Vivian turned tear-filled eyes to Mrs. Jasper Sr. “Grandma…”Mrs. Jasper Sr. glanced between Sean and Vivian, then sighed. “Alright, since this whole thing was just a misunderstanding, why don’t you explain it to everyone again? I’m sure Charlotte isn’t the unreasonable type.”Now that even Mrs. Jas
Charlotte couldn’t help but feel that Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s tone held a hint of impatience.Was she seriously implying that if Charlotte didn’t forgive Vivian, she would be the one in the wrong?Charlotte was just about to speak when Sean cut in first.“Grandma,” his voice was calm but cold, “with all d
The days slipped by in a stretch of gentle autumn rain. Then finally, on the day of the engagement ceremony, the sky clouded for days and cleared at last.Today was Charlotte’s big day, and the entire Riley household had been up since dawn. Even little Jodie, who usually loved to sleep in, had g
Charlotte smiled with amusement. “I’m going to be yours sooner or later. What’s the rush?”Sean held her hand, his fingertips tracing lazy circles in her palm. “I can’t even wait a day—no, not even a second.”He let out a low chuckle. “I was worried you’d think jumping straight into marriage was too
Sean let out a cold laugh. “You’re threatening me? Seriously?”Back in high school, Judy had confessed to him, and he had politely turned her down. But she clung to him like a bad habit. Everyone at school knew she was chasing him. It got so exhausting that he finally pulled strings to have her tran
Lillian tried to calm everyone. “Don’t worry. Everyone here is a guest for the engagement party. Jodie’s probably just wandered off somewhere. Kids love to explore, and this estate is massive. It’s normal if she’s hard to find at first. Let’s start by checking the security cameras.”Charlotte nodded
Sean pushed forward, but a man appeared out of nowhere, blocking his path.The stranger collided with him head-on, spilling red wine all over Sean’s suit.Sean barely flinched. His only thought was to get past him and reach Charlotte. He sidestepped to move around, but the man mirrored him, stepping
Because the distance was so close and Judy moved fast, Sean had no time to react. He was still holding Charlotte in his arms. To defend them both, he would have to push her away and then move—but there simply wasn’t enough time.As the blade came down, Sean’s eyes widened.All he could do was twist
Sean and Charlotte were walking close, chatting and laughing like they didn’t have a care in the world.Zac muttered under his breath, “Out of the hospital already? Tough guy.”Eugene guessed the man beside Charlotte had to be her fiancé.Before he could say anything, Zac opened the car door and ste
Lately, Zac had been running around nonstop trying to secure investors.Most of the businesses in Jersey City weren’t even considering putting money into the Gibson Corporation, so he had no choice but to look elsewhere. He had been spending more time in hotels and on airplanes than anywhere else.T
Charlotte wasn’t ready to let it go. “There’s no rough timeline? Not even a guess?”“If I had to say,” Sean replied, “probably when you were in high school. That time Eric Lee was bothering you. I punched him, and that’s when it hit me. I realized there was something different about how I felt about
Zac’s words echoed in Charlotte’s mind like a curse, refusing to let her rest. They kept swirling in her head, leaving her distracted and uneasy.So much so that when she visited Sean at the hospital the next day, she looked completely lost in thought.“Lottie, what’s on your mind?” Sean asked.Her
“Yes, Mrs. Jasper,” Charlotte replied.Lillian turned to Sean. “Did you eat enough? I brought all your favorites. Do you want a little more?”Sean shook his head with a soft smile. “No need. Lottie made lunch herself. It was perfect and I finished every bite.”Lillian’s face lit up with a warm, moth
By the time Sean snapped out of his daze, he saw that the tray table in front of him was already filled with a plate of sautéed greens, tender poached beef, fluffy white rice, and a bowl of homemade soup“You made all this?” he asked with a soft smile. “What kind of soup is it?”“Chicken soup,” Char
Sean’s lips, still pale as paper, curved into a faint smile. “Alright. I promise.”Not long after James and Lillian stepped out of the ICU, James’s phone rang. The voice on the other end was sharp with urgency.“Mr. Jasper—bad news. Something’s happened!”At the detention center, Judy claimed she wa
Charlotte had been worried sick all afternoon. Now that Sean was finally out of danger, she just wanted to see him.After all, he had taken that knife for her.“Let’s go. You’re coming home with me,” Desmond said sternly, his tone leaving no room for argument.But Charlotte shook her head, her eyes
Charlotte lowered her head. “It was all my fault.”Lillian turned to her sharply. “What do you mean by that?”Charlotte took a deep breath and explained everything from the rooftop—every detail, every decision.Mrs. Jasper Sr.’s expression darkened. “So Sean took that knife for you?”Charlotte’s lip