Chapter 9

When Eric arrived, he found Charlotte in a pitiful state, covered in a mixture of cake and blood.

"Someone, call a doctor!" he shouted.

Charlotte slowly tried to rise, shaking her head in refusal. She didn't need a doctor, not really. The cream smeared across her body made her nauseous, a sickly sweetness clinging to the air. Her face was pale, ghostly.

Seeing her like this, Eric couldn't suppress his concern. He reached for her, trying to hold her steady.

Then, a loud cry rang out from behind.

"Help! Emily… it looks like she's had a miscarriage. Someone call an ambulance!"

Eric froze, his hand still hovering near Charlotte. His face tightened, troubled. He hesitated, then reluctantly withdrew, letting her go.

"Take care of yourself. Emily's situation is worse—I have to go to her," he said curtly, turning away to make his way toward the commotion.

The crowd shifted as he walked past, scattering like smoke. No one spared a second glance at Charlotte, this mute, forgotten figure in the corner.

But Dr. Jim noticed. He walked over. "Why did your bandages come off? Should I take you to get them fixed?"

Charlotte smiled faintly, nodding.

They walked in silence. Finally, Dr. Jim couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Charlotte, I just don't understand," he said, his voice low, almost weary. "Eric doesn't care for you. Why do you keep putting yourself through this? Doesn't it hurt?"

Charlotte lowered her gaze, pulling his hand into hers. She began to write on his palm, her fingers moving slowly, deliberately.

"It hurts," she wrote. "But I have to do this. I need to finish what I've started."

The last words hung in the air, and Dr. Jim felt something click in his mind. So she was here for another reason, someone else's purpose, bound by duty rather than choice.

Charlotte said nothing more, as if that explanation had been enough. What she had shared with him was more than enough, too much, maybe. She didn't need to say more.

Later that night, Eric returned, drunk. He stumbled into the room, his eyes half-lidded as he spoke about the evening's events. "Emily drank some fruit juice at the banquet and had a miscarriage…"

His face twisted with anger. "Whoever tampered with that juice—mark my words, they will regret it."

Charlotte couldn't help but smile bitterly at his words. She picked up a note she had written beforehand and showed it to him. "The orphanage is holding a charity dinner. They want to invite you. You don't have to go, just sign here. I'll forgive you for everything that's happened before, if you sign."

Eric blinked, a small laugh escaping him. "Sure. As long as you forgive me, Charlotte. Tell me, will you forgive me for anything I've done?"

Charlotte saw him hesitate, pen hovering over the paper. She sighed inwardly and nodded, forcing herself to comply. Eric signed quickly, then pulled her into a tight embrace.

She hated it, hated the scent of alcohol on his skin, the closeness, but she endured it. She could bear it, just a little longer. For Meghan.

On the third-to-last day, Charlotte burned all her clothes. Eric was at the hospital with Emily, keeping her company while she recovered.

On the second-to-last day, Brian sent someone to question Charlotte, accusing her of causing Emily's miscarriage. She denied it, but before she could explain further, Eric arrived, ordering the staff to shut her in.

And on the final day, Eric arrived with a maid, a witness, to confront her.

"Why did you do it? Why did you hurt Emily? Even if she's pregnant, I won't divorce you, Charlotte. Can't you accept that she and the child are more important than you?"

He didn't even give her a chance to speak, instead binding her before Emily.

"Emily, feel free to take out your frustrations on her," Eric said.

Emily smiled sweetly, directing the bodyguards. One strike after another landed on Charlotte's body, each lash more painful than the last.

Charlotte attempted to sign something, but no one cared to understand. She coughed violently, blood seeping from her lips. The pressure in her lungs was suffocating. As her body seemed to shut down, she reached into her mind, connecting with the system.

'Help me contact Dr. Jim. I don't want my body to fall into Eric and Emily's hands.'

The system responded promptly. In her delirium, Charlotte could hear the seconds ticking away, the countdown to her end slipping past, one moment at a time.

When only five minutes remained, Dr. Jim arrived.

"What have you done to yourself?" he exclaimed, rushing to her side.

Charlotte smiled weakly, struggling to gesture. "Thank you for coming to collect my body. I'll repay you in another life."

As they rushed to the hospital, Charlotte felt the weight lift from her chest. The countdown hit zero, and she let out a sigh, her hand falling limp by her side.

Dr. Jim held her close, tears streaming down his face as he cried for her.

Meanwhile, Eric sat at his office desk, growing increasingly agitated. He couldn't fathom how Charlotte could have harmed Emily. He was convinced Emily had struck Charlotte, and that should have been the end of it.

But then, the phone rang, cutting through his thoughts. It was from the Lorvis estate.

"Mr. Lorvis, you need to come back. A man came and took your unconscious wife away."