bMark /blooked visibly annoyed. “That’s enough. Stop causing a scent ande home with me.”

bJust /bthen, bZac /bstepped out of the restroom, looking confused. “What’s going on? Mom–what happened to your face?” Monica pointed furiously, “That woman Charlotte hit me!”

Mark’s face darkened. “Zac, take your mother out of hereb. /bThis is embarrassing.”

Zac frowned and looked between them. “Dad, what happened?”

Mark’s voice was calm but cold. “Your mother started it. She ran bup /band tried to p Charlotte, missed, and ended up getting pped herself. Charlotte was just defending herself. Let’s drop it and leave.”

Zac turned to Monica, his expression tightening. “Mom, I get that you’re upset about how the hearing wentb, /bbut you can’t go around hitting people. Charlotte is Dad’s attorney. She’s just doing her job. You can’t take it out on her.”

Monica’s eyes filled with tears as she shouted, “So now you’re defending her? I’m your mother, and you’re siding with that woman?”

Zac’s jaw clenched. “Siding with her? Maybe if I hadn’t listened to you so much back then, I wouldn’t have gotten involved with Wendy I wouldn’t have ended up hurting Charlotte.”

Monica raised her voice. “So this is all my fault now?”

Zac let out a low, bitterugh. “me you? I wouldn’t dare.”

Mark exhaled, clearly done with the drama. “That’s enough. The car’s here. Let’s just go.i” /iHe turned and walked toward the curb without looking back.

Back at thew firm, the front desk assistant greeted her cheerfully. “Wee back, Miss Riley. Miss Stone has been waiting in your office.”

Charlotte paused for a moment. “Miss Stone’s here?”

The assistant nodded. “She’s been here for almost an hour. I told her you were in court, and she said she didn’t mind waiting.” Charlotte gave a quiet response. “Alright,” and made her way inside.

Megan was lounging on the office couch, casually flipping through a legal journal. When she saw Charlotte walk in, she smiled and set the magazine aside. “Finally, you’re back.”

Charlotte ced her bag down and sat beside her. b“/bIs there something you needed, Miss Stone?”

As they spoke, Charlotte took out a tin of fine tea leaves, began boiling water, and started preparing tea.

Megan smiled warmly. “I brought you a gift.”

She picked up a box from beside her and held it out. “Miss Riley, to thank you for saving my life, I had this pink diamond ne custom–made for you. It took a while because of the production time, but it’s finally ready. Take a look and see if you like it.”

She opened the box to show her.

Charlotte gave it a casual nce at first, then froze.

At the center was a stunning teardrop–shaped pink diamond, easily b25 /bcarats. It sparkled brilliantly under the light. The chain was made entirely of wless colorless diamonds, all perfectly matched. The entire piece wasvish, elegant, and breathtakingly beautiful.

bChapter /b426

b“/bbMiss /bbStone/b, this is far too expensive. I bcan’t /bbept /bit.”

Charlotte had already noticed the logo bon /bthe box. She knew the band’s custom pieces started in the millions. This one was clearly one of the most luxurious.

That 25–carat pink diamond alone was worth over a hundred million.

The entire ne had to be worth at least that–if not more..

Charlotte bwasn’t /bshort on jewelry. She already owned nes band /bbracelets worth tens of millions, some even in the hundred- million range.

But something she bought for herself was different.

No matter the price, if she liked itb, /bshe could afford it.

But a gift this expensive from someone else? That was too much.

She couldn’t ept it.

Megan smiled again. “You should take it. You saved my lifeb, /band nothing is more valuable than that. This is the least I can do to thank you.”

Charlotte shook her head. “I really can’t ept it.”

Megan pouted. “Miss Riley, are you saying my life isn’t even worth a ne?”

Charlotte let out a small, helplessugh. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

Megan grinned. “Then take it.”

Chapter b427 /b