Charlotte sighed in defeat.
What choice did she have? She picked up her chopsticks and dutifully worked on finishing her plate.
Summer was clearly mesmerized by Zarek.
Not that Charlotte could blame her. Who could resist that handsome face looking at them with gentle attention, that seductive voice offering extra beef? It was practically witchcraft…
Even the shop owner’s wife seemed excited by his presence.
Summer tried forcing Issac to eat too, but his death glares quickly made her back off.
Outside the kebab shop, Charlotte was leaning on Summer for support when Issac muscled in, shoving Summer aside to take her place.
“Will you just stop?” Charlotte hissed, yanking her arm free.
Issac’s jaw tightened. “Don’t tell me you’re planning to leave with Weasley.”
“It’s none of your damn business who I leave with,” Charlotte snapped, keeping her voice low. “We signed the divorce papers. If you’re dragging your feet on filing them, that’s your problem! As far as I’m concerned, we’re done.”
She pulled away again, but Issac grabbed her wrist. “We’re not done until I say we’re done.”
Standing in the shadows, Zarek clicked his tongue softly. “I swear I’ve heard this exact conversation at least three times already.”
Summer nodded wearily. “If this were a novel, it would be pure filler. One says ‘let’s end it,‘ the other says ‘no way,‘ repeat ten thousand times.”
Zarek was quiet for a moment. “How about this–I’ll take Issac, you take Charlotte.”
Summer agreed immediately.
She turned to Zarek, suddenly realizing just how tall he was up close. At 5’7“, she had to tilt her head back to look at him.
Being held by him would feel so secure.
Her eyes
turned dreamy as she gazed up at him. “Mr. Weasley, if things don’t work out between you and Charlotte… would you perhaps consider—”
Zarek tilted his head slightly. “Oh, I’m not interested in women.”
The casual, matter–of–fact indifference in his tone… like someone asked if he liked apples and he simply said no.
Summer’s heart shattered.
Not! Interested! In! Women!
Charlotte was telling the truth? He really didn’t like women?
So he… preferred men?
What a criminal waste of perfection!
Ignoring her mental meltdown, Zarek approached the bickering couple. He slung a long arm over Issac’s shoulders, speaking as if coaxin tempekebabtal child: “I won’t take her. I’ll take you instead, okay?”
Issac froze mid–sentence.
“Your car’s out of gas, it’s the middle of the night, and there’s no easy way to get a ride out here,” Zarek continued, gently steering Issac toward his car. “As for this divorce debate, you can pick it up another day. The outcome won’t change.”
Physically, Zarek was slightly taller than Issac. In terms of looks, Zarek leaned toward cool, elegant handsomeness, while Issac had a more rugged, masculine appeal.
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Logic would suggest Issac should have the stronger presence.
Yet standing together, Zarek effortlessly overshadowed him.
There was something innately regal about Zarek that couldn’t be matched.
Issac knocked Zarek’s arm away, turning to see Summer’s car already waiting for Charlotte. He started toward them, but Zarek caught his arm.
Just enough time for her to get in.
“Charlotte!” Issac shouted after the departing car.
His fury wasn’t about Charlotte riding with Summer–it was about her slipping away from him again.
Zarek patted his shoulder. “Mr. Wood, let’s not disturb the peace at this hour. Come on.”
Issac stared at Zarek with murderous intensity, clearly wishing he could tear him apart.
It was past 2 AM when Charlotte and Summer made it back to the city.
At Summer’s apartment, Charlotte bandaged her slightly reopened wound and quickly showered.
The moment her head hit the pillow, she was out cold.
She woke around noon the next day.
Summer had already left for work.
On the coffee table sat a takeout breakfast with a note: No adventures today. Stay put. I’ll be back to feed you later.
Warmth spread through Charlotte’s chest.
Summer might skip her own breakfast constantly and stay up all night reviewing cases, but she never forgot to take care of others.
Charlotte opened the bag, took out breakfast, turned on the TV, and found a random show to watch while eating.
It was a family drama, currently showing a typical mother–in–law conflict. The scene reminded her of Amanda and Evelyn.
Yesterday evening, they had returned to the Wood estate together.
Had they joined forces?
Had Amanda already forgotten being thrown under the bus?
She wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but she wasn’t that stupid either. Would she really accept such a daughter–in–law?
Charlotte couldn’t understand Amanda’s thinking, but it wasn’t necessarily bad news for her. Another person putting pressure on Issac could help.
Though her main ally was still Evelyn… not that she’d been particularly effective so far.
After finishing breakfast, Charlotte curled up on the sofa, thinking about her next move.
Should she provoke Evelyn again, really fire her up?
On second thought, probably not.
Evelyn was already showing signs of instability. Pushing her further could backfire spectacularly.
Pausing her thoughts, Charlotte realized she hadn’t checked in after yesterday’s drama. She called Liam, who had been faithfully bringing her meals and even warned her to be careful. She owed him at least a safety update.
Liam already knew she was safe.
The young master had returned to the penthouse in the early hours, but Liam didn’t mention this. He just smiled in relief. “Glad you’re alright.”
As she was about to end the call, another call came in.
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Gloria. The gossip queen herself.
She said goodbye to Liam and answered. “Well hello, gorgeous. What’s up?”
“Oh my God, Charlotte, have you been living under a rock? Have you seen the statement from the Wood family? Amanda is dragging your name through the mud! I’m absolutely livid?”
“…What statement?”
Confused, Charlotte asked Gloria to stay on the line while she looked it up.
Twenty minutes earlier, the Wood family had used Harmonex Group’s official account to release a clarification video about Evelyn’s viral post.
Until now, the public had been clueless about the man’s identity in the recording. Paid influencers kept quiet, and different social circles rarely shared gossip, which explained why celebrities could hide marriages, children, and scandalous relationships despite everyone in their industry knowing the
truth.
If the Woods had stayed silent, they could have remained uninvolved.
Instead, they chose to expose themselves.
Charlotte watched the press conference Amanda had hastily assembled.
By the time she understood what was happening, her blood pressure had skyrocketed.
At the press conference, Amanda identified herself as the mother of the man in the viral recording.
She claimed to know the complete truth.
According to her, the situation was nothing like what people assumed.
She explained that the Wood and Grantham families had arranged a marriage long ago between their children. The families were equals in status, and despite the slight age difference, the relationship had always been good. Both families were simply waiting for Evelyn to reach marriageable age before holding the wedding.
Then Charlotte appeared.
Amanda claimed Charlotte was desperate to marry into wealth. Despite knowing about Issac’s engagement, she used despicable methods to seduce him and eventually forced him to marry her, though the Wood family had never accepted the marriage.
In recent years, she continued, Issac had finally seen through Charlotte’s gold–digging nature. Not only was Charlotte greedy, but she had also cheated on Issac while he was away on business trips.
She said her son was deeply hurt, and it was only because of a joint project that Issac and Evelyn began spending time together again.
Her conclusion: Evelyn wasn’t the homewrecker–Charlotte was.
After making these claims, Amanda presented “evidence” to support her story.
Text messages showing Charlotte demanding exorbitant compensation.
A photo of Charlotte with an older man in a hotel corridor at midnight.
An audio recording from yesterday at the Wood estate, capturing Charlotte arrogantly demanding 10% of Harmonex Group’s shares.
Most shocking of all… a ten–year–old marriage contract between Issac and Evelyn.
The Momont II of Go My Uncle: Escaping the Forbidden Past.
