All morning, every word at the dining table seemed to carry deeper meaning, and Charlotte Miller was no fool.
With a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, she glanced at Atlas Hallow sitting next to her and gently said, "As long as he doesn't mind, it's fine. You won't need to ask me about such things in the future." She preferred to leave these bothersome matters to Atlas and didn't want to get involved. After all, she had plenty to deal with that morning.
Just as she finished speaking, Ava Walker stopped in her tracks, her beautiful eyes fixed on Charlotte Miller, as if trying to read her heart. With a hint of intriguing sarcasm in her voice, she said, "Do you really not care about Atlas? After all, he is the wealthiest man, and it's not like the Miller Family didn't push you into this marriage for that very reason."
"I adhere to the principle of following one's husband after marriage. Since I married him, I'll listen to him. As for why I got married, it's none of your business. Please refrain from mentioning my parents in the future, as gossiping seems beneath you." She didn't want to cause trouble in the Hallow Family, so her only hope was to push everything onto Atlas Hallow. However, mention of the Miller Family made her uncomfortable, and her tone reflected that displeasure.
Charlotte Miller wanted to see how he would handle the situation. This morning's incident was a litmus test; if he intervened, her days in the Hallow Family would be easier. But if he allowed Ava's rude persistence, her life there might become more challenging—perhaps challenging was an overstatement; it would just weigh on her mind.
"So, your three years abroad amounted to learning to follow your husband?" Ava Walker laughed gleefully, her gaze glancing lightly over Charlotte Miller. So, Charlotte was that kind of woman, easily defenseless.
The whole restaurant had a tense atmosphere early in the morning, with everyone in the Hallow Family seemingly giving in to Ava Walker. Charlotte believed this was not her imagination, so she didn't want to escalate the conflict with this woman, as it would only embarrass herself.
Not even twenty-four hours into the Hallow Family, she had already felt embarrassed more than once.
Even the housekeeper appeared cautious while serving breakfast; her meal was the same as Atlas Hallow's: plain porridge with side dishes.
Everyone else at the dining table seemed to be having Western-style breakfasts, while only Atlas Hallow had a Chinese-style meal, which Charlotte was used to. However, the porridge was still hot, so she ate it in small bites.
"So it's decided. I'll ride with Atlas's car," Ava Walker said triumphantly, raising her sharp chin before turning to leave.
When Charlotte's eyes met Atlas Hallow's, she noticed a hint of coldness in his unfathomable gaze.
"Sister-in-law, don't mind her. That's just how she is, spoiled," Amir Hallow shrugged, behaving nonchalantly, with a playful grin. He then took out an exquisitely crafted brocade box from his pocket and handed it to Charlotte Miller: "This is a wedding gift for you. Initially, I was going to give it to you at the ceremony, but my brother said your wedding was canceled. A small token, hoping you'd like it."
The opened brocade box revealed a diamond bracelet, each diamond cut perfectly, reflecting all light into a dazzling display that almost hurt her eyes. It was indeed a precious gift.
She glanced at Atlas Hallow to seemingly seek his approval, who casually said, "Accept it."
Charlotte Miller obediently lowered her head and softly said, "Thank you..."
The breakfast felt hard to digest, and when she returned to her room, she saw through the window the housekeeper having Atlas Hallow's car brought around as he prepared to head to the Hallow Clan. Ava Walker descended the steps toward the car and skillfully opened the passenger door.
As she was in a daze, her phone rang, reminding her of her own business. She quickly picked up the phone and swiped to answer.
"Ethan, how is it going?" At this moment, Charlotte seemed transformed, the morning weakness at the breakfast table evaporating like mist. Her straightened posture more elegant than a swan.
"I've sold all the stocks in hand, but there aren't any good targets now. What's your suggestion?" The man's voice on the other end was clear and pleasant, making one wonder if the owner of such a voice was as captivating as his sound.
"Things changed too suddenly. I registered with a man yesterday. You can call me Mrs. Hallow now—no joke." Deep inside, Charlotte sighed lightly; it happened so suddenly it caught her off guard.
"Are you saying you can't come back for a while? What about me then? My dear, without you, the days stretch endlessly..." Ethan Baird stood in his office looking down, the entire financial district at his feet. This was a place he wanted to conquer, but he needed Charlotte, a genius.
"At least for the next year, I can't leave. Take care of yourself." For the past three years, she had been busy beyond belief. Although her situation in the Hallow Family was awkward, it was not unbearable. She treated it as a place to rest and relax, the only warning being to avoid Ava Walker.
"Then I might as well return to the country, and we do this together," Ethan Baird eagerly suggested, with excitement palpable even over the phone.
Charlotte's voice floated calmly in the air: "I'm not optimistic about this market."
"Tell me, what's the domestic market capacity?" Ethan Baird scratched his head, frustrated. The news of Charlotte's marriage was too sudden, making finding such a perfect partner again nearly impossible; in fact, it was entirely impossible.
"By the end of last year, the domestic financial institutions and third-party scale amounted to around 82 trillion. Banks, trusts, insurance, and brokers are the largest wealth management institutions, banks accounting for 29%, trust for 20%, insurance around 15%, brokers 15%, funds 20%, with internet P2P financial management potentially rising to over 900 billion, about 1%. Although P2P has the smallest share, it grew by 400%..." Charlotte quickly went through all the data in her mind, knowing the cake was indeed huge, but perhaps not something they could devour.
In the Miller Family or the Hallow Family, she only played the role of an obedient daughter and a submissive wife. She didn't want anyone to know what she had done abroad.
While Charlotte was on the phone, she failed to notice the door being pushed open slightly, the tall figure of a man stepping back, listening to her voice spreading through the air.
"In short, I don't support your return to the country, and my current identity makes doing things very inconvenient." She had said as much, but Charlotte still felt Ethan Baird might come back.
Suddenly, she caught a whiff of a subtle male scent in the air, somewhat like musk but with more layers of complexity.
Is that Atlas Hallow?
Charlotte hurriedly ended the call and turned around as the door slowly swung open...