Free Web NovelChapter 198: Chapter 201: Ethan Lockwood Blocks the Way
[Starting from this volume, Sonia Quincy officially changes her name to Charlotte Shaw and begins a new life!]
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Today was the day Charlotte Shaw was being discharged from the hospital. Members of both the Preston and Shaw families had rushed over first thing in the morning, packing the spacious private room so tightly it was impossible to move.
"Charlotte, this is your uncle," Jackson Shaw said, holding Charlotte’s hand as he introduced her to their relatives one by one.
She stood straight and proper, obediently greeting him, "Hello, Uncle."
"Yes!" Her uncle beamed, his eyes disappearing into crescents as he quickly pulled two incredibly thick red envelopes from his pocket and stuffed them into Charlotte Shaw’s hands.
"Charlotte, this is a little something from your uncle for you and Sandy. You have to take it!"
"Um..." Charlotte didn’t dare accept them right away, looking up at Jackson Shaw to see what he thought.
"Hahaha!" He laughed heartily, his eyes full of affection. "Silly girl, go on and take them! When your uncle offers you money, you take it."
Charlotte Shaw grinned sheepishly and stuffed the two massive red envelopes into her pocket.
"Thank you, Uncle."
Her uncle patted her shoulder and cheerfully went to look in on Sandy.
Jackson Shaw led her to the next relative.
"Charlotte, this is your third uncle."
Charlotte Shaw: "Hello, Uncle."
"Yes!" Her third uncle also gave her two incredibly thick red envelopes.
"Charlotte, this is your cousin, Minmin."
"Hello, Cousin Minmin."
"Charlotte, this is that cousin of yours who doesn’t want to get married."
"Hello, Cousin..."
The Shaw family was huge; the room was crammed with all of Charlotte’s various aunts and uncles.
By the time she had been introduced to everyone, her hands were full of red envelopes and gifts.
A few relatives had even prepared gifts for Felix Preston.
’So much money...’ Charlotte thought, feeling her bulging pockets, so happy she couldn’t stop grinning.
"You little money-grubber." Felix Preston took her hand and gave the soft flesh between her thumb and forefinger a gentle squeeze.
"What’s wrong with being a money-grubber?" Charlotte Shaw asked, looking at him cheekily.
"Nothing at all," he said, his lips curving into a soft smile. His gaze toward Charlotte was filled with love.
"As long as my Sonia is happy, anything is fine."
"Hm?" Hearing that name, Charlotte Shaw frowned. "What did you call me?"
Felix Preston froze for a moment, then realized he had forgotten to use her new name.
"Sorry, I meant Charlotte. As long as Charlotte is happy, anything is fine."
"No." Charlotte Shaw shook her head.
"...No?" Felix Preston didn’t understand. "Why not?"
Charlotte Shaw curled her index finger and secretly tickled Felix Preston’s palm.
"Everyone calls me Charlotte. Are you going to be just like them?"
Felix Preston felt the tickle in his palm and instantly understood what she wanted. But instead of saying so, he feigned confusion. "You don’t want me to be like them?"
"I don’t," Charlotte Shaw said honestly. "You’re different, so what you call me should be different, too."
"Hmm..." Felix Preston nodded, thinking seriously for a moment before speaking. "If I have to be different from everyone else, then I can’t call you Charlotte. But if not Charlotte, what should I call you?"
Charlotte’s eyes were full of anticipation. "What do you think?"
Felix Preston: "I think..."
"Charlotte, Felix, we can go now!"
Before Felix Preston could say the name he’d thought of, Mason Shaw was at the doorway, calling for them to leave.
’...’ Since he’d been interrupted, Felix decided to just wait and say it later.
Besides, with so many people chattering in the room, it wasn’t the right place for that conversation anyway.
"Let’s go home first." He let go of Charlotte Shaw’s hand and turned to pick up the baby carrier from the bed.
Wilder Preston was already asleep in the carrier, undisturbed by all the noise in the room.
"Don’t worry, Charlotte. We can take our time and figure out what to call you tonight."
"Okay." Charlotte Shaw agreed.
"Felix." Mason Shaw squeezed through the crowd and walked up to him excitedly. "Let me carry Sandy. Your job is to hold on to Charlotte."
"Sounds good." Felix Preston handed over the carrier and contentedly took Charlotte Shaw’s hand again.
"That’s just what I was thinking."
Mason Shaw smiled. "Let’s go. We’re going home."
Charlotte Shaw: "Yeah! Home."
The return of the long-lost Shaw Technologies heiress, who’d been switched at birth, was a massive story for the gossip reporters of Aethelburg.
Combined with the recent media frenzy over the real and fake heiresses’ public feud and the shocking revelation of Bloom Preston’s true identity, Charlotte Shaw’s homecoming had been a top trending topic in Aethelburg since dawn.
The hospital entrance was already swarmed with reporters and online influencers hoping to ride the wave of publicity. There was no way Charlotte could just waltz out the front door.
Felix Preston and Mason Shaw had anticipated this, so they had planned a countermeasure in advance.
The two families split into two groups. One group would leave through the front entrance to act as a decoy for the reporters and online crowd. The other would head to the underground parking garage, using the distraction to sneak Charlotte and Sandy out.
Mason Shaw had already arranged for a car and driver. As soon as Felix Preston and Charlotte Shaw stepped out of the elevator, the driver immediately ushered them into the vehicle.
The car was very plain—an old, dusty Volkswagen. No one would ever suspect that the young heiress of Shaw Technologies was riding inside.
"We’re going home," Felix Preston said, his face alight with happiness. He held Charlotte Shaw’s hand with one hand and protectively steadied the carrier with the other.
"Home," Charlotte Shaw repeated softly.
The driver responded, "Right away," and started the car.
The dusty Volkswagen slowly pulled out of its parking space. Just as it was about to turn and exit the garage, the driver slammed on the brakes!
SCREECH—
The tires let out a piercing shriek as they scraped against the pavement. In the back seat, inertia threw Charlotte forward, her back lifting from the seat before she was slammed back against it.
"Charlotte!" Felix threw an arm around her, asking urgently, "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"
Charlotte Shaw gripped his hand, shaking her head in a daze. "I’m fine."
"What was that?" Felix’s brows knitted together as he glared at the driver. "Why did you slam on the brakes?"
The driver apologized, panicked. "I’m so sorry, Mr. Preston. Someone suddenly stepped out in front of the car, so I had to hit the brakes."
"Who stepped in front of the car?" Felix Preston unbuckled his seatbelt.
The driver said, "I don’t know. I don’t recognize him."
"You don’t recognize him?" Felix Preston leaned forward, peering out through the gap between the two front seats.
The hospital’s underground garage was dim; the driver needed the headlights on just to see the way forward.
The headlights were blinding. A tall, well-built man stood in their stark white glare.
The man was dressed casually and wore a black face mask that revealed only a pair of sharp, handsome eyes.
Felix Preston’s lips curled, and his tone took on a strange edge.
"Ethan Lockwood..."
