Chapter 214
The call ended abruptly.
“Don’t flatter yourself.
Those words echoed in Charlotte’s mind like a curse, repeating over and over.
Her heart felt hollow. All the warmth and tendemess Sean had once shown her, everything he had made her belleve in–was now s
Outside the window, the snow was falling harder. The cold northem wind howled, shaking the bare branches of the trees.
Charlotte stared blandy at the swirling snow
was now slipping away, plece by piece.
Her phone, quiet for a while, suddenly started ringing again–lood and persistent, as if it had no regard for her state of mind.
Her face was still streaked with tears, and the shrill ringtone made her feel unbearably tired.
It was a call from Desmond
“Lottle, the Jasper family came today to officially call off the engagement.
Charlotte’s heart was already numb. She gave a soft reply,
Desmond paused, his voice hesitant, as if he didn’t want to say what cam
came next.
“I saw the rumors about Sean and that actress, did you see them too?
Charlotte didn’t answer.
He continued, “Tomurcow, I’m holding a press conference to announce that we’ve ended the engagement. We’ll make it clear to the media that this was entirely the Jasper family’s decision Lottie, you don’t need to feel ashamed. This isn’t your fault. Breading off an engagement doesn’t make you any less worthy. You’re beautiful, sman, and kind. The right man will come along. You’ll have better options*
Still, Charlotte remained silent.
She didn’t know how to respond.
She hadn’t expected the Jaspers to move so quickly, Sean had broken up with her just last night, and today they had already come to end the engagement.
“Are they really in such a rush to be done with me?” she wondered.
She thought of the voice she had heard over the phone–seductive, soft, and fartoo familiar with Sean
Τ
really that eager to cut ties with me, just so he can make things official with Lucinda?” she wondered again.
“Lottle, just rest for now. Once the press conference ends tomorrow, I’ll send someone to bring you home.”
Once the announcement was made, the Rileys and Jaspers would officially have no more ties. Desmond hoped that would mean Joseph would no longer have a reason to target them.
He added a few more words of comfon, telling Charlotte not to cry too much or wear herself out.
She gave vague, half–hearted responses, not really taking anything in.
Inadimly lit VIP lounge at a private club, Zac sat slouched on the sofa, his face hidden in the shadows.
Laughter, dinking glasses, and flirtatious banter filled the room, but none of it had anything to do with him. He wasn’t in the mood. All he wanted was to sit alone In the corner and lose himself in thought.
11 had been days siner be last saw Charlotte.
After he was discharged from the hospital, he found out she had moved. Her old apartment next door was empty.
He had no idea where she had gone. Her phone wasn’t reachable either
It was as if Charlotte had disappeared from his world overnight.
the spiraled for a while, numbing blused with alcohol day after day
One night, after drinking too much, he thought he saw her agai
She was wearing the dress he had once given her when they were still dating. She smiled softly at him.
He burst into tears and pulled her into his arms, laughing and crying at the same time.
Charlotte reached up and gently cupped his tare, her eyes full of concem.
“Stopdrinking, Zar. It’s not good for you. Come 11 take you in bed
He coverd her hand with his, leaning his cherkinto her palm like a child. Tears rolled down his face.
“Lottle, I really get it now. I was wrong. Please come back,”
Charlotte smiled gently, her voice like a whisper.
“I’m already back, aren’t
His eyes were red as he looked at her.
* swear, I’ll only love you from now on. Just you, Let’s start over, okay?
Hergabe was follo
Lot tendemess,
“okay, I won’t leave again.”
“That’s perfect,” he murmured. “I thought. I thought I’d lost you for good..”
He couldn’t hold back his tears anymore. He broke down, sobbing, overwhelmed by the feeling of getting back what he thought was gone forever. It was part oeliet, part gulls.
It felt like a miracle.
Charlotte had come back to him.
She was as gentle as ever the softly wiped away his tears and leaned in to kiss him.
Desire stirred between them, and the atmosphere quickly grew heated.
That night, made love to her again and a
dagain.
