At this moment, Charlotte finally understood how Sebastian must have felt when her master was sick, and he wanted to talk, but she didn't clear up their misunderstanding in time. Now, it was her turn. She realized that a diamond bachelor like Sebastian would naturally attract many pursuers, adding to her heavy heart.In the quiet of the night, Charlotte found herself unable to sleep. Her mind kept replaying the unmistakable voice of that girl—Claire. And there was the critical project Nathan had mentioned, with all clues pointing to this woman. She decided to follow the trail and try to find more information on social media.After some searching, Charlotte finally found Claire's account on Instagram. She saw Claire's latest post: a photo of her and Sebastian having dinner together. Claire wore a sexy outfit with bright red lips and looked extremely happy. Sebastian's eyes were fixed on her, and many comments below praised them as a golden couple. The image of the two smiling together
Charlotte anxiously awaited Sebastian's response at home. As the minutes ticked by, her mood grew heavier. The phone screen remained dark, with no message from Sebastian. She couldn't help but wonder if Sebastian truly cared about her feelings and if he was willing to explain.Just then, her phone rang. Charlotte quickly picked it up, her heart filled with anticipation, only to see that the caller ID showed her father's name. Her heart sank."Charlotte, come home. We need to talk," her father's voice sounded stern.After hanging up, Charlotte took a deep breath, knowing this trip home wouldn't be easy. She put on her coat and left her apartment, her mind a whirl of complex emotions.When she arrived home, she saw her stepmother and stepsister Ava smiling in the living room. Her father sat on the couch, his expression serious, waiting for her."Dad, what's going on?" Charlotte asked, trying to stay calm."Charlotte, we need to discuss the art
Charlotte was torn, unsure whether to tell Sebastian about the art gallery. They were currently in a cold war, and if she brought it up, Sebastian might think she was only interested in him because of the gallery, despite him initiating their marriage agreement. She didn't want to deepen their misunderstanding.Pacing in her office, Charlotte's mind was in turmoil. She knew that if she didn't address the gallery issue, her stepmother and stepsister Eva would undoubtedly take away her mother's legacy. But she also feared that talking to Sebastian about it now might worsen things.Just as she was deep in thought, Nathan walked in. "Charlotte, I've just received the news. Sebastian is extending his business trip. He mentioned that the project negotiations are a bit tricky and require more time," Nathan said, looking at Charlotte with concern.Charlotte nodded, her mood growing heavier. Every time she checked Claire's Instagram, she saw them dining at upscale restaurants or attending thea
One evening, Charlotte sat in her living room, staring blankly at the TV. Her phone suddenly buzzed with a new notification. It was another photo from Claire, this time of a romantic candlelit dinner. The caption read, "An unforgettable evening with someone special."Charlotte's heart sank. She couldn't continue living like this, in a constant state of anxiety and self-doubt. The action was necessary—to uncover the truth and confront Sebastian.Her inner struggle was intense. Should she swallow her pride and reach out to Sebastian or wait for things to unfold? She knew she couldn't go on like this, yet fear of rejection and misunderstanding held her back.Taking a deep breath, she picked up her phone and messaged Sebastian. Her fingers trembled as she wrote, deleted, and rewrote her words. Finally, she sent a simple but heartfelt message: "Sebastian, we need to talk. Can we meet when you return? There are things we need to discuss."Sh
Lately, Charlotte had been feeling somewhat adrift. Being with George had stirred an anxiety in her that she had never felt before. Even though George ultimately chose Eva, she didn't harbour much resentment; she ended their relationship.She stood before the mirror, gazing at her weary reflection. She realized Sebastian had influenced her emotions. Taking a deep breath, she acknowledged the need to regain her balance.Just then, the doorbell interrupted her thoughts. Opening the door, she found George standing there, looking at her with a troubled expression."George, what brings you here?" Charlotte asked a slight furrow in her brow."Charlotte, I need to talk to you," George's voice conveyed emotion.Charlotte invited George in, and they sat down to chat. George shared some recent troubles and feelings with her, and Charlotte tried to offer encouragement despite her low spirits.As they got engrossed in their conversation, C
Chapter 48: Surprise or Shock?"Hey, Nathan, can I ask you something? ""Sure."Has Sebastian been on this business trip longer than usual?" Charlotte asked quietly in the office.Nathan looked up, seeing the worry in Charlotte's eyes. He knew she had many questions, and as the only one aware of their relationship, he didn't want any more issues."Actually," Nathan replied honestly, "this trip is a bit longer than usual. The project is more challenging, so it's taking more time."Charlotte nodded, feeling slightly reassured. Nathan's words made her think that Seba
Charlotte, her heart shattered, left the hotel. The pain of George's betrayal, once deeply felt, was now compounded by witnessing another scene of potential unfaithfulness. She sought solace, leaning against a lamppost, her breaths deep and heavy, trying to calm the storm of emotions within her.Meanwhile, in a dimly lit, smoke-filled office across town, the enigmatic figure of Claire's father, Ronaldo, was receiving an update from one of his trusted men, who was tasked with the delicate job of monitoring Sebastian."Boss, a woman came to see Sebastian," the man reported."What kind of woman?" Ronaldo asked, his interest piqued as he sipped his drink.
"Nathan, drop everything and find Charlotte. I need to talk to her and explain. I can't bear the thought of her being out there alone," Sebastian pleaded, his voice trembling with desperation, as he called Nathan as soon as Charlotte left the hotel."Got it, boss. I'll take the next flight over," Nathan replied."No need. I'll send my private jet to pick you up," Sebastian insisted.He knew he had to find Charlotte and make things right, but he couldn't risk going out now."Sebastian," came Claire's voice from outside the door. Sebastian quickly changed clothes and opened the door."Sebastian, my father has agreed to meet you. Are you happy now?" Claire said as if she were taking full credit for it.Sebastian was surprised. He had stayed here for so long without getting a meeting with Claire's father, Ronaldo. There had been no news despite Claire's attempts to arrange a meeting. It was said that Ronaldo was very fond of his da
Sebastian squeezed her hand to comfort her."I'll go with you to see Claire.""You're coming too?" Charlotte asked in surprise."I'll stay nearby, where I can see you but she can't see me."Charlotte nodded, quickly got dressed, and used a scarf to cover the marks on her neck."We need to find out what she's thinking. Don't you think she looks a bit like me?"Sebastian didn't comment on that.At the café, Charlotte saw Claire already sitting at a table by the window."Claire.""Charlotte."The two of them sitting together looked like sisters.Claire's sharp eyes closely observed Charlotte. "So, how was your night?"Charlotte shrugged, maintaining a neutral expression. "Nothing special. How about yours?"Claire leaned back in her chair, her gaze unwavering. "Just curious if you noticed anything strange last night? When I visited Sebastian, I thought I heard someone in his room."Charlotte's heart raced, but she remained calm. "Strange? No, I didn't notice anything. Maybe it was just a
Sebastien held Charlotte’s hand to comfort her. "I'll come with you to see Claire.""You’re coming too?" Charlotte asked in surprise."I'll stay nearby, where I can see you, but she can’t see me," Sebastien explained.Charlotte nodded, quickly dressed, and used a scarf to cover the marks on her neck. "We need to figure out what she’s thinking. Don’t you think she looks a bit like me?"Sebastien made no comment on this observation.At the cafe, Charlotte found Claire already seated by the window."Claire.""Charlotte."The two sat together like sisters.Claire’s sharp eyes closely observed Charlotte. "So, how was your night?"Charlotte shrugged, keeping her expression neutral. "Nothing much. How about you?"Claire leaned back in her chair, her gaze unwavering. "Just curious, did you notice anything strange last night? When I visited Sebastien, I thought I hea
The next morning, the early rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on Sebastien and Charlotte as they woke up, still in each other’s embrace.The calmness of the morning stood in stark contrast to the previous night’s panic, making their relationship feel temporarily better.Charlotte stretched and yawned, her mind already racing with thoughts of how to handle their complicated relationship. “We need a plan, Sebastien. Claire is already suspicious, and soon others will start noticing too.”Sebastien nodded, his fingers gently brushing through her hair. “You’re right. We need to be strategic.”Just then, Charlotte’s phone buzzed on the bedside table. She reached for it, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Claire’s name on the screen.“It’s Claire,” Charlotte said, holding up the phone for Sebastien to see.“Answer it,” Sebastien urged. “Act normal.”Charlotte took a deep breath and accepted the call. “Hey, Claire. What’s up?”“Hey, Charlotte. Are you fre
Charlotte's heart raced as she heard Claire's voice outside Sebastien's door. Panic set in as she quickly assessed her options. Her neck was covered in Sebastien's kiss marks, and there was no way she could face Claire without raising suspicion."Hide in the bathroom," Sebastien whispered urgently, sensing her dilemma.Charlotte nodded and swiftly slipped into the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind her. She pressed her ear against the door, trying to catch snippets of the conversation outside.Sebastien took a deep breath and opened the door, greeting Claire with a forced smile. "Claire, what brings you here?""Can I come in?" Claire asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at Sebastien's handsome face."Of course," Sebastien said, gesturing for her to enter.Claire stepped inside, her sharp gaze sweeping over the room, making Sebastien uneasy. "I wanted to discuss something about the project," she said casually,
Chapter 54The atmosphere in the meeting room was somewhat tense. Sebastien didn't immediately agree to Ronaldo's request. He turned to Ronaldo and said, "I will consider your request carefully." The first meeting between the parties ended just like that. Sebastien didn't want Ronaldo to take the initiative, even though he sought cooperation."Sebastien," Claire called out to him after the meeting, "Would you join me for dinner?"Sebastien glanced at Charlotte and said, "Let's all go together.""Ronaldo, do you have time to join us for dinner too?" he added.In the end, all five people from the meeting room were seated together at a restaurant. The seating arrangement was quite interesting, with Ronaldo flanked by Charlotte on his left and Claire on his right. Even Nathan noticed the resemblance between the two women. "Charlotte and Claire look quite alike," he remarked jokingly.Both Sebastien and Ronaldo paused, looking closely and indeed noticing the similarity. Sebastien didn't sa
Several days later, the much-anticipated meeting commenced as scheduled on a bright and sunny morning. Top executives and board members had already taken their seats in the elegant conference room. Suddenly, the door swung open, and Ronaldo, accompanied by his daughter Claire, strode in. Their entrance caused a brief pause among the attendees, who quickly resumed their composure."Ronaldo, it's a pleasure to meet you finally. I'm Sebastian," said Sebastian, rising to greet him. "This is my secretary, Charlotte, and my assistant, Nathan," he added, introducing them with a polite gesture.As Ronaldo entered, his sharp eyes immediately noticed Charlotte. There was a resemblance to someone from his past, but he maintained his composure, shaking Sebastian's hand firmly."Please, take a seat. This is my daughter Claire. You've met before," Ronaldo remarked, observing Sebastian and Charlotte closely for their reactions.Charlotte glanced up at Claire, recalling their brief encounter in Sebas
"Send me your location, Nathan. I'll come to you," Sebastian said over the phone."Charlotte, the president is on his way," Nathan turned to Charlotte. "Do you want to freshen up? I've booked a table at the hotel restaurant. We'll meet there."Charlotte finally snapped out of her thoughts and headed to the bathroom, letting the warm water wash away the turmoil in her heart. After showering, she put on a light blue dress. Her wet hair fell softly over her shoulders, giving her a refreshingly natural look.Before she knew it, it was 7 PM. Nathan was already seated in the restaurant, his heart pounding with anticipation for Sebastian and Charlotte's arrival. He flipped through the menu while glancing at the door from time to time, feeling a bit anxious.Sebastian walked into the restaurant, his eyes scanning the room. He soon spotted Nathan and, with a slight frown, asked, "Where's Charlotte?"Nathan looked up and smiled, "She'll be down
Back at the hotel, Sebastian was trying to focus on his meeting with Ronaldo. Claire was still there, watching him with a curious expression."Why do you look so worried? My father is finally agreeing to meet you," Claire said, sensing his unease.Sebastian forced a smile. "Just making sure everything goes smoothly. This meeting is important."Claire nodded, accepting his explanation but still curious about his behaviour. Sebastian knew he had to keep his composure. The meeting with Ronaldo could determine the future of his business dealings, but more importantly, it could provide answers to the questions swirling in his mind about Charlotte and the sudden interest Ronaldo seemed to have in her. Little did he know, Ronaldo had his own hidden agenda, one that could potentially shatter Sebastian's world.Soon enough, Sebastian and Ronaldo were face to face. The air was thick with tension as both exuded a strong presence, their eyes locked in a
"Nathan, drop everything and find Charlotte. I need to talk to her and explain. I can't bear the thought of her being out there alone," Sebastian pleaded, his voice trembling with desperation, as he called Nathan as soon as Charlotte left the hotel."Got it, boss. I'll take the next flight over," Nathan replied."No need. I'll send my private jet to pick you up," Sebastian insisted.He knew he had to find Charlotte and make things right, but he couldn't risk going out now."Sebastian," came Claire's voice from outside the door. Sebastian quickly changed clothes and opened the door."Sebastian, my father has agreed to meet you. Are you happy now?" Claire said as if she were taking full credit for it.Sebastian was surprised. He had stayed here for so long without getting a meeting with Claire's father, Ronaldo. There had been no news despite Claire's attempts to arrange a meeting. It was said that Ronaldo was very fond of his da