Charlotte let out an easyugh, unfazed. “That’s right. Because you never really know me.”

Then, with a mischievous glint in her eye,

eye, she turned to Wendy. “Miss Cooper, are you sure you don’t bwant /bba /bpicture? I’m about to drive off.” Wendy’s expression darkened. She wanted to badly. But with Charlotte sitting inside, there was no way she could bring herself to do it.

“I don’t need one,” Wendy huffed.

“Alright then. Bye–bye!” Charlotte waved at them, stepped on the gas, and sped off, the blue Bentley vanishing from sight.

Wendy’s hands balled into fists. “Zac, how did you ever end up with such a shallow woman?”

Zac nabbed his temples. “She wasn’t always like this. I don’t know what’s gotten into hertely–first trying to force marriage, now renting a car just bto /bshow off.”

Wendy crossed her arms and let out a dramatic sigh. “She probably feels threatened because you and I are closer now. Maybe she thinks pulling stunts like this will help her fit into our circle.”

She shook her head, feigning pity. “Too bad a rental is still just a rental. No matter how many pictures she takes, It’s not really here. That’s Just sad.”

Zac exhaled in frustration “Enough. This whole thing is embarrassing.” Without another word, he turned and walked back into the house.

Charlotte, meanwhile, had taken the Bentley for a drive, finally pulling binto /ba private paid parking lot near the estate. She had no intention parking it in Zac’s garage—at least, not yet. She wasn’t ready to tip her hand.

She had once thought about telling Zac the truth about her background. Now? She didn’t see the point anymore.

That evening, dinner was yet another table full of nd vegetarian dishes.

Charlotte, unfazed, set down the takeout she had ordered from a well–known private kitchen and took her seat at the btable/b. The moment bshe /bopened the containers, a rich, spicy aroma filled the room.

Zac couldn’t help but nce over.

Cajun–style crawfish. Spicy crab. The dishes looked incredible, the mouthwatering heat teasing his senses. Within seconds, his stomach tightened with hungerb, /bsaliva pooling in his mouth.

Then he looked down at his own te–steamed vegetables, tofub, /bba /bcold cucumber sd. nd. Tasteless. Completely unappetizing !

Qarlotte slid on a pair of disposable gloves and got to work bpeeling /bthe crawfish, totally immersed.

Zac swallowed hard. He loved Cajun crawfish. He and Charlotte used to go out for it all the time, and she would always peel them for him

He waited, half–expecting–maybe even hoping–that she would drop a peeled piece into his te, just like before.

But instead, she popped it straight into her mouth, savoring every bite.

Sensing his gaze, she looked up. “Something wrong?” she basked /bafter swallowing

Zat cleared his throat band /byed it cool. “Can you not beat /bsomething that smells so strong?”

Before Charlotte could respond, Wendy jumped in “Ugh, the poorer someone is, the more they love eating this bkind /bof overly spicy bfood/b. Charlotte, the smell is unbearable. Maybe take it outside?”

Zac’sexpression darkrised.

hist moments ago, he had been eyeing the food, practically craving it. But now Wendy had gone and bsaid/b, “Only bpoor /bpeople eat

A stuff like

Charlotte licked her lips, casually reaching for another plece of crawfish. Her tone was light, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. “Miss Cooper, you don’t seem to know Zac very well. Why don’t you bask /bhim if he likes this kind of food?”

Wendy heated for a moment before turning to Zar. “Zar, do you…/”

Zac’s jaw tightened. He forced himself to pick up a bite of steamed greens. “Forget it. Just eat ”

Charlotte hummed a tune as she leisurely worked through the rest of her Cajun crawfish and spley bcrab/b,pletely unbothered.