As the elevator ascended to the top floor of the hotel, Charlotte felt her heart race in her chest. She stole a glance at Sebastian, whose sharp features and confident demeanor exuded a captivating allure, leaving her both curious and apprehensive.
Meanwhile, Sebastian remained composed, his gaze fixed ahead as if lost in thought. It was his first time realizing he could hold a girl in his arms.
As the elevator numbers climbed, the atmosphere between them grew more intense.
Finally, the elevator doors opened, revealing a luxurious suite bathed in soft golden light.
Sebastian pressed his fingerprint to the door, leading Charlotte into the room and placing her on the plush bed in the master bedroom.
Charlotte's nerves began to kick in as she found herself in a strange man's bed. The tension was palpable.
Sebastian loosened his tie. "Would you like to shower first, or shall I?"
"I'll go first," Charlotte hurriedly got out of bed and dashed into the adjacent bathroom.
Staring at her reflection in the mirror, her face flushed with embarrassment. She rallied herself, resolving to shower first.
As Charlotte undressed, Sebastian watched her reflection in the glass, not wanting to miss such a beautiful sight. The glass was one-way, allowing him to see inside while concealing Charlotte's view.
Unaware of the glass's transparency, Charlotte began to undress. Sebastian greedily watched her reflection, unable to tear his eyes away.
Closing his eyes, Sebastian turned away and poured himself a drink from the bar cabinet, knowing that his psychological aversion couldn't be cured with physical intervention. He doubted the psychologist's words; after all, his family's psychological condition had plagued him for years.
The floor-to-ceiling window reflected the figure in the bathroom, and Sebastian found himself unable to control his gaze, fixated on the reflection before him.
"I'm done," Charlotte emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a bathrobe.
"In that case, I'll go in. Help yourself to a drink," Sebastian handed Charlotte the glass of wine, not bothering to close the bathroom curtain.
Charlotte sipped her drink, sitting on the sofa near the floor-to-ceiling window. She listened to the sounds from the bathroom and glanced over, catching sight of Sebastian's silhouette.
Her jaw dropped. She hadn't realized the glass was see-through—hadn't she been exposed just now?
Shaking her head, she decided to let it go. After all, she'd already seen his figure. No harm in returning the favor.
Elizabeth was right—his physique was truly remarkable.
Charlotte grew up surrounded by art, and her dream was to open her own art studio and exhibit her creations.
Initially, she had accepted George's proposal because he often took her to art exhibitions, appreciating her passion. However, it now seemed that he had done the same for Eva.
Feeling betrayed by George's duplicity, Charlotte's dream of a shared love for art shattered like a fragile glass sculpture. The realization struck her like a cruel brushstroke on a canvas, smudging the vibrant colors of her hopes and aspirations.
As she stood in the opulent hotel suite, the golden hues that once inspired her now felt tainted with deceit. Yet amidst the turmoil of her emotions, a flicker of determination ignited within her.
With each sip of wine, Charlotte fortified her spirit, envisioning a future where she stood proudly in her own art studio, surrounded by her masterpieces. It was a vision of independence and empowerment—a sanctuary where her creativity knew no bounds.As Sebastian emerged from the bathroom, he found Charlotte lost in her thoughts. She looked slightly flushed from the wine, yet her gaze was resolute.He quietly sat beside her, observing her contemplative expression. In her silence, he found an unexpected serenity, a stark contrast to the cacophony of the nightclub downstairs.In the past, he had sought solace in the noisy revelry of nightclubs when sleep eluded him. But now, the tranquillity of the girl beside him made him yearn to envelop her in his embrace.Charlotte knew that in that moment, amidst the uncertainty of the future, she silently vowed to reclaim her identity and pursue her passion for art with unwavering determination. For in the depths of her heart, she knew that true
"Mr. Sebastian, here's your schedule for today," Ethan, Sebastian's assistant, walked into the CEO's penthouse bedroom early in the morning, as usual.Seeing Sebastian pinching his nose and rubbing his eyes, he asked with concern, "Is your eye condition acting up again?"As Sebastian's long-time assistant, Ethan was well aware of the CEO's health issues."No, it's fine. Do we have any special arrangements today?" Sebastian inquired."You have George's engagement party tonight," the assistant emphasized."Wasn't the engagement party yesterday?" Sebastian asked, puzzled."It didn't happen yesterday; they said they rescheduled it for today, the former CEO, your father wants you to attend" Ethan replied truthfully.Meanwhile, Charlotte had just returned home."Daddy, sister went to the nightclub yesterday without telling anyone; George searched for her for a long time," Charlotte's stepsister, Eva, was already stirring up trouble.Charlotte recalled the photos Eva had shown her, and she f
George was in conversation with his grandfather. "Grandpa, I will marry Charlotte," he asserted, knowing well his grandfather's fondness for her, thinking Eva could just be a fling.Charlotte paid no heed to his scheming. She wasn't one to fall for his two-timing ways.There was a commotion in the crowd, and Charlotte looked up to see a tall, lean figure surrounded by admirers."Have you heard? That's Sebastian from the Titan Group, and he's still single," the whispers circulated among the onlookers."I never realized he was this young. I thought he was around the same age as Rodrigo. Turns out, he's closer to Rodrigo's son.""You know what? He's a late bloomer, but they say he's remarkable."Charlotte was curious about her supposed fiancé's uncle.Was it him?The male model she had spent the night with at the rooftop nightclub. Wasn't he supposed to be in a different line of work? And he's George's uncle?Charlotte felt a tad embarrassed but then found the situation increasingly intr
Charlotte felt a wave of discomfort at his condescending tone, but she refused to show it.Instead, she met his gaze head-on, her expression devoid of any emotion.Ignoring his sarcasm, she spoke coldly, "Do you have something to say to me?"Sebastian's expression remained cold and emotionless as he looked at her. Despite Charlotte's outward composure, he could still feel the tension simmering between them.The air in the restroom seemed to grow heavier with their silent standoff, each waiting for the other to make a move.Finally, Sebastian spoke, his voice low and devoid of warmth. "I believe you left something for me earlier."Charlotte felt a blush creep up her cheeks as she remembered the money, she had left for him."Yes, I did. Consider it a token of gratitude," she replied.A faint smile tugged at the corner of Sebastian's lips, his eyes twinkling with amusement."And what exactly are you grateful for?" he asked.A surge of defiance rose within Charlotte as she retorted, "For
Sebastian's words rang in Charlotte's ears, and she felt her heartbeat faster. Her cheeks felt slightly hot, but she tried to stay calm."Kiss you?" Charlotte's voice was filled with disdain. She didn't want to give in to his request easily.Sebastian did not flinch, his eyes flashed with a hint of provocation and curiosity."Yes, kiss me," he repeated firmly, "and I'll tell you."Charlotte was silent for a moment, pondering the offer. She knew she couldn't be easily defeated by him, but at the same time she was curious about what he wanted to tell her.Finally, she decided to take the plunge. She raised her head, moved closer to Sebastian, and closed her eyes.Just as their lips were about to touch, a voice suddenly came from outside the door."Charlotte? Are you okay?"The sound caused both Sebastian and Charlotte to stop. They looked at each other with a hint of disappointment in their eyes."I'll come out now." Charlotte replied, feeling a little helpless but also a little relieve
"You despicable woman!" George's mother, Marian, turned around and slapped Eva across the face. "You dare to seduce your sister-in-law."As soon as Marian saw the screen, she knew her son's image in his grandfather's eyes was doomed. The only way to salvage the situation was to shift all the blame onto Charlotte's sister, Eva, and clear her son's name.Originally, Marian didn't approve of Charlotte. If it weren't for George's grandfather liking her, she wouldn't have wanted George to marry Charlotte. A girl studying art wasn't suitable to stand by her son's side as the future successor of the Goliath Group. But Eva, she looked down on even more. However, now that George's grandfather had handed over the reins to George's younger uncle, Sebastian, she had no choice but to compromise. After all, if it didn't matter whom her son married, it had to be someone the grandfather liked."Charlotte, George must have been drunk. He's always had you on his mind. You know about your sister's jeal
Charlotte stepped down from the stage, her heart filled with complexity and contradiction. She felt a sense of relief yet also harboured anxiety and uncertainty. But now, she decided to move forward bravely and face the challenges ahead.Now, she had the ability to support herself. Her artworks, exhibited anonymously at various major exhibitions recently, had received acclaim, and some had even sold for high prices.Currently, she is placing her works on consignment in other studios. She could hold an exhibition in her name once she regained control of her mother's art gallery. By then, her reputation and artwork would become even more popular.Sebastian observed Charlotte from the audience, impressed by her confident smile. Her decisiveness and determination made him reassess her, and he became increasingly interested in her.George stood still, momentarily at a loss. He hadn't expected Charlotte to make such a decision, and his plans and expectations were all thrown into disarray.
As the guests departed from the cancelled engagement ceremony, the news of the Goliath Group's young master's engagement being called off spread like wildfire across social media platforms.In the study room of the Goliath mansion, Rodrigo, George's father, confronted him with two options laid bare. "George, I'll give you two options now: either you secure Charlotte or your grandfather," Rodrigo declared bluntly. "I've just explained to your grandfather. Your feelings for Charlotte are genuine. As long as your grandfather still values Charlotte, it would help if you married her. You can handle the affairs outside as you please after marriage."Having come into the family through marriage, Rodrigo based his son's marital prospects solely on the benefits it could bring. "I know, father," George responded with resignation."There's also your uncle's matter. He just returned and has accepted a significant role in the Goliath Group. I heard from some board members that your grandfather int