Edward turns towards Charlotte, who is scrolling through her phone with a look of admiration on her face. His strong, warm hand slides down her waist and pulls her closer until their bodies collide. He buries his nose in the scent of her neck and speaks in a low, intimate tone. “What are you watching?” Charlotte’s fingers quickly press the cancel button on her phone as she turns to face him, a smile on her lips and a slight shake of her head. “Nothing. Didn’t you fall asleep?” She meets his gaze, but Edward’s eyebrows raise as he notices her attempt to hide the phone. The video she was watching featured soft, soothing music, and he wonders why she felt the need to hide it. “I can’t sleep with someone as beautiful as you next to me,” he says softly, pressing a gentle kiss to the tip of her nose. Charlotte’s smile widens, and she casts a shy glance at him. “I sometimes feel jealous that your ex-girlfriend met you first. It’s heartbreaking,” she admits, her fingers playing with the
“So, do you love her?” When Mr. Rodriguez asks, Edward’s face glows with an unintentional radiance. He gazes at the morning sun, which is just beginning to break over the horizon, and nods. Mr. Rodriguez, Edward’s father, smiles at the change in his son’s heart. Sitting on a bench in the garden, he picks a camellia and speaks with a gentle tone. “When love becomes the priority in a relationship, you will find both happiness and peace. Be devoted and loyal. Don’t encroach on her freedom. Give her personal space and create a world where she can be herself. Be grateful and happy to have her by your side. She is your wife now, and she is your priority.” Edward is taken aback. He has never seen his father speak so openly about matters of the heart. His father, who had always been dismissive of Edward’s previous relationships, now offers such supportive advice. It makes Edward happy, knowing that Charlotte, a truly remarkable person, has won his father's approval. “Now go to your room.
“So, you’re leaving without any more therapy sessions?” Shayne asks over the phone after Edward informs her that he’s canceling all upcoming appointments. “We still have a whole month. I want to spend the last month of our one-year married life fully. I’ll call you later,” Edward replies firmly. “Wait, Eddie. I might have a suggestion. There’s a professor of mine in France who could help. Since you’re going there, you can continue your therapy with him. Just remember to give my sister a memorable anniversary gift,” Shayne says earnestly. “That sounds like a great idea. Send me his contact details and where I can find him. I’ll reach out to him directly. Bye,” Edward responds, ending the call. As he gazes at the phone screen, a momentary look of disappointment crosses his face, but it quickly shifts to joy when he notices a new message notification. “Let’s meet at our usual place. I have something to discuss.” After responding, Edward continues his conversation, though the details
“Ms. Charlotte! Here is your coffee,” the room service attendant announces as Charlotte receives the coffee from him. Holding the two cups, Charlotte walks towards the door of their suite. Just then, Edward, having recently emerged from the bathroom, approaches her and softly calls her name. “Charlotte! Why are you standing there?” “Oh! It’s our coffee. Are you done?” Charlotte asks, her eyes softening as she notices Edward’s damp hair and the droplets still clinging to his skin. He hums in response, hugging her legs tightly. “You’ll catch a cold if you don’t dry your hair. Let’s get you warmed up,” she says gently, turning his wheelchair around and guiding him towards the dressing table. “Here’s your coffee. Drink it. It’ll help you warm up.” Edward takes a sip of the coffee, savoring the warmth. Despite Charlotte’s concern, he doesn’t actually feel cold; the room temperature is perfectly fine. “You know, I ran into Rachel earlier,” Charlotte mentions as she begins drying Edward
_Ding Dong_ Her eyebrows knit together when the doorbell rings early in the morning. She has just finished her bath and is preparing to order breakfast to be served at exactly 8 a.m. since they have a date planned for today. Placing the towel on the couch, she moves the curtains from the window to let the morning sun rays enter. It helps Edward wake up, as he hates alarms. When the doorbell rings again, she sighs and walks toward the door, opening it immediately without checking. She doesn’t want to disturb Edward's sleep. “Yes. How can I help you?” She looks at the person hesitatingly standing before her. “Sister!” Rachel takes two steps back, playing with her fingers. The bruises on her face and the corner of her lips are clear signs of domestic violence. Charlotte’s eyes scan Rachel’s body carefully. Her eyebrows rise upon seeing Rachel’s condition, which is a stark contrast to the pampered life she was used to. The dark bruises and wounds make Rachel look pathetic and miserabl
“How are you feeling?" Edward asks, brushing his hand gently over her belly. Charlotte has been feeling down since the encounter with Asher, and Edward has been patiently waiting for her to open up. He knows she'll eventually share her feelings when she's ready. However, after seeing her condition worsen following dinner, he decides it's time to take action. “Hmm. I'm fine…” she replies, snuggling closer to him. Edward is her comfort, the person who helps her forget everything. Wrapping her arm around his chest, she rests her head on him, seeking solace. Finally, she begins to speak. “It’s not a good memory to recall. And unfortunately, he was someone who made my life hell. Asher was known as a playboy. Most of the girls were victims of his animalistic behavior. So was I. I wanted to finish my studies and leave the university as soon as possible to get a job. I didn’t have much time to hang out or join clubs with other classmates.” As she speaks, her mind replays the painful night t
Hello, Mr. Rodriguez! Mr. James has spoken highly of you. It's a pleasure to meet you.” A fine, tall, Italian man extends his hand for a handshake and speaks with respect. Edward smiles as he shakes his hand. They are here to meet the famous fashion designer, someone Charlotte has always admired and wanted to learn from. “She is my wife, Charlotte Rodriguez. A big fan of yours." Edward squeezes her hand and looks at Charlotte, who is greeting the fashion designer, Angelo Salvatore, a man in his thirties. The sight of her blush, a deep crimson red, makes Edward's heartburn with jealousy. Why is she making such a shy face? “She is gorgeous. Hello, Mrs. Rodriguez. James mentioned that you wished to learn from me. It seems I’ll need to rearrange my schedule to give you some of my precious time. I can’t turn down such a beautiful lady.” Angelo holds her hand to kiss it as a formality, but he chuckles softly when he receives a death glare from Edward, who immediately frees her wrist from
"Excuse me!" A lady taps Charlotte on the shoulder as she retouches her makeup after an hour of training. Charlotte turns to see a woman in her mid-twenties with a troubled expression, fidgeting nervously. Charlotte smiles and nods, silently encouraging her to speak. Seeing Charlotte's silent approval, the woman hesitantly approaches her. "Well, um, do you have any pads? I mean, sanitary pads with you?" The woman asks while clutching her lower abdomen. Charlotte’s attention shifts to her purse. She usually carries pads for emergencies, but this month, she completely forgot about her menstrual date. "Well, I do. Just one. Will that be enough?" She pulls out her last pad from her purse and hands it to the woman. In her hurry, the woman takes it and almost enters the toilet area, but her body suddenly wobbles. Charlotte turns back to the mirror after handing over the pad, but seeing the woman’s reflection collapsing, she immediately extends her arm to support her. "Are you okay? Hell