Chapter 91
His throat tight with emotion.
His soul heavy with regret
His heart breaking at the inevitable goodbye.
Tonight, he wasn’t the polished CEO of Harmones or the commanding Issac Wood everyone knew. He was just a boy who’d broken promises and lost the girl he loved.
God, how he wanted to go back. Reset the clock. Cut his heart open and prove he would never hurt her again… but the cold reality was sinking in. What they had was gone forever.
The night seemed endless, flooding his mind with memories of their years together.
The first time he saw her–school uniform, ponytail bouncing, her graceful neck and glowing face reminding him of a swan. When she glanced his way, his heart exploded like Fourth of July fireworks.
Their first kiss–stolen impulsively, followed by days of her avoiding him, blushing furiously whenever they crossed paths.
Memory after memory washed over him. The more beautiful they seemed, the deeper his pain cut. They’d given each other their best years. He was supposed to have held her hand forever. It should have been so simple.
Yet the night passed too quickly.
Dawn crept in before he was ready, but he selfishly wanted more time beside her–to stretch this night into eternity
and freeze the moment
Morning light filtered through the blinds.
As the room brightened to pale gray, he quietly left.
Charlotte’s eyes opened silently, watching his retreating back from her pillow.
She hadn’t slept at all.
It reminded her of that night she’d watched him take Evelyn’s call on the balcony and slip out of their bedroom–the moment her last spark of hope had died.
Now, again, she watched him walk away. Their eight–year journey had reached its end. They were getting off at different stations on life’s railroad.
Right, wrong, love, hate–none of it mattered anymore.
For the future, they’d each have to find their own way.
Her eyes stung.
Her heart felt soaked through, like someone had left it out in the rain.
Charlotte got her discharge papers that morning.
Summer handled the administrative details.
Before leaving, Charlotte wanted to check on Zarek. On every level–professional and personal–she owed a visit to the man who’d repeatedly saved her life and was now her boss.
Approaching his room, she noticed several people inside.
To avoid creating complications or sparking rumors, she decided to wait until he returned to his apartment before
visiting.
After leaving the hospital, she stopped by the police station to give her statement before heading home.
They’d caught the man in black, but he was claiming he wasn’t hired by Evelyn–just a concerned friend who’d taken matters into his own hands after seeing her “mistreated.”
Evelyn was playing the victim card, insisting she had no memory of events.
The
Granthams were pulling their usual stunt, claiming she had mental health issues and producing convenient medical records as evidence.
But this time, with Zarek stabbed, she wouldn’t wiggle out of consequences so easily.
After finishing at the station, Charlotte went home.
That afternoon.
Issac sent a message through Summer.
He agreed to the divorce.
He would provide the full settlement they’d discussed.
“She can pick any time for the filing. Just let me know when and where.”
“…Got it,” Summer replied after a brief pause.
She went to Charlotte’s room and delivered the message.
“Tomorrow works,” Charlotte nodded, surprisingly calm.
As if she’d expected nothing less. “Ten in the morning at the courthouse.”
Summer: “I’ll tell him.”
She sighed, shaking her head. “That man. I want to hate him completely for what he did to you. But then he does
Chapter 91
something halfway decent like this. If only he hadn’t screwed everything up–I really wanted to believe some Jove stories have happy endings.”
Charlotte smiled suddenly, turning toward the sunlight streaming through the window, ushed tears maging tar eyes sparkle. “Happy endings are for Disney movies, dummy.”
Summer glanced at the ceiling. “Well, if fairy tales are dead, maybe aim for mythology next time. Those never end:
Charlotte:
At the hospital.
Zarek sat propped against pillows, working through emails.
Taking a sip of water, he asked casually, “How is she doing?”
“Ms. Whitmore? She’s been discharged.”
Zarek’s eyebrows drew together as he looked up.
“She did stop by this morning.” Liam added quickly, noticing his boss’s reaction. “Looked like she wanted to see you but there were people in the room, so she didn’t come in.”
Surprisingly, this information seemed to irritate Zarek even more.
“Too many people, so she didn’t come in?” His tone was deceptively mild. “How thoughtful of her to worry about
appearances.”
The words sounded like a compliment, but his delivery definitely wasn’t.
Liam couldn’t quite read his boss’s mood, so he offered a diplomatic smile. “Women tend to be more aware of these
things.”
Zarek didn’t respond.
After a short break, he returned to work. His expression remained neutral, his composure apparently intact, but Liam could feel the distinct chill in the air.
All because Ms. Whitmore hadn’t come in?
From where Liam stood, her decision made perfect sense. She was showing good judgment by not creating gossip for
Zarek.
So why was he upset?
Unless…!
Liam stole several glances at his boss, desperately trying to hide his growing suspicion–and the smile that came
with it
Torbidden Past
Chapter 91
The next morning.
Charlotte drove to the courthouse with the divorce papers in hand.
Though they’d agreed to meet at ten, she arrived fifteen minutes early.
Issac showed up exactly on time.
Seeing the bruise at the corner of her mouth still visible, he reached out instinctively, his thumb gently brushing it. “This still hasn’t healed.”
His movement caught her off guard.
She wanted to snap at him, but seeing the bloodshot eyes, the stubble he’d never normally allow, and the bone–deep exhaustion in his face, her anger evaporated. “Let’s just get this over with
“Yeah”
Issac acknowledged but didn’t move.
Charlotte didn’t wait, walking into the building alone.
Only when she heard footsteps behind her did she relax slightly. She’d half–expected him to bail at the last minute.
The divorce process was quick and straightforward.
They’d gained a certain notoriety–the clerk recognized Charlotte immediately. With all papers signed and in order. there was no mandatory waiting period or counseling requirement
Outside, Issac handed Charlotte his copy of the divorce decree.
She stared at him, completely baffled. “…What are you doing? That’s yours!”
Issac: “You hold onto it.”
Charlotte:
Seriously? This is a divorce certificate, not a wedding license. Are you drunk or just delusional?
Get a grip!
Always conscious of making scenes in public, she pulled him aside. “You’ll need this when you remarry someday. so-“She firmly pressed the document against his chest. “Mr. Wood, keep it yourself.”
Fat the finela Facing the Forbidden Past
