Chapter 11

Charlotte was still trying to process the unexpected intensity of the evening as she stood beside Asher. The gentle hum of the gala carried on around them, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that eyes were watching their every move. Particularly Kianna’s piercing gaze from across the room.

Asher, on the other hand, seemed perfectly at ease, his presence radiating confidence. “You know,” he began, breaking the silence, “it’s not every day I rescue someone from being mistaken for a Westwood’s date.”

Charlotte laughed softly, though her mind was still swimming with thoughts of the Westwood twins and how close she had come to a far more complicated situation. “Well, thank you for that. I’m not sure how much longer I could’ve kept up that charade.”

Asher’s smirk faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. “The Westwoods aren’t people you want to get tangled with, especially now. You should be careful.”

His words, though casual, carried a warning that sent a chill down Charlotte’s spine. She could feel the weight of something unsaid between them, and it only deepened the mystery surrounding the feud between their families—a feud she still didn’t fully understand.

“I’ll try,” she responded lightly, though a part of her wondered if she’d already crossed a line simply by being in this room with the Kingsleys and Westwoods. “But I didn’t exactly ask to sit at their table.”

Asher’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, as if considering something deeper. “You don’t strike me as someone who backs down easily, though,” he said softly.

Charlotte met his eyes, feeling the pull between them. There was something unspoken—an attraction that simmered beneath their exchanges, an acknowledgment of the tension that had been building since their first encounter.

Before she could respond, the sound of heels clicking rapidly on the marble floor interrupted the moment. Kianna was storming towards them, her face set in a scowl, clearly intent on confronting them. Her earlier attempt to charm Asher had failed miserably, and now she seemed determined to assert her place in the spotlight.

“Asher,” Kianna called out, her voice sharp, “I’ve been looking for you. You disappeared before we could finish our conversation.”

Asher straightened, his polite but distant demeanor returning in an instant. “I believe the conversation was already finished.”

Kianna’s eyes flickered with annoyance as she glanced briefly at Charlotte, her expression souring. “Really? It didn’t seem that way to me.”

Charlotte resisted the urge to roll her eyes and instead took a step back, not wanting to get in the middle of their exchange. But as she tried to retreat, Kianna’s gaze locked onto her.

“And you,” Kianna said with thinly veiled contempt, “seem to be everywhere tonight.”

Charlotte stiffened but kept her voice calm. “I was just about to leave.”

“No need to rush off,” Kianna shot back, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes plastered on her face. “I’m sure you’re having a... lovely time.”

Asher glanced at Charlotte, then back at Kianna, clearly annoyed by the confrontation. “Kianna, I don’t have time for games tonight.”

Kianna’s lips thinned, but before she could respond, the Westwood twins appeared in the background, catching Charlotte’s eye once again. They stood tall, watching the interaction from a distance, their expressions unreadable. The tension in the room seemed to spike with their presence, adding an extra layer of unease to the atmosphere.

Charlotte wasn’t sure how much more she could take. Between Kianna’s obvious hostility and the looming presence of the Westwood brothers, the evening felt like a minefield.

“I really should go,” Charlotte said again, more firmly this time, giving Asher a small nod. “Thanks for the... rescue.”

Asher’s eyes softened briefly as he nodded. “Good night, Charlotte.”

As she turned to leave, Kianna’s voice followed her, dripping with sarcasm. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, Charlotte.”

Charlotte didn’t bother to respond. She could feel the weight of Kianna’s jealousy and anger, but she wasn’t about to let it ruin her night any more than it already had. As she made her way toward the exit, she caught one last glimpse of the Westwood twins, their eyes briefly meeting hers before she hurried out of the ballroom.

Once outside, she took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. The cool night air was a welcome relief after the suffocating tension inside.

But as she stood there, gathering her thoughts, she couldn’t shake the feeling that things were only going to get more complicated from here. The web of secrets surrounding the Westwoods, the Kingsleys, and her own mysterious past seemed to be tightening around her, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could stay out of it.

Inside the ballroom, Asher watched Charlotte leave, his gaze lingering on the door long after she was gone. Kianna was still by his side, fuming silently, but he paid her no mind. There was something about Charlotte that he couldn’t quite figure out—a pull that made him want to understand her, protect her, even though he knew getting involved with anyone remotely connected to the Westwoods was dangerous.

Kianna, sensing his distraction, crossed her arms. “You’re wasting your time with her, you know,” she said, her voice laced with bitterness.

Asher finally turned to her, his expression unreadable. “I don’t recall asking for your opinion.”

Kianna scoffed, turning on her heel and walking away, but not without throwing one last venomous glance in the direction Charlotte had gone.

Asher watched her go, the familiar tension in his chest returning. Tonight had been more eventful than he’d expected, and not in the way he’d hoped. With a sigh, he made his way back to his table, but his thoughts were still with Charlotte—and the strange feeling of protectiveness that had surfaced when she had been dragged into Westwood territory.