CHARLOTTEWhen I returned to my son’s room in the servant’s quarters, he was surprisingly still awake.He stood up when he saw me. “Mommy.”“Hey, sweetie.” I sat down on his bed. “Why are you still awake?”“I… I couldn’t, mommy. I’m afraid I won't see you again if I close my eyes and open them. I think Daddy will take you away from me, and I don’t want that. I’ve missed you so much, Mommy; I don’t want you to go.” He threw himself into my lap and began to cry. “Please, mommy, don’t leave me! I love you so much.” His voice shook with fear and desperation, and it broke me.My heart squeezed in pain, seeing how frightened he was. My eyes watered, and I had to control myself so I wouldn’t break down, making him cry more.Shakily, I wrapped my arms around him and gently kissed his hair. “Shhh… baby. I’m not going anywhere. I’m here now. Always here.”“Can you promise me that you won’t leave again?” He looked up at me through teary eyes.I smiled at him. “Of course, honey. I promise.”His f
CHARLOTTE“Why are the eggs dry?” A gruff voice spoke, ill-pleasing to the ear, and I stilled.My chest squeezed tightly, and I mumbled a curse under my breath. Melina.As if imprisoning me for days wasn’t enough, the devil-in-human form, Melina, decided to add another level of torment by turning me into one of the house servants.She was particular about my role, indicating to everyone that my job was to wash all the dirty plates used in the mansion and that anyone who tried to help me would face her wrath.Apart from being the daily dishwasher, I was also the errand girl to the other maids.I…“Are you deaf?!” Melina snapped two fingers before my face, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Didn’t you hear me? I asked why the eggs were this way. Didn’t you use enough oil?”“I did, Lady Melina. I used the amount of olive oil I thought was appropriate.”“You used the amount of olive oil you thought was appropriate?” She repeated. Her voice dripped with sarcasm, and she rolled her eyes in di
CHARLOTTE“Charlotte, what brings you by my room at this time of the night? Are you offering me some sort of transaction?”In truth, I liked how Nathan spoke to me, especially since it’d been years since I received such attention.From the tilt of his brows to the smirk playing on his lips, I could tell he found me desirable, and strangely, I reveled in that thought.After Liam and prison, any form of attention from the opposite sex was a wonder. But tonight, as I stood before Nathan, something strange took root within me.I tried shaking off the thoughts, but when I looked at him again, at his tall, muscular form, his beautiful eyes… shit!I lowered my eyes, flustered. Clearing my throat, I said in a rush. “I noticed you didn’t eat dinner, so I brought some for you.”He looked down at the tray in my hands but said nothing, so I continued. “It’s also a thank you meal for all the times you’ve helped me prove my innocence in this house. I never got to show my gratitude, and seeing as yo
CHARLOTTEToday felt like a storm I knew I had to brace myself for.We—I and Liam—were headed to the hospital… to visit Sophia.I originally wanted to refuse, but Liam threatened me with Charles, so here I was with him in the car's back seat.Nervously, I rubbed my palms together, reminding myself to take deep breaths every ten seconds.“Why does she want to see me, Liam?”“Because she asked.”“Why would she ask to see me of all people?”“Because Sophia is an angel from the sky. She still thinks of monsters like you even in pain.”I smiled sadistically, “The way you speak of me, you would think we weren’t married at some point.”He stared at me through the rearview mirror, “Of all my regrets, marrying you was my biggest one.”His words stung more than they should. “You know, even though you’ve hurt me to the point of no repair, I wouldn’t even say what you just said—especially to your face.”The car suddenly stopped, and I looked outside, realizing we had arrived at the hospital.“Get
NATHANI woke up this morning with the lingering taste of Charlotte’s cooking on my tongue and a smile I couldn’t wipe off.It was strange for me. Very strange.I tried to attribute my happiness to just the food. After all, it had been such a long time since I tasted anything, but deep down, I knew that wasn’t it.It was something else. It was her.So I decided to see her again this morning. I was going to thank her and then tell her I would help with whatever it was she wanted from me.I was going to give her a chance. Maybe in that way, I could repay the food gesture.But when I went downstairs, there was no sign of her. I asked the servants about her, and one told me she’d seen Charlotte leaving with Liam for the hospital.Why? I’d asked. Why would Charlotte follow her ex-husband to the hospital? She wasn’t sick, so why…?Then the maid mentioned that they’d gone to visit ‘Sophia Windsor,’ and just like that, I put two and two together.Sophia Windsor meant trouble for Charlotte. Sh
NATHAN“What the hell? Are you crazy?” I hissed at Liam, who was breathing heavily.He was a few feet away from us, partly on the ground, having fallen down after missing his well-intended punch, and I could see the anger in his eyes.“You?” He spat, and at first, I thought he was talking to me, but his gaze wasn’t on me.It was on Charlotte, who still stood behind my back.Slowly, she stepped forward, her face pale as if she’d seen a ghost.“Liam, what are you doing here?”“What am I doing here?” His face turned red as he stood up and advanced towards her. “You dare ask me that?”“I…”“Shut the fuck up, you shameless woman. Oh goodness, you’re such a disgrace. You go about seducing men, and now you have set eyes on my half-brother. Such a slut! A wh…”“I’m not a slut!” Charlotte snapped angrily, her voice rising as she spoke again. “We are divorced, Liam. D.I.V.O.R.C.E.D.” She spelled the word out and used her fingers for added measure. “I no longer belong to you, so you have no righ
CHARLOTTE‘I am going to help Charlotte gain custody of her son back, no matter the cost.’These words echoed in my head over and over.Hearing them, words that I never would have expected to hear from Nathan Hamilton, made me feel as though I had finally been set free.It felt like a huge burden placed on my bones had been removed, and now I had more strength to fight for what was mine.Now, I could also hope.I opened my mouth to say something but closed it again because words failed me. I also didn’t want to say anything that would ruin this.Besides, a furious Liam still stood nearby, and I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to laugh if I spoke out of turn.But that wouldn’t stop me.I opened my mouth again, this time ready to show Nathan my gratitude, but just before I could, the shrill ringtone of a cell phone cut me off.It was his.Nathan took out the phone from his pocket and swiftly swiped the answer button. “Yes?” He asked into the receiver.A frown appeared on his face as he listen
CHARLOTTEA doctor approached me, standing beside the bed where I lay. He was peering at me with extreme concern.“Ms. Smith, did anyone declare you fit for this transplant?” He asked, and I shook my head no.“Well, that sums it up. We tested you just now, and from what I can see here…” He waved a paper in front of my face. “You are unfit for this operation.”I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or not. There was the lingering threat of Liam using Charles instead if I didn’t go through with this, and the reminder sent a chill through me.“I don’t even know why you were rushed here when the patient doesn’t need the bone marrow now.” The doctor spoke again, and my brows rose in surprise.“Excuse me?““Ms Sophia went into a temporary shock earlier, but she’s quite stable now. I learned she’d made a prank alarm, and her nurse took it quite seriously.”What the hell?!So Sophia had deliberately faked her condition so that I could be wheeled into surgery? Was this how much she wanted me d
CHARLOTTETHREE MONTHS LATERToday was my wedding day. As I walked down the hall towards my husband, my eyes watered, lips stretched into a smile.I took one step after another, and my mind flashed back to the day he officially proposed to me.*“Come on, get ready. I want to show you something,” Nathan said as he tugged me out of bed.I frowned.I had been feeling sluggish today and wasn't particularly interested in going out.Besides, I wanted to finish the romance novel I was reading, but Nathan didn't budge as he tugged me up.“I promise it will be worth your time. Please?” he pouted, and I laughed at his cute appearance.I gave in and got dressed.He waited patiently for me, and since it was almost dusk, I decided to wear a beautiful strapless gown he got for me the other day.Nathan whistled as he took in my appearance.“I don't know where we are going though. Is this alright?” I asked, and Nathan just nodded.“You're perfect. Come on, let's go.”Nathan was in a perfectly good m
NATHANI met Lucy the day after Charlie found her, and she explained everything she knew.Lucy explained how sad and heartbroken my mother was and how she tried to hide all of her broken feelings from me.She told me how my father and his wife, Melina, killed my mother to take over the company, which was rightfully hers.When my parents got married, my mother was just the rich daughter of rich parents. But after her parents' death, the company automatically passed to her.I guess that was when William started to abuse her.As her husband, he had rights to the company, but my mother held all the power.The company was to be mine when I came of age, but William and Melina killed my mother and took over, making me a CEO while still having the company in their grasp.I thanked Lucy profoundly for agreeing to talk to me.She permitted me, so I recorded all the information and took it to the police as evidence.William was arrested, along with his wife, Melina.My father was furious that I
NATHANThe sun rose before us, and I was still sleepy when the doorbell rang. I frowned as I glanced at the time.It was seven in the morning.Who could be at our doorstep this early?I groaned at the relentless ringing, and Charlotte's body became aware of mine.She opened her eyes and met my gaze, a smile on her lips. My heart skipped a beat as she smiled at me.She was so gorgeous, damn. Her smile, sleepy eyes, and messy hair made my head flutter, and I leaned in to kiss her.“Good morning,” I whispered. She nuzzled against me.“Good morning. I thought I heard the doorbell ringing,” she yawned as she sat up.As if on cue, the doorbell rang again.Charlotte wrapped a robe around her body, and we padded to the living room to see who it was.I asked her to step back while I opened the door.It was a delivery man.Several delivery men.The one closest to me glanced up at me before looking back at his clipboard.“Hello. Is this Ms. Charlotte's residence?” he asked, and Charlotte walked
CHARLOTTEWe spent some time with my new family, and when it got late, we decided to leave.Selina was sad to see us go. She tried to get us to stay overnight, but we told her we would come and visit her soon.Besides, we needed to get home for Charles.The drive home was silent. Nathan was focused on the road, and I kept thinking about what happened.I recalled the day's events, from the hospital visit to the massive feast, and almost combusted from the emotions running through me.By the time we got home, I was still too shell-shocked to speak, and Nathan embraced me.“You've been quiet, my love. Are you alright?” his brows were furrowed with worry, and I rested my head on his chest before I answered.“I'm fine. I am. I just can't…it's so hard to believe,” I said softly.“What is?” he asked.I had a feeling he knew what I was talking about, but he needed me to say the words, to articulate them, so that I could better understand myself.“That I finally found my new family. And they'r
CHARLOTTENathan held me for a long time, and we stayed in the restroom.During this time, I reflected on the reason I’d come here in the first place.The dawning news of my new family—my new beginning, my new home.My chest constricted, and in seconds, tears filled my eyes.I had a mother now.The thought hit me suddenly, so unexpectedly, and the first sob left my lips.A mother.One who loved me.I remembered our encounters and how warm she made me feel, how she laughed with me, how she made me feel at peace.I remembered our connection and the ease with which she related to me.I remembered our shopping spree and how she convinced me to play dress-up. I remembered us laughing at our ridiculous dresses and how beautiful they were.Selina loved me right from the first day we met at the beach.The sob turned into full-fledged tears.Nathan patted me on the back, saying nothi
CHARLOTTEA few days later, Selina called me to inform me that the DNA test results were ready.Nathan drove my nervous self to the hospital.When we got there, we saw Selina outside. She was bouncing on the tips of her legs and immediately embraced me when she saw me.“Hi, Selina. Shall we go in now?” I asked, but the older woman shook her head negatively.“Oh, there's no need for that, my darling. I already got the results. Here, see for yourself,” she said, handing a document to me.My heart pounded, and my hands shook slightly as I opened the document.I gasped when I saw it, tears springing into my eyes.I was Selina's daughter.Selina was my biological mother.A sob escaped my throat as I read the confirmation over and over.After all these years of searching, all these years of misconceptions and lies.After all these years of suffering, of paying for a crime she didn't
CHARLOTTEWhen I returned home, I couldn’t stop thinking about Julian's comment about Nathan's company.Julian had hinted about Nathan losing everything he worked for.What did that mean?Was someone trying to overthrow him? I wanted to call him, but I didn't.He had already started work today, so if something were wrong, he would deal with it.Right?Nathan was competent. So I did not need to worry.I paced for a while, then decided to do something to distract myself from overthinking.It had been a while since I baked, so I went to the kitchen and arranged some ingredients.The worry in my body eased as I kneaded the dough, and I relaxed.I got into a rhythm, losing myself in the chore. My body moved fluidly, the motions as natural as breathing, and as I baked, I sang.I soon lost track of time.Nothing else mattered outside the bubble I was in except for my dough and my song.I
NATHANI was on my way to the office when my phone rang. It was a strange number, and I was reluctant to pick it up.But my instincts told me it must be someone important, so I picked up the call.The call was from the city’s prison, and I frowned when the warden told me an inmate wished to speak with me.Who could it possibly be?I waited as the warden handed the phone to whoever it was, and immediately, I heard the familiar tenor of Sophie's voice; I wanted to hang up.“Before you do anything, I want you to please listen to me,” her voice was weak, and I could feel the rattling pattern of her breath.She didn’t sound very healthy.“And why should I listen to you?” I snapped.“Because the doctor said I'm dying, and I don't want to die with this weight in my chest. I need to see you, please,” she begged, coughing as she spoke.I said nothing as I hung up and parked t
CHARLOTTEI woke up in Nathan’s arms, happy and contented.The past few days were like heaven.Nathan spent every moment with me, spoiling me rotten.We went shopping, ate fancy courses at exquisite restaurants, attended posh and elegant parties, ate street food, and did everything we could think of.I nuzzled into him, not wanting to lose the warmth, when suddenly my phone buzzed on the bedside table, and I groaned.I wasn't willing to stand up yet, but the buzzing was insistent, and I sighed as I sat up and reached for the phone.It was Selina.The older woman was excited when I picked up her call, and I felt guilty for not wanting to pick up earlier.“I hope I'm not disturbing you?” she asked.“No, no. Not at all, Selina. Is there anything I can help you with?” I asked.“Oh. The thing is, I was wondering if you'd like to go shopping with me. I'm bored, and I don't want to go on my own.” I had a feeling that Selina was pouting as she spoke, and the image that came to my head at the