ter 73
There’s nothing to talk about. He’s already signed the diempre agreement. If you want to convince anytime, coesinee him to complete the remaining paperwork. Then he, you, and the entire Wood family will be out of my life for good”
Charlene’s tone was perfectly calm.
She spoke as if discussing someone else’s situation, not the marriage she’d invested her heart and soul in only to watch it crumble
She’d lost the gamble and accepted it without bitterness, but she wouldn’t forget the pain just because the wound had scarred over.
Howard was silent for a long muiment in the other end. “Just come over first. Regardless of what you’ve decided, this isn’t something you can resolve unilaterally. In a marriage, il me party doesn’t cooperate, nothing gets done. You need to talk face to face, don’t you agree
Charlotte didn’t respond.
Howard continued, “It’s just dinner. Nothing will happen. Do it as a courtesy to me.”
Charlotte carefully considered her options.
Finally, she agreed. “All right.”
Her agreement wasn’t out of respect for Howard. She had leh Harmones and was divorcing his son–their future relationship would be nonexistent, so his opinion hardly mattered to her,
She agreed because she thought tomorrow ewaing might be an opportunity to convince him, in business–like terms to persuade Issac to stop his pointless pursuit
Liam, who had been nearby during the call, approached with concern. “Are you sure this isn’t another trap? You need to be careful.”
“You’re right,” Charlotte nodded.
While she didn’t think Howard would stoop that low, after Amanda’s betrayal, she couldn’t be too careful. “I’ll hire bodyguards to accompany me tomorrow. Don’t worry.”
The next afternoon
Around 4 PM.
Charlotte dressed carefully and headed to the Wood estate with two professional bodyguards.
Though her leg had recovered enough to walk normally yesterday, she pretended it hadn’t and used a wheelchair,
If things went south and even her bodyguards couldn’t protect her, she could always surprise everyone by standing up and running away.
Back at the penthouse, Liam worried about the situation. After much consideration, he called Rex, asking him to find an opportunity to inform Zarek that Charlotte had gone to the Wood estate
She’d been staying with them to heal peacefully without disturbances.
w she was heading into the lion’s den, and their boss should at least know,
Now
That after yesterday evening’s incident, Liam was too embarrassed to call Zarek directly.
Rex didn’t understand why this information needed to go through him, but out of respect for the older man, he didn’t question it. He agreed and went to the CEO’s office.
At that moment, Zarek was standing by the window on a phone call.
Whatever the person the other end said made him laugh. Hearing the knock, he lowered the phone and said. “Come in.”
Rex entered, unaware Zarek was on a call, and urgently blurted our “Mr. Weasley, Miss Whitmore has gone to the Wood estate
Zarek’s eyes flushed imperceptibly, but his voice remained neutral “If she wants to go, let her. Why are you telling mei
1502
The Moment I at Go My Uncle Escaping the
Forbidden Past
Tajner ra
“Ah, well became I thought you’d be emmerrned toy
Hex kept that second
Then he realized there was no logical
for the CEO to worry this was Men Whitmore’s personal busine
Rex shunk out immediately.
Zarek raised the phone, and the voice
- seem to care about her quite a bit.”
the other end laughed good naturedly. “Who’s this Miss Whore New hire? Sounds
Zatekreplied without emotion “Just a secretary”
He ended the call after a few more words, then stood at the window for a moment before making another call, dispatching his most trained security personnel to discreetly monitor and protert Charlotte near the Wood estate.
This troublesome woman.
Charlotte arrived at the Wood estate.
Returning here felt different from any previous visit.
Like a tourist attraction she’d visited periodically over the years, this time felt like her final visit, filling her with a mixture of melancholy and relied
Emering the dining room, she found a table of elaborate dishes, but only Howard was sna
No sign of Escor Amanda,
was waned there.
Charlotte had her bodyguards wheel her to the table, then instructed them to wait outside
“Chairman.”
She greeted him with a polite smile.
Howard watched the bodyguards leave, his expression growing somber.
He knew about the hotel incident–his wife and that Grantham girl’s plot against his daughter–in–law. No wonder she’d brought bodyguards, treating them like criminals.
If this was how she viewed them, rebuilding trust in the marriage would require significant effort
He turned his attention hack to her, inquiring about her injury. “What happened to your leg?
“Nothing serious. I went on a trip and had a small accident.” Charlotte explained dismissively
“Getting away to clear your head is good.”
“It was very good. It would have been even better if your son hadn’t bothered me, and if he’d been willing to go to the civil affi complete our divorce.”
Though she spoke with a gentle smile and polite tone, her words were direct and decisive, skipping past all pleasantries.
Howard fell silent.
His kindly face book on an expression of authority. “You really can’t give Issac another chance?”
“At this point, I’m sure you know what he’s done. Do you honestly believe he deserves another chance? Charlotte countered.
“You can’t tolerate even a grain of sand in your eye, but in reality, life is long Expecting a man to be faith to only you forever, never tempted by outside attractions–is that realistic? Even if Issac didn’t pursue these women, they would throw themselves at him. Honestly, ac has been relatively
linda Turaninë he Forbidden Past
Chapter 73
good–he always kept you first in his heart. That Grandlum girl was the harm in giving him one more chance?”
Now he’s willing
churrak it off completely and return to you. What’s
“Ha,” she emildn’t belja cold laugh. “Perhaps you’re right. Most men are like that, Issac included for Esimply don’t want him anymore.
“Charlotte, you’re being too stubborn.”
Howard sighed, then continued, “I know you’ve asked for $35 million as divorce compensation. If you agree to may married, 11 give you 120 million. You can move into the Wood estate as the legitimate Mrs. Wood When you have children with hsac, they’ll be the future heirs to the Wood fort Endure for a moment and what you gain will far outweigh what you have now. Think about it”
Charlotte was stunned.
She had to admit, these conditions were credibly tr
She even felt a moment of wavering who wouldn’t be tempted by wealth and status that required no effort?
Love was nothing compared to that.
But then she thought about the price being bound to a chearing husband for life, sharing his bed, bearing his children, working tirelessly for the Wood family. And very likely, after Evelyn, there would be more women-|
-Jessica, Rachel, whoever–and she would have to pretend not to see, to play along
How was that different from selling her soul for money
She didn’t want a Life with only superficial prosperity while being broken inside.
“Tve made my decision,” Charlotte said. “I still want the divorce.”
Howard could hardly believe his ears,
Such generous terms, and still she wasn’t persuaded? Was she hopelessly naive or just plain stupid?
Charlotte smiled sweetly. “Let me propose a condition. If you agree to it, I won’t divorce him.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“I want ten percent of company shares.
Howard’s expression changed.
She wasn’t naive or stupid–she was ruthless!
Charlotte continued sling sweetly. Please consider it. If you agree. I’ll reconcile with Issar immediately. He can keep as many mistresses as he wants–1 won’t care. He could even bring women home and carry on in front of me, and I’d happily give them the bad.”
She said all this with complete nonchalance.
Outside the door.
Issor, who had rushed back, stood frozen, his heart bleeding as he listened to her words.
