NovelBookShe was sure she’d heard that nbefore. Yet, the more someone tries to recall a person or a thing, the further
it slips away.
Charlotte gave up forcing her memory. Maybe it would cto her another day. For now, she turned to Mrs.
Chamberlain. “Were you close with my aunt?”
Mrs. Chamberlain froze, as if only just remembering that Zoe was her relative. It was awkward to talk about
someone's aunt right in front of their family. With a strained smile, Mrs. Chamberlain replied, “Actually, | only ran
into her a few times. We weren't exactly close.”
Before Charlotte could say anything else, Mrs. Rivers smoothly redirected the
conversation.
They chatted for another half hour or so before Mrs. Moore glanced at her watch-she had a nail appointment that
afternoon and needed to leave. Seeing this, Mrs. Chamberlain didn’t linger either, bidding farewell to Mrs. Rivers
and Charlotte before making her exit.
With the other women gone, Charlotte and Mrs. Rivers stepped out of the sunroom. Mrs. Rivers, perhaps sensing
Charlotte's earlier distracted mood, paused and said gently, “Truthfully, I'd only planned to invite you today. |
didn’t expect the others to drop by for tea unannounced. They're old friends, so | couldn't just send them away. |
hope you're not upset?”
Charlotte looked at her and smiled, shaking her head. “Of course not. Let's just say | got to introduce myself to
the ladies’ circle here in Riverspire City.”
Mrs. Rivers chuckled. “Oh, those two love their gossip. There’s not a single rumor in the social circle that doesn’t
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtreach their ears. I've gotten used to it-don’t let it bother you.”
Mrs. Rivers was worried Charlotte might be upset at the mention of Zoe, since, after all, she was her aunt.
Charlotte lowered her gaze. “Honestly, I'm curious about my aunt. | thought maybe today I'd get to learn more
about her.”
Mrs. Rivers looked surprised. “Your father never told you?”
Charlotte shook her head.
Mrs. Rivers studied her face, as if piecing things together. With a sigh, she said, “I
1/2
47/305
7
Chapter 395
suppose he never knew how to explain it. | do know a bit about Zoe's past, given how close | once was with your
mother. It would have been impossible not to.”
“Mrs. Rivers, my aunt once toldthat she was supposed to marry my father, but my mother swooped in and
took her place...”
Mrs. Rivers looked taken aback. “She told you that?”
Charlotte nodded, but Mrs. Rivers’s expression suggested there was more to the story. “I think there must be
smisunderstanding. If my father were the kind of man to forget old ties, he wouldn't have stayed with my
mother through everything she’s been through.”
“There's struth to what she
said,” Mrs. Rivers said, her tone
growing serious. Dash tha)
png plan for her to
arry into the Rayburn family—before
her accident, at least. But your father
didn't know there were two Donovan
daughters.” The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Charlotte blinked in surprise. “He didn’t know my aunt even existed?”
Mrs. Rivers nodded. “As | recall, Zoe's
health was always fragile. When Mrs.
Donovan was pre nEyvita the
Wh ske took otros
edication—that led to a premature
birth. Your mother was fine, but Zoe
was born with a congenital heart
defect.” The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
She paused by a flowerbed,
continuing, “As she got older, her
condition worsened, and her heart
began to enlarge. Whdoshe Shs
fifteen, MeBonovans sent her abroad
for surgery and recovery. She didn't
return until she was nineteen. So at
the time, your father genuinely didn't
know there were two daughters in
the Donovan family.” The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
“| still remember,” Mrs. Rivers went on, “your parents first met at a gala. | was there, too. It was love at first
sight for your father.”
Charlotte pressed her lips together. “Then why did my aunt tellshe knew my father first?”
Mrs. Rivers smiled wryly. “Because your father mistook her for someone else.”
2/2
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
