Dylan's POVI sat at the dining table, seething with anger. My grandfather had just promoted Charlotte, of all people, to be the new COO of the company. How could he do this to me? After all I've done for him, all the years of hard work I've put in, he was just going to throw it all away by giving the promotion to her. I couldn't believe it. I felt betrayed, angry, and hurt. Without thinking, I stood up and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind me."Dylan, come back here, I won't have you walk out on me !" I heard my grandfather call after me. I stormed up to my room, slamming the door behind me. I was fuming, and I needed to vent. I picked up my phone and dialed Eleanor's number. She answered on the second ring. "Hey babe, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice filled with concern."You won't believe what just happened," I said, my voice shaking. "My grandfather just promoted Charlotte to be the new COO."Eleanor was silent for a moment. "Are you sure?" she asked. "I thou
~CharlotteAdam and i sat in the living room, talking about the board meeting that had taken place earlier today day. But then, the memory of the attack a month ago came rushing back to me. "Adam," i said, my voice trembling. "I've been having weird dreams about the attack. I keep feeling like it's not over, like the attacker is going to come back. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice." I know it's just my imagination, but it feels so real. I can't help but feel like something bad is going to happen."Adam reached out and took my hand. "It's just your imagination, Charlotte," he said, his voice reassuring. "Nothing is going to happen, I already sorted him out. I promise nothing bad is going to happen to you. Please, don't worry.""I'm just so scared," i said staring into Adam's eyes.And than I decided to ask the big question, unsure if Adam will answer it."Adam," i began, my voice wavering. "Did you return the thing that belonged to the attacker?"But Adam just turned
~Charlotte I turned my head and saw my Adam in the doorway.His face was pale and his eyes were full of horror. "What's going on?" He asked, his voice shaking. "Why is Dylan here? What's happening?"I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I was too stunned to speak. Dylan turned to leave, a smug look on his face. As he reached the door, he paused and looked back at Adam. "How does it feel when your wife is still in love with her ex, your brother," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "It's not my fault that she loves me and not you," Dylan said, his voice mocking. "Maybe you should take a good look in the mirror and figure out what you're doing wrong."Adam stared at Dylan, his face burning with rage. He clenched his fists, his jaw set. He wanted to punch Dylan, to make him feel the same pain that he was feeling.But he couldn't, probation because of his condition."Just get out," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "I don't ever want to see you in my room."Dylan sm
~CharlotteI hesitated, not sure what to say. I looked around, wondering if Jasmine was coming back soon. But she was nowhere to be seen. The man was still standing there, his eyes fixed on me. Finally, I said, "I'm not sure that's a good idea.""Why not?" he asked, his smile turning into a smirk. "I'm just offering to buy you a drink. What's the harm in that?"I felt myself starting to panic, and I could feel my heart beating fast. I tried to think of an excuse, but my mind was blank. "I'm waiting for someone," I blurted out, my voice trembling. "My friend should be back soon."The man's smirk faded, and he gave me a puzzled look. "You sure about that?" he asked, sounding skeptical. "You looked pretty alone when I saw you."I shifted in my seat, wishing that I could disappear. "I'm sure," I said, my voice firm. "She'll be back any minute."I hoped that my lie would convince him to leave me alone. But to my dismay, he just stood there, looking at me expectantly.Then my phone ra
~Charlotte I crept into the mansion, trying to avoid drawing attention to myself, not wanting to face Adam after what I had done. I felt a deep sense of shame and remorse.As I tried to sneak past the garden, I noticed Adam sitting there, his wheelchair turned towards the house. My heart stopped as I saw him. He turned his head and smiled at me, motioning to the empty space beside him. "Charlotte, please come," he said, his voice soft and inviting.My heart pounded in my chest. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to run away, to hide from the shame and guilt I felt, but a part of me wanted to go to him, to explain myself. I was paralyzed, unable to move."Please," Adam said again, his smile fading.I stood there, frozen in place, my heart racing. I was terrified of what Adam would say, of the look of disappointment or disgust I was sure to see on his face. I felt so torn, so conflicted. I couldn't seem to move, couldn't seem to do anything but stand there and stare at Adam."Charlot
~CharlotteAs I opened the box, I couldn't believe my eyes. Inside was a beautiful red dress, silky and flowing. A note was attached, and as I picked it up, I read the words, my heart pounding in my chest. "Will I be forgiven over dinner?" I felt a mix of emotions - surprise, joy, and confusion. I had never expected something like this. I never thought Adam was a romantic, and we're not in love, so why all this?I looked back at the other two boxes, wondering what could be inside them. What was going on?I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I decided to open the next box.As I opened the second box, I saw a glint of silver. It was a car key, and as I picked it up, a note fluttered to the floor. I picked it up, my hands shaking with anticipation.The note read, "I had promised to give you the whole world when you accepted to be my contract bride. Permit me to start with this." I was stunned. I couldn't believe it. My head was spinning with questions. Adam was sup
~Charlotte I held the blood-stained shirt out to Adam, my hands shaking. "I found this in the car," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's covered in blood." Adam's eyes widened as he took the shirt from me. For a moment, he was speechless. Then he took a deep breath and tried to regain his composure. "I... I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for this," he said, but his voice betrayed his nervousness. "My driver, Arthur... he had told me he had a minor altercation which led to some blows with the car vendor when he went to pick up the car. I'm sure he just forgot his shirt in the car." I had difficulties believing Adam. He was acting so strangely? I looked at him, my eyes full of questions. He must have seen the confusion on my face, then he took my hand and said, "It's okay. Go upstairs and get ready for dinner. I'll take care of this." His voice was calm, but I could tell he was shaken. I hesitated for a moment, but then I nodded and headed up the stairs. I ha
~CharlotteI couldn't speak, so I just nodded my head. I didn't know what to say - how could I explain to him what was going on? How could I tell him that my one-night stand, the man I barely knew, had just walked into the restaurant with another woman? And I had to sit here, trying to be calm and collected, while my world was falling apart."Do you want to leave?" Adam asked, reaching for my hand. "We can get out of here.""No, we can't leave," I said. I just remembered I haven't heard from my mom. I will call her once I get home. "You can go out and call her now if your mind isn't at rest." Adam suggested."If we leave, people will think something is wrong. We just started eating, we can't waste the food. "You're right," Adam said, letting out a sigh. "We'll stay, let's finish the food quickly and leave then. But please, if you need to talk, I'm here for you. I know this can't be easy for you."I managed a small smile. "Thank you," I said, taking a deep breath.As we left the rest
~Adam"Dr. Smith, are you sure about the test?" I asked, my voice quivering with uncertainty. "I'm not trying to question your expertise, but there must be some mistake. I know I'm not the father of Eleanor's baby.""I understand your doubts, Mr. Morgan," Dr. Smith replied patiently. "However, I can assure you that the test was conducted accurately. DNA doesn't lie. I believe there's a chance you might have forgotten an intimate encounter with Eleanor. It might not have been recent, but it did happen."I shook my head, my mind racing."No, no, there's no way. I'm certain I never slept with her after we broke up. I've always been faithful to Charlotte. It just doesn't make sense."Dr. Smith's voice remained calm and professional as he responded. "Sometimes these things are not as clear-cut as we'd like them to be. You might have had a lapse in judgment, or perhaps there could've been a mistake somewhere. Either way, I will have the rest redone as quickly as possible."A sudden knock on
~CharlotteFinally, my eyes landed on the word that changed everything. It was like a punch to the gut, the air leaving my lungs in a painful rush.My fingers loosened as I dropped the document onto the bed, my eyes glued to the words on the page. The results showed a 99% match - the baby was Adam's.I turned to face him, my expression a mix of shock and betrayal."Adam," I whispered, my voice trembling as I searched his face for answers. "What is this?"Adam's face fell, his jaw clenched as he struggled to find the right words. "I'm sorry, Charlotte."I was sure the baby couldn't be mine," Adam insisted, his voice rising in panic as he stepped forward. "Charlotte, please, I haven't been with Eleanor since we broke up. How could I be the father?"My eyes blazed with fury as I remembered that fateful day. "What about the pictures, Adam? The pictures of you and Eleanor in bed? Were those fake, too?"Adam's shoulders sagged, his expression one of defeat and regret. "I didn't want to worr
~CharlotteAs I took a sip of my wine, I turned to face Adam, my heart aching with sympathy for what he had gone through."I'm just glad you're okay," I said, my hand resting on his arm as I spoke. "That was terrifying."Albert chuckled from across the table, his blue eyes twinkling as he shook his head. "I don't know about you, Adam, but I think my heart skipped a few beats last night! When did you make enemies like that?"Adam's face hardened, his jaw clenched as he spoke. I'll have this taken care of, Dad. I won't let this happen again."Albert's smile faded, his eyes filled with concern as he placed his hand on Adam's shoulder. "You take care of it, son. Whatever this is, you fix it. I don't want to lose any of my sons.""Oh wow," Dylan exclaimed as he walked into the dinning room, his voice filled with dramatic flair as he rushed to the table, pulling out a chair and collapsing into it with a theatrical sigh. "I'm starving. That criminal must have injected me with some sort of hu
~AdamThe next morning, my family and I stood outside, our belongings piled into the cars as the sun rose over the ruined house. I turned to take one last look at the damage, my jaw clenched in frustration."This is going to cost a fortune to fix," I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief.With a final glance at the charred remains of our home, I turned and climbed into my car, Charlotte sliding in beside me as we pulled away, the convoy of vehicles slowly disappearing down the road.The convoy of cars pulled away, the sounds of our lives packed into the trunks, as we made our way to the safety of our mansion in the neighboring town."Are you okay?" Charlotte asked, her hand reaching out to rest on mine as she sensed the turmoil inside me.I sighed, turning to look at Charlotte, the worry in her eyes a reflection of my own fears. "I'm not sure," I admitted, my voice heavy with emotion as I squeezed her hand. "But I promise you, I'm going to find out who did this."She nodded, her eyes
~AdamMy eyes fluttered open, my head throbbing as I blinked against the sudden darkness. Confusion and panic gripped me as I realized Charlotte was still unconscious beside me, her body motionless on the floor."Charlotte!" I cried out, my voice raw with fear as I scrambled over to her, shaking her shoulders in a desperate attempt to wake her.She remained still, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths as I pressed my ear against her chest, relief flooding through me as I heard the steady beat of her heart.The house shook once more, and I winced, turning to look back at Charlotte, her body still limp on the floor."You bastard son of Gonzalez," I spat, rage boiling in my veins as I realized that this must be his doing. "I won't let you get away with this, you monster."I raced back to Charlotte's side, lifting her in my arms as another explosion rocked the house, the floorboards splintering and cracking beneath our feet as I carried her towards the window.I felt the house
~ChatlotteI opened my eyes, the soft morning light already streaming through the curtains as I turned to face Charlotte, her sleeping form so peaceful and serene that it made my heart swell with love.I slipped out of bed, eager to start the day and treat Charlotte to a delicious breakfast that would hopefully bring some light to our otherwise darkened lives. As I closed the bedroom door behind me, I thought about the menu for the day, my mind racing with ideas.I made my way downstairs, my feet carrying me towards the kitchen as my mind focused on the ingredients that I would need. It was going to be a surprise for Charlotte, and I wanted it to be perfect.I opened the fridge, my eyes quickly scanning the contents as I pulled out the eggs, bacon, and fresh herbs that I would need. The air was still and quiet, the only sound my own breathing and the soft click of the refrigerator door closing as I laid the ingredients out on the counter.My hands moved quickly and deftly, cracking th
~Charlotte The days since my mother's burial had been a blur, the pain and emptiness that filled my heart so overwhelming that it was all I could do to breathe, to get out of bed each day. I stood at the balcony of our home, my eyes scanning the landscape as the wind rustled through my hair, the chill of the evening air a stark reminder of the numbness that had consumed me. Then, I felt a warmth at my back, a familiar presence that wrapped around me like a protective shield. Adam. He pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, his voice soft and concerned. "What are you doing out here, Charlotte?" he asked, his tone filled with worry as he turned me to face him. But I couldn't speak, couldn't find the words to express the grief that weighed down on my heart. Instead, I simply let the tears fall, my body shaking with silent sobs as I let the sorrow consume me. Adam's arms tightened around me, his lips pressing against my forehead as he held me close, offering me the strength that I ne
~AdamWe arrived home from the hospital, the house looming in front of us like a dark and foreboding presence, the pain of Charlotte's mother's passing still fresh in her heart.As we stepped through the front door, Charlotte's gaze swept over the house, taking in the sight of several security guards stationed around the property, their eyes fixed and alert."What's going on?" she asked, her voice a whisper as she turned to face me, her eyes searching my face for answers.I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, my voice low and reassuring as I spoke."I'll explain everything later, Charlotte," I said, my voice calm and even as I guided her towards the living room. "For now, I just want to make sure you're okay. You've been through enough today."She nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line as she sank down onto the couch, her body shaking as she tried to hold back her tears.As Charlotte sat on the couch, her body shaking with sobs, the door to the living room opened and Dylan steppe
~Adam I strode into Charlotte's office, my mind focused on the day ahead, only to find it empty. She was supposed to be here already, but there was no sign of her. Frowning, I pulled out my phone to call her, but it just kept ringing, no answer. I felt a knot of unease tighten in my gut. I walked back to my office, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of Charlotte's absence. As I settled behind my desk, I heard a knock on the door. I looked up, expecting to see one of my employees, but was met with the sight of Marco standing in the doorway. My heart skipped a beat as my eyes narrowed. "What do you want?" I asked, my voice sharp and demanding. I didn't trust Marco, not after the way he'd betrayed me in the past. Marco took a step forward, his face serious. "Adam, you need to be careful," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Gonzalez's son is out for your blood. He already killed my wife, and he's threatened to come after you and your family." I scoffed, crossing my arms over