Chapter 24 Imploring
After Malcolm left, Humberto approached Charlotte and wanted to
touch her face, which made Charlotte flinch. Yet, Humberto seized her shoulders and shouted, “Charlotte!”
He held her in his arms.
Charlotte felt limp all over.
Malcolm’s car had run far away, but after the car stopped in front of the traffic lights, he shifted his gaze from the window to the rearview mirror, thus seeing Humberto hug Charlotte.
For the moment, Humberto was worried about Charlotte’s health condition the most. “Let’s go. I’ll take you back to the dorm first.”
Holding her hand, he led Charlotte forward, but she said, “I’m a bit hungry.”
Humberto would agree with everything she asked for. Hearing that, he said, “OK, let’s grab a bite.”
They came to a restaurant they frequented. Humberto held out the chair for Charlotte, ordered her favorite food, and wiped the utensils for her.
Sitting there, Charlotte watched him do all this for her.
Previously, Charlotte would chuckle happily as she watched him do that. However, she wasn’t in the mood today.
After the food was served, Humberto put some meat on her plate.
“Charlotte, eat more meat for protein.”
Charlotte didn’t start eating Humberto felt confused and asked. “Didn’t you say you were hungry? Why aren’t you eating?”
“Humberto, don’t come to me anymore. We’re broken up.” Charlotte said.
This time, she was rather serious. She was aware that any hesitation she showed would give Humberto hope. That was the last thing she
wanted for now.
Humberto halted and looked at her.
Charlotte didn’t want to stay anymore and then rose from her chair. However, the moment she got up. Humberto held her hand. “Charlotte.”
His face turned serious. “Can you tell me why?”
“I’ve fallen in love with another man,” she replied
“Who’s he? Tell me ”
“You don’t have to know.”
Charlotte swept his hand away and meant to leave.
Humberto blocked her way. “I don’t believe it. It’s not true.”
He stared at her coldly.
Charlotte pushed his arm away and looked into his eyes. “You want the truth? Fine, let me be candid with you. What can you possibly achieve even if you work hard now? No matter how hard you work.
you’re still at the bottom level. What’s the point of marrying you? To struggle with you? Dream on. I don’t have much time to spend struggling with you. Humberto, let’s just get real.”
Charlotte didn’t know how she said that.
Humberto took a step back and didn’t expect those words would come out of her mouth.
“Do you really mean it?”
“Yes.”
There were many customers in the restaurant, most of whom were college students. They were staring at the two of them.
Charlotte asked ruthlessly with no regard for his dignity, “Any more. questions?”
Humberto stood there silently with a dull face.
Charlotte pushed away her chair and walked outside without looking back.
But when she got to a corner, she felt unable to breathe at all. Squatting on the ground, she covered her mouth and burst into tears, but she didn’t dare to make much noise, because Humberto was still in that restaurant and might come out anytime.
Charlotte immediately got up and continued walking forward, her face all pale.
Finally, she lost the man she had loved for years…
That night, instead of going back to the Townsend’s house, she stayed
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in her dorm. Having had a fever for a whole night, she was really groggy. The next morning, she was woken up by countless calls.
Drenched to the skin, she rose from her bed and took a glance at her phone. Some calls were from Natalia, some from the friends she and Humberto had in common, and some from her classmates. Eventually, Charlotte settled her gaze on a message sent by Natalia: “Charlotte, Humberto is in trouble.”
The moment she saw the message, The moment she saw the message, she immediately called Natalia, her hands trembling. Natalia picked up the call and said, “Charlotte!
You’re finally calling back. Humberto is in the police station now!”
Charlotte was shocked to hear that and asked, “How come?”
“He had a fight in a bar last night. I heard he’s beaten that guy seriously.
“Gosh! He’s just joined the Bautista Group. Is he insane? He’ll get a criminal record! None of us can see him now!”
Charlotte kept telling herself to calm down and then replied, “Got it.”
She hung up the call and didn’t know what to do for the moment. The next second, her phone rang again. Charlotte put it through. Someone said on the other side of the call, “Charlotte, it’s a rich, powerful guy whom Humberto offended. Even my father can’t fix this through his connections.”
Charlotte still replied, “Got it.”
She hung up the call again.
Charlotte’s mind was actually a mess now. She knew that Humberto had just ruined his future because of what she said yesterday. “What
should I do? How to save him? How to get him out without leaving a criminal record?” she wondered.
Then, she thought of Malcolm.
She wasn’t sure if he would help her, but he told her that she could. turn to him if she needed help. Charlotte was torn.
Then, she dialed his number, her hands trembling.
The call was put through, but no one made a sound.
Charlotte just went all out and couldn’t even restrain herself. She said quaveringly, “Mal, do you have a minute? I need you to do me a favor.”
Malcolm sensed something was wrong with her. His brows furrowed. He was in the middle of a dinner with his clients. Then, he got up and said, “Calm down. Tell me what happened.”
“Humberto has beaten a guy up in a bar. Now he’s been arrested. I heard the victim has been seriously injured. Humberto might go to jail and have a permanent criminal record.”
Malcolm halted.
Someone tried to make a toast to him, but Malcolm stopped him and passed his glass to his secretary before leaving the room.
“When did that happen?”
Charlotte composed herself and said in a weak voice, “Last night.”
“Where are you now?”
“At school.”
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“Let’s meet first. Wait at the school. I’ll have someone pick you up.”
After ending the call, Charlotte was still in a cold sweat. She got up quickly, put on her clothes, and freshened herself up, waiting for Malcolm’s driver.
It was an hour later when Charlotte got a call from Malcolm. She rushed to the school gate and got into the car. She thought only the driver was in the car, but to her shock, Malcolm was also in there.
Charlotte sat by his side and lowered her head.
Malcolm stared at her pale face for a while and then asked, “Who did he beat?”
Charlotte answered in a broken voice, “I don’t know.”
She was shivering.
“How do you want me to help him?” asked Malcolm.
