The True Lady Strikes Back novel (Cecilia and Christopher)

Chapter 206

Without much hesitation, Cecilia immediately cooperated with "Zachary" and began acting.

She snorted sarcastically. "Zachary. Since we're acquainted, I'll pretend I didn't hear what you've said. Don't challenge my patience. I have a bad temper!" Charlie smiled shamelessly and said, "What a coincidence. I'm

good-tempered and can complement you, and I'm patient. When I'm done with facial reconstruction, I won't look worse than your

hospitalized boyfriend."

He was telling Cecilia he could eliminate the toxin in Christopher's body. Cecilia clenched her fists at that instant. She had to exert great

self-control not to punch "Zachary."

"You can't even hold a candle to him. I'll break your leg again if you dare utter another nonsensical word!" She scowled.

Charlie knew she was no longer acting when he met her serious gaze.

"Ceci seems to like Christopher a lot. Otherwise, she won't be so upset," he thought.

But he had no choice. If he wanted to win the trust of "the four shareholders," he had to act as the irredeemably evil villain.

"I'm just kidding. Why are you so vicious? At least I am a guest, and you're the one who invited me here. Can't you treat me to a watermelon fresh from the fields? That isn't too much to ask, right?" With that, he walked toward the water-lily pond not far away.

There was a pavilion beside the water-lily pond. The water-cooled breeze carried the fragrance of water-lily leaves around.

The bamboo plants that blocked the afternoon sunlight were swaying in the breeze. They occasionally hit the structure's pillars and resulted in dull sounds.

Cecilia knew "Zachary" was looking for an opportunity to talk to her. Hence, she went to the melon field and picked a watermelon under the shade of a tree. The summer weather was hot, and the watermelons were also quite warm. They could get upset stomachs if they ate the watermelon directly.

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Therefore, Cecilia tossed the watermelon into the water-lily pond.

The water would be cooler underneath all the water-lily leaves. This could lower the watermelon's temperature.

Cecilia took her seat in the pavilion. The breeze tousled her hair at the temples, and some strands whipped around her face, tickling her.

She swept her hair behind her ears and looked at "Zachary." Just as she was about to speak, he requested, "I'm quite thirsty. Do you have any chilled juice?” Cecilia asked a housekeeper to bring them a pitcher of chilled peach juice.

She poured two glasses of the juice, then took one for herself and sipped the liquid.

Charlie took the other glass. Instead of drinking it, he dipped a finger into the glass of juice.

The icy feeling spread from his fingertip to his heart, which made him. calmer.

He placed his juice-stained finger on the stone chess table and drew lines of different lengths.

Cecilia gradually tightened her hold on the glass upon seeing this.

'It's Morse code!

And it's the Morse code modified by the Shaw family!

In other words, no one can understand these except members of the Shaw family!' she exclaimed inwardly.

Cecilia's gaze moved from the stone table to "Zachary's" face. Disbelief was evident in her eyes.

She thought, 'The man in front of me is Charlie.

No, it's also possible that he's someone who forced Charlie to spill about the Morse code.'

Charlie understood the suspicion in Cecilia's eyes. Without hesitation, he plucked a strand of hair from his head and handed it to her.

He said, "Cecilia, you're well-versed in medicine. Are you interested in cooperating with me to expand my pharmaceutical factory?"

Cecilia took the strand of hair in front of her. She replied, "I might be interested if my potential business partner is someone different."

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drew lines on the stone table.

They continued their hostile conversation on the surface, but their actual communication was all in Morse code.

Fortunately, the summer weather was scorching, and the water stains dried out quickly. Otherwise, the round table would not be big enough for them to write on.

Charlie stopped when he saw only half a glass of juice left.

The chip implanted behind his ear can sense his physical state. If he repeated the same action for a long time, it would raise suspicions.

Fortunately, he had told Cecilia all the crucial information. Now, he had to see if Cecilia would trust him.

He wiped off the stains on the stone table and said, "Cecilia, we're not enemies. We don't have to speak viciously to each other. The watermelon should be cool now. I'll go get it." Next, he rose from his seat and went to the pond.

Cecilia stared at his back. It was hard to decipher the emotions in her

eyes.

She believed that "Zachary" was actually Charlie. However, at this time, she could not judge if he was good or evil.

"But there's no harm in having more contact with him, as long as I'm careful," she reminded herself inwardly.

Charlie came over with the cooled watermelon and put it on the stone table.

He aimed his fist at the watermelon and punched it. The fruit shattered into pieces, and some sweet juice splashed on Cecilia's face.

Speechless, Cecilia looked at the shattered piece of watermelon he passed to her. She did not take it.

"Consider this a treat from me. You can have it."

She got up and left after saying that.

Charlie yelled after the departing Cecilia, "Cecilia, you should consider my prior proposal carefully. Biopharmaceuticals is a very profitable industry. Moreover, my company has an extremely capable pharmacologist. Perhaps his expertise can help your boyfriend regain consciousness."

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His last sentence successfully made Cecilia pause in her tracks.

However, she quickly resumed her strides and left.

Since they were both acting, she could not drastically change her attitude toward "Zachary."

Charlie withdrew his gaze and ate only the watermelon's core, which was the sweetest part of the fruit.

Before he left, he even went to the bushes by the water-lily pond and picked some raspberries for Elaine.

"Mrs. Shaw, thank you for your hospitality tonight. I'll invite Cecilia and you to dinner when I have free time. It's hot in the summer, and raspberries are cooling snacks. Hope you'll enjoy."

Elaine's expression changed slightly when she saw the raspberries on the coffee table and heard Charlie's words.

She recalled memories of the past. She thought, 'When Charlie was a child, he loved to play in the water-lily pond to cool off with the water. Every time he did that, he would get scratches all over his body thanks to the thorns on the water-lily stalks.

As he was afraid I'd scold him, he would bring some raspberries for me when he came back.

He would excuse himself, saying raspberries were cooling snacks and that he was not playing in the pond water but picking the raspberries for me in the bushes.'

As she recalled the past, Elaine picked up a raspberry and had a taste.

It was fresh and refreshingly sweet.

She lowered her eyes and remarked, "Charlie used to pick raspberries for me. He's a mischievous but very thoughtful child. If I hadn't given up on him years ago, he would have picked raspberries for me now."

Charlie was shaken when Elaine's words reached his ears.

But he soon calmed down. "Charlie and I are indeed in the same boat. Neither of us had a good childhood. While I brought it upon myself, he is a victim of unexpected calamity."

Elaine looked gloomy and dejected as she sighed heavily.

"I've wronged him. At that moment, that child must've felt great disappointment, intense fear, and... hatred for me."

Charlie suppressed a sudden urge to cry. He persuaded softly, "Mrs. Shaw,

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although Charlie was young back then, he has learned the meaning of patriotism and the greater good under the family's influence. You'd made the right choice by giving him up. He won't blame you." "On the contrary, I hope Charlie hates me. Otherwise, how can such a smail child like him bear the weight adults should bear?"

"Let bygones be bygones, Mrs. Shaw. You have to move on."

With that, Charlie stood up and bid her goodbye. "It's getting late. I shall return to the hotel."

Elaine kept her sorrows to herself and nodded with a smile. "Be careful on the way back. You can visit more often in the future, just like before, and make yourself at home."

"Sure. I hope you won't feel I'm bothering you then." Charlie smiled.

"Why would I? As an old lady, I'm so happy to have someone accompanying and chatting with me."

"Then I'll come and accompany you when I have time. I have to go."

"Let me know when you arrive at your hotel," Elaine requested.

"Sure," Charlie promised.

At first, Elaine wanted Cecilia to see "Zachary" off, but no one answered when she called. Therefore, she had to ask the butler, Bruce, to do it.

At this time, Cecilia was making a phone call in her room.

The toxicology screening she requested from the military hospital had yielded results.

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