened." Charlotte knew Liam had her every move monitored. Her encounter with Vincent was purely accidental; surely Liam didn't believe she'd dare to be unfaithful. But the sight of her standing beside Vincent was irksome to him. Telling her to come home was his concession. Charlotte bit her lip, saying nothing. Liam gave her a piercing look before turning to Griffin. "Carry on." Only when Liam was well out of sight did Griffin dare to breathe heavily again, ordering Robert to be taken back. The imposing presence of such a high-and-mighty figure was overwhelming. Robert yelled in protest, "Not me! Take Charlotte! Can't you see? Mr. Parker doesn't want her anymore!" Griffin, infuriated, punched Robert. Although Mr. Parker had departed, the assistant who looked like he worked for Parker lingered. He just stood there, but Griffin had no doubt—if he dared touch Charlotte, that man would ensure he regretted ever living. "Take him away!" As Robert was about to be dragged off, Maria panicked, pleading with Charlotte, "Lottie, help your father, please! Don't let them take him; they'll beat him!" Charlotte responded coldly, "If they don't take Robert, they'll take me." Maria was stunned, murmuring, "But you escaped once. Surely you can do it again. Your father's too old to withstand a beating..." Charlotte ignored her and strode away. Vincent quickly caught up, pressing her. "What is going on with you and Liam? If you're together, why would you watch him get engaged? You should have stopped him from making it official with Chloe!" "It's just a transaction. Is it so strange for a wealthy man to keep a mistress?" Charlotte retorted. "That's impossible!" Vincent exclaimed. "Liam has always been calculating. Remember? Even when Chloe called off their engagement, he barely reacted. But did you see his reaction just now? Do you think that's how a man would react to a mere mistress?"