bChapter /bb498 /b

    The next day, Megan invited Charlotte out for afternoon tea.

    bThey /bagreed to meet at a five–star hotel.

    When Charlotte arrivedb, /bMegan was in the middle of a conversation with Summer. As soon as she saw Charlotte, Megan stood up with a smile. “Lottie, you’re here.”

    Charlotte gave a small hum in acknowledgment and nced at Summer beside her.

    Summer pressed her lips together, then stood and extended her hand. “Miss Riley, it’s nice to officially meet you. My name is Summer York. I’m from Stanley City. About what happened on the cruisest time, it was my fault. I want to apologize. I’m sorry.”

    Her voice carried genuine sincerity.

    Stanley City, with the surname York? Charlotte considered the connection for a moment.

    She looked up at her. “Are you the York family’s daughter from Stanley City?”

    The Yorks were one of the city’s most prominent families: They had one son and one daughter. The elder son was the president of York Corporation, and Charlotte had seen him at a g not long ago.

    She had always heard of the York family’s daughter, but the girl had spent most of her life overseas and rarely returned. Charlotte had never met her until now.

    Summer nodded. “That’s me. What happenedst time was my fault. I acted too impulsively. After talking things over with Megan, I truly realized my mistake. Miss Riley, will you forgive me?b” /b

    Herrge, clear eyes looked straight at Charlotte, filled with anticipation.

    Charlotte took her hand and nodded. “Hello, Miss York. It’s nice to meet you.”

    “That’s wonderful. You’ve forgiven me!” Summer said with a bright smile. “Megan was right. You really are an understanding and easygoing person.”

    York Corporation was a Fortune 500pany, and just a few days ago at the g, Summer’s brotherb, /bNichs York, had been in talks with Desmond about a possible partnership. Since the twopanies might work together in the future, Charlotte saw no reason to make an enemy of the York family’s daughter.

    Besides, Summer’s apology felt genuine. She seemed to truly understand her mistake, and with Megan mediating between them, Charlotte decided to give her a chance.

    Charlotte pulled out a chair and sat down.

    The three of them enjoyed afternoon tea with desserts and light conversation.

    At one point, Summer said, “Charlotte, do you know what happened to Thomas? It’s tragic. I heard that right after he got off the cruise ship, he was sent straight to the hospital. He’s been there ever since and hasn’t left. I have a friend who knows him and went to the hospital–though more to gawk than to offer any realfort. She told me his hand tendons were severed, and the injury damaged both the nerves and the bones. Both of his hands are useless now. He can’t even hold a spoon and has to be fed.”

    Charlotte was taken aback. “That bad?”

    She genuinely had no idea what had happened to him afterward.

    Megan had mentioned that Sean had him taken away for some “special treatment,” but she had never been told exactly what that meant, and she had not asked.

    “That’s not all,” Summer went on, nodding vigorously. “A friend from the hospital said he bwas /balso injured down there. He’ll never be able to perform again. It’s basically chemical castration.

    bChapter /b498

    As she bspoke/bb, /bshe gestured toward her lower body.

    Charlotte understood immediately. She gave a smallugh, finding it oddly fascinatingb. /bThis was bthe /bfirst time she had bever /bheard of chemical castration. She wondered how Sean’s men had managed it.

    Megan gave her an incredulous look. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Sean’s methods are ruthless. He made sure Thomas would never be a man again.‘

    Summer said coldly, “He had iting. You have no idea how many girls he assaulted in Sterling City. Some were so traumatized they fell into depression and evenmitted suicide

    “I’ve heard bits and pieces,” Megan replied. “But never the details–only that his reputation was terrible.”

    “Reputation?” Summer scoffed. “He didn’t even deserve that word. If it weren’t for his family’s influence, with his father being the third most powerful man in Sterling City, he would have been in prison years ago. The only reason he got away with so much was because his father’s position protected him.”

    After she finished, Megan said, “I heard from my dad that just a few days ago, Thomas’s fatherb, /bCharles, was taken away by the disciplinarymission.”

    “That fast?” Charlotte asked in surprise.

    “No way, seriously?” Summer’s face lit up with delight.