When Charlotte woke up the next morning, she spread her arms around the space Xavier had slept during the night but was disappointed to find it empty. Rubbing her eyes, she looked around but saw no sign of Xavier. She frowned. After everything that had happened last night, he had left without a word? Before she could come to any wrong conclusions however, she saw a white paper by the small wooden cupboard beside the bed. It was a note from Xavier that read: “Sorry I had to leave so early. I would have told you, but you looked so peaceful, I didn’t want to wake you. I love you. It was great hearing you say it last night as well as other things…” Charlotte blushed and placed the note on her chest. Okay, maybe he wasn’t such a dick that morning. Her eyes widened when she unlocked her phone and saw the time. It was several minutes after nine. She couldn’t believe she had slept for that long without waking up. Okay, maybe she knew why, but still. Xavier had been in the same pos

“Charlotte, wait,” Kate called out to her sister as she caught up with her and pulled her back by her hand. “Leave me the fuck alone!” Charlotte yelled in a loud voice. “Can you just look past your own life for a moment and realize that not everything revolves around you? I hurt you first and that was the only reason I forgave you for what you did. I understand you were hurt and you were jealous. Shit happens. But mom and dad, what was their excuse? They never even let me explain. They just disowned me and boarded the next flight immediately they heard what happened. And let’s not act like they didn’t already hate me for other things before then. You were always the golden child.” Kate frowned and let go of her. “Can you stop saying that? Maybe you’re the one who has never tried to get out of your own head for one second while we were growing up. If not, you would have realized that mom and dad were just as unfeeling toward me as they were to you. I was so surprised when they ask

At the insistence of Kate and her father, Charlotte let herself be convinced to go somewhere private to discuss their family issues. The crowd that had gathered to watch the drama dispersed with disappointment written on their faces when Charlotte stopped pressuring her father to answer and asked Carlos to drive them to a new location. “Talk,” Charlotte said once they were sitting, making it clear she didn’t want them to change the subject. “Gee, where do I start?” Her father said, clearing his throat. “What did mom do?” Charlotte filled in for him. “Hold up,” her mother interrupted. “Don’t try to rope me into this. I didn’t do anything. Your father was the one who tried to dupe Mr Roman.” Kate gasped. “You tried to dupe Charlotte’s husband?”“Not Charlotte’s husband,” he corrected. “Her husband’s father. It was your mother who convinced me to do it.” The older woman laughed drily. “Really? I, who couldn’t get you to expand the company or let my family buy shares for years m

Xavier smiled when Private called to give the news that Mr Don was already on his way to meet him. He had been wise enough not to take his implied threats lightly. His contentment dampened slightly when Charlotte didn’t respond to his many calls. His nose crinkled in worry as he wondered what she would have been doing. He couldn’t afford to go back to the main house because he wanted the meeting to end as soon as possible, and considering the fact that Mr Don was already on his way coming with his private jet, and a nurse was checking up on him, going to the main house would only waste his time and possibly distract him. When Charlotte still didn’t answer an hour later, Xavier dialed Carlos’ number. It was his first day back, but he had told Xavier he had driven Charlotte and her sister somewhere, and given the fact that neither his wife nor her sister was responding, he was beginning to get worried. “Where is my wife?” Xavier asked after pleasantries had been exchanged. “She