The Incredible Charlie Maxwell

Chapter 4

Angela marched across the courtyard like a queen with her entourage—Gory and Vera—swaggering beside her. Her heels clacked sharply against the pavement, drawing attention from everyone nearby. 

From behind, she called on Charlie like he owed her his life. “Charlie! You worthless piece of trash!”

Charlie turned slowly, his stomach tightening. He could already tell from the fury in her gait that this wasn’t going to end well. He prayed silently that she would at least let him explain in private, away from the gathering crowd. But knowing Angela, that was wishful thinking.

As soon as she reached him, Angela glared at Charlie with eyes full of contempt. Without saying a word of sympathy or acknowledgment, she demanded, “Where’s my money, Charlie? The four grand I asked for?”

Jacy, standing nearby, blinked in disbelief. She couldn’t understand how Angela could be this cold. Maybe Charlie hadn’t told her about his mother’s death? 

But before she could speak, Charlie tried to pull Angela aside by the hand, desperate to avoid a public scene.

To his shock, Angela slapped his hand off her arm—hard. The sound echoed, and a red mark instantly bloomed on his skin. 

The crowd gasped. Gory smirked and shouted, “That’s right, girl! Don’t let that broke boy touch you!” while Vera clapped mockingly. “Whatever you have to say, say it right here. We all deserve the entertainment!”

Daniel stepped forward, anger rising in his voice. “What the hell is wrong with you people?” he snapped.

But Gory quickly cut him off, sneering, “Oh please, Daniel. Didn’t you once try to ask me out and couldn’t even afford a decent dinner?”

Vera laughed loudly. “Yeah, shut your broke mouth, Mr. Reject.”

Daniel’s fists clenched, but he swallowed his pride and stepped back, not wanting to escalate things further.

Everyone in school knew Gory and Vera—the self-proclaimed Campus Baddies. They were beautiful, confident, and utterly ruthless. No one dared cross them. Angela, who had once been sweet and grounded, had changed completely after joining their circle. She had learned their arrogance, their cruelty, and their obsession with status. And now, she was turning that cruelty on Charlie.

Jacy, unable to take it anymore, stepped between Angela and Charlie. “Angela, do you even have a soul left in you?” she said sharply.

Angela folded her arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You mean you don’t know that Charlie just lost his mother an hour ago?” Jacy’s tone was biting, her eyes narrowing.

Angela tried to feign surprise, but Charlie quietly interjected, “I told you over the phone, Angela… You just weren’t listening.”

Angela gave a half-shrug, rolling her eyes. “Well, maybe you didn’t say it clearly enough. I didn’t really catch that.”

Jacy shook her head in disgust. “You’re unbelievable. How can you be this heartless?”

Gory and Vera stepped closer to back up their friend. “Death or no death, your boy here is a terrible boyfriend,” Vera said coldly. “He’s got no money, no class, no future. Honestly, he doesn’t deserve a girl like Angela.”

“Not even her pity,” Gory added with a smirk.

Charlie’s heart ached. He could endure their mockery, but hearing Angela say nothing in his defense cut deep. 

He turned to her, his voice trembling, “Angela… please don’t listen to them. You know I love you. That’s all I have.”

Angela blinked once, then burst into laughter—a cruel, ringing sound that silenced even the onlookers. “Love? What can love do without money and status? I’m not a charity case, Charlie. I’m done.”

Charlie’s knees almost buckled. Daniel stood frozen. Jacy gasped, shaking her head in disbelief.

Angela’s lips curled into a smirk. “I don’t care about your dead mother, Charlie. I was dating you, not her. And since you can’t provide or protect, we’re done. Whatever this was—it’s over.”

Charlie’s breath caught in his throat. He opened his mouth to speak, but Gory and Vera stepped between them. “Back off,” Vera said with a sneer. “You’re not even on her level.”

That was it. Jacy lost her composure. In one swift motion, she slapped Angela across the face. The sound rang loud and sharp. “You’re a disgrace—to womanhood, to decency, to everything!”

The crowd gasped again. Gory and Vera glared, ready to retaliate, but Jacy raised her chin. “Try me. If either of you lifts a finger, you’ll be banned from every party in this school—including mine tomorrow. Let’s see how far your fake glamour goes then.”

The threat worked. Everyone knew Jacy had connections—her best friend, Cindy Winter, was the school’s Director of Games and Socials. One word from Jacy, and the Campus Baddies would be blacklisted from every major event. The girls backed off, grumbling under their breath.

Just as things seemed to settle, the sound of engines roared in the distance—three sleek BMWs pulled into the school grounds, their chrome bodies gleaming under the sun. The crowd parted instinctively. Everyone knew who they were.

The J-Squad.

Out of the first two cars stepped Jim and Jey, Jacy’s twin brothers, followed by Jack, their flashy, loud friend. They were the school’s golden boys—rich, handsome, untouchable. 

Seeing them, Charlie and Jacy knew it was trouble. 

Before they could speak, Jacy attacked them first. “What do you want here?”

“Ah, little sister,” Jim said mockingly as he spotted Jacy. “Relax, we just came to pay our respects to our poor, broken half-brother here. The orphan.”

Every part of his statement pissed off Charlie; he wanted to bounce on them. They were as responsible for the death of his mother as their parents. 

Jacy attacked Jim. “Show Charlie some brotherly love—even if just for a moment!”

Jey walked closer, smirking. “You’re right, sis. We should show him some love. Maybe by helping him with his girlfriend problem?”

Charlie’s brows furrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jim chuckled darkly. “You heard me. A broke orphan like you doesn’t deserve a girl like Angela. But Jey here? He could do better with her.” 

Everyone was shocked. Jacy stated, “Angela’s Charlie’s girlfriend! And regardless of your warped perception, Charlie’s still our half-brother—your big brother!”

“No, he’s not.” Jim denied Charlie as his brother.

“He’s an orphan not our brother.” Jey added as the two burst into laughter.

Angela’s eyes lit up. “Well,” she said, flipping her hair, “it’s funny you mentioned that. I just broke up with him.” 

Jack cheered. “If that’s the case, the J-Squad can mingle with the Campus Baddies! We’re clubbing tonight for the triplets’ birthday eve—you girls come with us!”

Jacy tried to object, but her brothers warned, “Stay out of it!”

Charlie was really pained but there was nothing he could do. 

Angela and her friends, now smirking again, slid into the cars. The engines revved louder, drowning out Charlie’s heartbeat.

When the cars finally sped off, the courtyard fell silent. Jacy turned—but Charlie was gone.

She cursed under her breath, grabbed Daniel’s arm, and ran to look for him.

***

Charlie had found a quiet corner behind the science block, his body trembling. He pressed his back against the wall and broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Everything had been taken from him—his family, his mother, his love, his dignity.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the note—his mother’s final words.

“My dearest Charlie, if you ever reach a point where you feel all is lost, call this number and tell them you are Claire Maxwell’s son.”

“Claire Maxwell…” he whispered. “Who’s that? That’s not… Mom’s name was Bethany Grant.”

But he had nothing else left to lose.

With trembling fingers, he dialed the number.

The call barely rang once before a deep, composed voice answered. “Hello, Young Master Charlie. I’ve been expecting your call.”

Charlie froze. “Y-Young Master?”

“Yes, sir. This is Joseph from the Maxwell household. Please remain where you are. I’ll pick you up immediately.”

“H-how do you know where I am?”

But the line had already ended.

Minutes later, three Rolls-Royce Phantoms glided into the school’s front gate. The entire campus went silent as the cars stopped before Charlie.

A tall, silver-haired man in his late fifties stepped out, dressed immaculately in a white suit. He bowed respectfully.

“Young Master Charlie,” he said, his tone formal and reverent. “I’m here to take you home.”

Charlie stood frozen, the world spinning around him.