Chapter 127: The Interrogation

Charlotte leaned forward slightly.

“What do you want me to say, Katerina?” she asked coolly. “I don’t remember much.”

Catherine leaned back in her chair and smiled faintly.

“You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t remember,” she replied.

Beside her, Maximilian quietly placed his hand over hers. Catherine stiffened for a moment at the sudden contact. But she didn’t pull away.

His hand was warm.

Right now… she needed that warmth.

Maximilian could see the tension in her shoulders, the strain behind her calm expression. Charlotte would notice it too. And if she did, she would try to use it.

Catherine’s approach—reminding Charlotte of that night, appealing to what they had shared—was clever.

But that only worked on people who had a conscience. Not someone like Charlotte.

Maximilian knew that better than anyone.

In his previous life, he had once trusted this woman. He had married her because his mother insisted on it. Charlotte had always been quiet, obedient, never openly opposing anything he said or did.

Back then, he had thought they might eventually learn to live peacefully together.

He was wrong. Her silence was never submission. It was always calculation and planning, and scheming behind his back while appearing harmless.

Maximilian had always been used to someone very different.

His Katerina had been loud, stubborn, sharp-tongued. But everything about her had been honest. Her anger, her laughter, her pride—it was all written plainly across her face.

You always knew where you stood with her.

Charlotte was the opposite.

She could look like a harmless lamb while a serpent’s tail quietly coiled around your ankle—waiting for the moment to pull you down.

He was not going to trust her.

Maximilian quietly pulled his chair a little closer to Catherine. Then he rested his arm along the back of her chair, his posture casual, almost lazy. He didn’t say anything else. He didn’t even look threatening.

But Charlotte’s hands were already shaking.

“That day,” Maximilian said calmly, “with a sword in your hand, you tried to attack Katerina from behind.”

His eyes settled on her.

“Why?”

Catherine turned to him immediately, her eyes widening.

That dream…

In her memory, Maximilian had been rushing forward with a sword. At the time, she had thought he was coming for her.

But he hadn’t struck her. He had attacked someone behind her.

“It was her?” Catherine whispered. “That day… when we died?”

Maximilian turned to her now, his brows drawing together slightly.

“You remember that?”

“Only a little,” Catherine admitted quietly.

After that moment, everything in her memory became hazy. The only thing she clearly remembered was Maximilian staying beside her.

Then another thought struck her.

“Wait… whose blade stabbed you?” she asked suddenly.

Her mind raced through the scene. She had a dagger. Charlotte had a sword. So, who had wounded Maximilian?

Maximilian tightened his hold on her hand. “We’ll talk about that later,” he said gently.

Then his gaze shifted back to Charlotte, who had been slowly trying to edge away from the table.

“I was investigating my son’s murder at the time,” Catherine said coldly. “And you tried to kill me.”

Her eyes sharpened.

“Tell me that isn’t connected, Charlotte.”

Now the pieces finally made sense to her. This was how Maximilian, too, had drawn the connection.

Charlotte’s face had gone pale.

“Who forged Maximilian’s seal to order Crawley to kill my son?” Catherine asked.

Charlotte gulped.

Her eyes darted around the café. She already knew running was impossible. Even if she managed to escape this place, Catherine’s reach would follow her. And her bakery was already struggling—she couldn’t afford more trouble.

She needed to end this.

“If I tell you the truth,” Charlotte said slowly, “will you let me go? Will you let me run my business in peace?”

In her mind, this was only a temporary retreat. She would step back for now, lie low, rebuild her footing.

Then one day, when the opportunity came, she would strike back.

Maximilian said nothing.

Catherine simply stared at her.

Charlotte smiled faintly and leaned closer across the table.

“Why do you think the seal was forged?” she asked. “It wasn’t just any seal.” Her eyes flickered toward Maximilian. “It was the King’s seal.”

“I saw you carrying his seal, Charlotte,” Catherine said sharply. “Don’t think you can lie your way out of this.”

Charlotte lifted both hands in surrender. “Fine. I’ll tell you the truth.”

Then she suddenly pointed across the table. “It was him.” Her finger landed squarely on Maximilian.

Maximilian’s hand slammed down against the table, his fingers curling into a tight fist. “How dare you lie?” he said coldly.

Then he immediately turned toward Catherine.

He didn’t even care about Charlotte’s accusation. What he cared about was Catherine’s reaction.

Everything he had done in this life had been for her.

That was why he had never even searched for Charlotte again. Why he had ignored the woman he once married.

He had only wanted one thing. To find Catherine, and to live a peaceful life with her. But Catherine didn’t remember everything yet.

And now Charlotte was poisoning the air with lies.

Would Catherine believe her?

He felt helpless.

Catherine didn’t look at him.

Her hand, which had been resting on his lap beneath the table, slowly withdrew, leaving a sudden cold emptiness behind.

“Cath~” his voice died in his throat.

“Explain,” she told Charlotte.

Maximilian leaned back in his chair. For a brief moment, something inside him cracked.

Was this it?

He had believed that Catherine trusted him at least a little. But maybe he had been wrong.

“He was obsessed with you,” Charlotte said quickly, sensing the opening. “He wanted you for himself. Your son was an obstacle… so he got rid of him.”

Maximilian was about to speak.

But before he could, Catherine’s hand suddenly reached back and rested on top of his.

The small gesture stopped him.

If Charlotte had said those words a few days ago, Catherine might have believed them without hesitation.

But now…

She wasn’t so sure anymore.

Catherine slowly turned to Maximilian.

He was sitting there with his shoulders slightly slumped, his eyes fixed on her—studying every small reaction on her face.

Catherine’s eyes lingered on Maximilian for a long moment, searching and measuring.

Then she sighed and rolled her eyes.

“What are you doing sitting there silently and watching me?” Catherine asked. “Do your thing.”

“My thing?” Maximilian repeated.

Catherine rolled her eyes.

“You didn’t come here thinking she’d suddenly confess out of goodwill, did you?”

It took a few seconds for the meaning of her words to sink in.

Then realization flashed across Maximilian’s face.

He quickly pulled out his phone and began scrolling.

Charlotte leaned forward to look.

The moment she saw the screen, panic exploded in her chest.

“I dare you!” she shouted at first, trying to sound defiant.

But the bravado cracked almost immediately.

“Please don’t…” Her voice broke as tears began spilling down her cheeks.

Catherine noticed Maximilian’s hand pause slightly when he saw Charlotte crying. For a moment, something flickered across his face.

Catherine scoffed inwardly.

Whatever.

In their previous life, he had a child with her. It wasn’t surprising if a little hesitation remained. There was no reason for Catherine to feel jealous over something like that.

The hesitation melted away almost immediately. His eyes turned distant once more. Maximilian turned the phone toward Charlotte.

The moment she saw the screen clearly, the color drained from her face.

“No…”

She staggered back from the table.

“You monster!” she screamed. “Let him go!”

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