Chapter 5

Seeing Errol slap Daniel, Charlotte quickly spoke up to clarify, "Mr. Hoffman Senior, I'm 22 years old. I'm an adult." Her clear, expressive eyes met his, filled with sincerity, and Errol believed her without a second thought. She had an innate charm, untouched by pretension. Just looking at her brought a sense of reassurance. "She's pregnant with my child," Daniel interjected. "You've been eager for a granddaughter-in-law and a great-grandchild, so I went ahead and got the marriage certificate today." He slid the certificate onto the coffee table as proof. "You little brat! Do you think marriage is something you can treat so carelessly?" Errol's voice boomed, making Charlotte flinch. Instinctively, she started picking at the dry skin on her fingers. Daniel, however, was unfazed. He was used to Errol's harsh words—Errol had always been in good health. "The women you set up for me were all after something," Daniel said. "I'm not interested in that, and I have no patience for blind dates. Since she's carrying my child, it's only right that I take responsibility." Having raised Daniel, Errol knew him well. While Daniel had always been dismissive of blind dates, his sudden declaration of responsibility for the child was unusual. Daniel had never been one to value family bonds. To him, marriage had always been optional. If anything, staying single had always seemed more practical. However, Charlotte did meet Errol's standards for a granddaughter-in-law—kind, polite, and full of life. As for how the child came to be, that was not up for debate. After all, Daniel was 28 years old—young, energetic, and with natural physical needs. It was only to be expected. Errol's face brightened. "Now that you're married, build a good life together. Love grows over time. And now that you have a family, don't spend all your time on work. Work is endless." "Yes, Grandpa," Daniel replied, fully aware that arguing would be pointless. It was easier to indulge Errol to keep him content. "What's your name, miss?" Errol asked. "Charlotte," she replied. "Your name sounds lovely," Errol said, clearly pleased. "Do you have any family?" Charlotte glanced at Daniel for a moment. He held her gaze but showed no sign of wanting to engage with her. "It's just me and my mother." "Hoffman Estate is large. If you're not used to the food or the living environment, feel free to bring your mother here." Thinking of the bedridden Elyse, Charlotte felt a tightness in her nose. She clenched her teeth, forcing herself to suppress the emotions. "Alright. Thank you, Errol." Daniel remained quiet, his sharp gaze taking in every detail of her reaction. … After lunch, Charlotte followed Daniel to her new home. As usual, his strides were long, making it hard for her to keep up. Now that she had eaten, moving too quickly caused a dull ache in her lower abdomen. She slowed her pace, maintaining a comfortable distance. They passed through the gates and entered Waterside Residence. The soothing sound of flowing water filled the air. The building in front of her was nestled in the heart of the mountains and surrounded by trees, radiating a peaceful, calming atmosphere. A stream meandered lazily in front of the residence, with an arched bridge spanning over it, leading to a yard on the other side. "Welcome home, Mr. Hoffman," a voice greeted as they entered the living room. A group of staff members stood ready, awaiting their arrival. As Daniel entered, they all lowered their heads in respectful greeting. "This is Charlotte Moore. You can call her Mrs. Hoffman," Daniel introduced her. The staff exchanged surprised glances, momentarily taken aback. Daniel turned slightly and noticed Charlotte lingering near the entrance. With the staff's attention now focused on her, Charlotte quickly stepped forward, pausing at a respectful distance from Daniel. In unison, the staff greeted her, "Welcome, Mrs. Hoffman." Charlotte wasn't accustomed to such formality and replied stiffly, "Hello, everyone." Daniel quickly took the lead. "From now on, everything here will revolve around her. Anticipate her needs before she even realizes them and address any potential issues before they arise." "Understood," the staff responded collectively. Without any further prompting, each of them stepped forward to introduce themselves. "Hello, Mrs. Hoffman. I'm Dr. Beatrice Crawford, your prenatal nutrition and wellness physician. I'll be taking care of your diet, mental health, and prenatal checkups." "Hello, Mrs. Hoffman. I'm Madison O'Brien, your prenatal yoga instructor." "Good day, Mrs. Hoffman. I'm Kyla Covington, your security guard and designated driver." "Hello, Mrs. Hoffman. I'm Regina Duncan, the butler at Waterside Residence. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask." Charlotte glanced at the four women before her. "I truly appreciate all of you looking after me." Regina exuded a warm, motherly presence, while the other three women seemed to be temporary hires. They stood stiffly, their bodies tense and clearly uncomfortable. "From now on, they'll manage every aspect of your life. If there's anything you're unhappy with, you can tell me directly." "Alright," Charlotte replied, her face revealing her dissatisfaction. "But can't I just take care of myself without them?" "No, you can't." She hadn't expected such a firm response, especially not in front of everyone. It stung, but she quickly pushed the feeling aside. Daniel had already made his priorities clear—his focus was on the baby's health and development. Her own desires didn't factor into the equation. She asked once more, "Can I visit my mom?" Daniel's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen but didn't answer immediately. "You can. Kyla will take you. She'll be with you everywhere, except when you're at Waterside Residence." Charlotte let out a heavy sigh. There was no use in arguing further. She knew she couldn't change his mind. Without another word, Daniel picked up his phone and walked out, leaving her standing there. Charlotte looked at the four women, who met her gaze with polite, professional smiles. The atmosphere felt tense. "Mrs. Hoffman, would you like me to show you around Waterside Residence?" Regina suggested. "It's fine. Just tell me where I can take care of my basic needs," Charlotte replied. Regina looked slightly confused. "Mrs. Hoffman, what do you mean by 'basic needs'?" "Food, water, bathroom, and sleep," Charlotte said. Rather than finding her words crude, Regina was struck by how refreshingly straightforward she was. "Mr. Hoffman rarely dines at home. Your meals will be planned by Dr. Crawford and prepared by me. The second floor has everything you need—a study and a bedroom suite." A bedroom. That meant she wouldn't have to share a room with him. Perfect. "Alright. I understand. You don't need to prepare dinner for me—I'll head straight to my evening lab class after visiting the hospital." The best part about no longer working part-time was that she could spend all her free time with Elyse, aside from college. Regina hesitated for a moment. "I'll need to inform Mr. Hoffman before I can confirm that." Charlotte bit her lip and remained silent. She couldn't even make decisions about her own meals anymore. Time seemed to stand still as the four women remained motionless, all waiting for her response. "Fine. Go ahead and prepare dinner. I'll be back to eat." The rules had already been laid out by Daniel. There was no point in arguing with his staff—it all had to go through him anyway. Regina exhaled with relief. "Kyla, let's go." Kyla drove while Charlotte sat in the backseat, her mind consumed with anxious thoughts, unable to focus on anything else. One question kept running through her mind—how would she explain the private care unit to Elyse? Elyse had always been strong and self-reliant. If she ever found out Charlotte had sold herself for a million dollars, it would break her heart. And now, she was pregnant. She couldn't bring herself to give up the baby. Despite still being in college, she had already gotten married. Elyse's disappointment would surely be overwhelming. Kyla followed her silently, stopping at the entrance of the hospital room and keeping a respectful distance. Charlotte stood at the door, taking a deep breath to steady herself before pushing it open. "Mom." At the sound of her voice, all of Elyse's pain seemed to momentarily lift. Her eyes softened, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips. "Sweetheart." Charlotte moved closer to the bed, but before she could speak, she sank to her knees, her head bowed in regret. "Mom, I'm so sorry… I've let you down." The mistake Charlotte had made was something Elyse could never accept. All Charlotte could do now was plead for Elyse's forgiveness. Elyse had never been harsh with Charlotte. After all, Charlotte was a sensitive child with a strong sense of self-esteem, someone who never required harsh discipline. Elyse's heart ached at the sight of Charlotte kneeling before her. She wanted to pull her up, but her frail body wouldn't allow it. With ascites causing her stomach to swell, it was nearly impossible for Elyse to sit up. "Sweetheart, I've always told you—I will support you, no matter what decision you make." Unable to reach her, Elyse could only remind Charlotte of the promise they had made. "You've always been so thoughtful and considerate. I trust that whatever decision you've made, it was done with careful thought." "No…" Tears filled Charlotte's eyes as her throat tightened. "Mom, I… I really messed up. I did something so terribly, terribly wrong." "Sweetheart, come sit with me. It's hard for me to hold myself up like this." Charlotte glanced up and saw Elyse struggling to lift herself with her fragile arms. The whites of her eyes had taken on a dull yellow hue. As a medical student, Charlotte instantly recognized the signs—Elyse's condition was deteriorating. She stood quickly and gently eased Elyse back down. "Sweetheart, I know that whatever decision you made, it wasn't a mistake." There were moments when Charlotte had wished Elyse could be like Bianca's mother, Melissa Barnes—strong enough to strike out like she had with Bianca. But Elyse was too gentle and too compassionate to ever let herself resort to violence. "Mom," Charlotte confessed, "I'm pregnant."