hapter 60
Was there really a voice render? Was the balling? How cost pumping into the sea
Victor’s mind raced through every possibility.
ve lidden a recorder under the coffee table while tied up? or she’d survived
Just as he decided to gamble and call her bluff, Charlotte suddenly perked up as if remembering something. “Wall my render test the cloud every ten minutes. Is there a laptop arond?”
Zarek immediately signaled for someone falaing med,
The color drained from Victon’s face.
confidence crumbled in an instant.
When the laptop arrived, Charlotte logged into her cloud account. “Got it?
She raised her eyes to Victor with a triumphant smide as her finger hovered over the screen.
“STOP! DON’T PLAY ITI”
Victor lunged forward, snatching the laptop and clutching it against his chest. “Miss Whitmore, let’s be reasonable about this.”
Charlotte laughed coldly. “You tried to assault me and planned to keep me locked up. If I hadn’t risked my life jumping from that window into the ocean, would even be sitting here right now?
“You completely misunderstood me
Inough games. If you’re so innocent, open the laptop and let everyone hear!
“Miss Whitmore, please–I have a family. Have mercy. I’ll get down on my knees and bag if I have to
“Merry? Did you consider showing me any? I’m my parents only daughter. How do you think they’d feel knowing their child was nearly violated by a disgusting predator like you?”
Her voice rose with emotion as she directed others to take the laptop from him.
Her resolve was unmistakable.
Backed into a corner, Victor desperately clutched the computer. “I was trying to help you! I admit I said some inappropriate things, but I wasn’t serious! It was a momentary lapse in judgment.”
you piece of garbage! Forgive you? Only if you castrate yourself right here so I can watch ”
“Go to hell yo
“Don’t push it, Charlotte! Nothing actually happened between us! I was passing by, tried to help you, and said some stupid things. Since when is bad. judgment a crime?
“Is grabbing my leg just had judgment?”
“I was checking for injuries”
The verbal battle continued.
As everyone marveled at Charlotte’s ferocity when provoked, they suddenly realized Victor had essentially confessed
Not only had he been in that house, but he’d actually done those things to her!
Disgust filled the room as all eyes turned on hun.
Olivia stood frozen in shock.
The hadn’t expected the arcuations agaisnt Virmer to be completely true.
thep
phone, Arthur let out a contemplious sound His voice wat wuthoritative and final. The truth seems evident. Zacek handle this appropriately. Involve the autheries as needed. Show no leniency”
With the Chairman decree, the matter was led
Victor slumped in a chair.
Arthur’s voice continued, “M
“Miss Whitmore, you’ve shown exceptional courage:
He smiled with appreciation, knowing she had likely been bluffing about the recorder.
But she’d played it brilliantly–putting on a convincing performance and masterfully manipulating her opponent’s paychology Brave and strateg–exactly the kind of talent they valued.
“Thank you, Chairman, Charlotte responded respectfully.
“Welcome to thomines, Man Whitmore.”
With that, the
Tended.
A personal welcome from the Chairman himself–what an honort
Charlotte felt a flutter of excitement, but suddenly her head began to spin
The dizziness intensified, and the room seemed to tilt around her.
“Charlotte?” Zarek leaned forward with concern, lightly touching her face.
Thud-
Her head began to fall toward the table.
Zarek quickly skipped his hand beneath, catching her before impact.
He paused for a moment, then lifted her face, realizing she had lost consciousness.
She’d been running on fumes since her arrival, t
ad, then exhausted her remaining energy confronting Victor. Now that the crisis had passed, her body
simply gave out.
With her eyes closed, she felt herself falling into someone’s arms. The comforting sandalwood scent made her want to surrender completely, to shed her armor and allow herself to be vulnerable for once.
But then a familiar voice that made her heart rate reached her ears: “Charlotte, baby. ”
No, no, no–it had to be a hallucination
Aterrible hallucination.
3:00 AM.
Lisbon’s premier percate hospital.
The room was equipped like a bury suite.
Charlotte Jay sleeping in the bed, an IV drip attached to her arm.
Across the room on a set of cream colored sofas, Zarek and Issa sat at opposite ends, tension crackling between them. Olivia was curled up in an armchair behind. Zarek, alternating between vacant stares and forlorn glances in his direction
Hex, unable to stomach the atmosphere, had escaped the roses on some pretest
India Forbidden Pa
What a night it had been…………
According to hospital staff, when Ma Whamore had fainted, the CEO had carried her out with Ms. Waldorf in pursuit. In the corridor, they’d
encountered Mr. Wood, who had immediately tried to take his wide from the Coriarmu
The scene mild have been straight out of a soap opera,
“Charlotte only applied to work for you to get back at
withdrawing her from the position,” Fear stated coldly, his tone imperio
“Her personal life doesn’t concern me. If she wants to reden, she can tell me herself,” Zarek repled with clinical pole
The subtext was clear. You have no autheray over her decisions
He crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and leaned back, effectively dismissing the conversations.
Issac seethed with barely contained fary.
He stared at Zarek, radiating hostility
The image of Charlotte chatching Zarek’s clothes when he’d tried to take her haunted him, triggering a primal sense of danger. He wanted nothing more than to drag her back to New York immediately.
Ordinary rivals wouldn’t concern him, but this was Zarek Weasley!
He needed to separate them. Now
7:00 AM.
Charlotte anvoke
Morning light streamed through the floor–to–ceiling windows, bright and pure, washing away the night’s darkness.
She turned her head.
“Charlotte, you’re awake!”
Charlotte stared in shock as Issac rose from the sofa and rushed toward her.. This had to be a nightmare
Issac, oblivious to her thoughts, reached the bedside and touched her forehead.
Having 1
just woken up, Charlotte’s reactions were sluggish. She tried to dodge but was too slow
The band on her forehead made her skin crawl.
Those same
same hands had touched Evelyn disgusting like being touched by something contaminated….
“What are you doing here? You should have the divorce papers by now,” she said coldly, pushing his hand away.
Chapter 61
“Tin getting
Charlotte’s words cut through t
- like a knife–nu warmth, no hesitati
The coldness in her tone wounded Issac visibly, but instead of anger, he dropped in one knee beside her hospital bed, his expression desperate “Baby, I screwed up – I know that, just give me one more chance to make this right. I swear is God, Ell never do anything like this again.”
His voice cracked with emotion, eyes glistening
Charlotte remained moved, her expression glacial. “Don’t bother changing. You were just following your heart, weren’t you? You’ve spent six- months living your best life with her–so keep at it. I’m stepping aside “
Issac’s face comforted wall pain the grabbed her hand, pressing it to his im so sorry. I deserve whatever you throw at me. It wasn’t what you think with Evelyn. 1 never waisted a future with her. You’re the only one I’ve ever truly loved….”
“Just stop.” Charlotte yanked her hand away. A
anymore. We’re done. The divorce is happening “
tent of male in her throat, but she swallowed them back. “Tis, none of this matters
“You don’t get to decide that alone! I already tore up those papers!” Issac’s eyes flashed dangerously, his exerred slipping
Charlotte studied him silently for several seconds. “Tine. If we can’t settle this like adults. I’ll see you in court.”
“Are you really throwing away everything we built? Forgive me past this once–I’m begging you I leaned forward desperately, trying to embrace her. “I can’t inse you.”
“What the bell
hell? Get off me? Don’t touch mo! Charlotte smacked him with her pillow,
Trom across the room. Zarek sat up on the sofa, the blanket sliding from his shoulders.
He rubbed his temples. “Rea, water”
Rex, who had been pretending to sleep, jumped up and grabbed a bottle from the mini–fridge.
Both men had been unwilling audiences to this relationship drama since dawn.
By the hospital bed, Charlote and Issac freze mid–action
Charlotte’s eyes widened in shock“.
Oh God, please tell me that wasn’t Zarek’s voice!! Anyone but him!!
A flash of irritation crossed Issacre
But with an audience present, he couldn’t continue his emotional display. He stood, his tone shifting to casual tenderness. “Honey, you must be starving. I had someone pick up that Pancake Combo from that place you love. I’ll grab it.”
From desperate confession to acting like nothing had happened.. the man could pivot on a dime,
Charlotte ignored him completely.
As Issac walked away, she caught sight of Zarek sitting on the sofa
Heat rushed to her face.
Hot boss was truly her most dedicated divorce spectator.. not missing a single episode of her marital drama.
Zarek took the water from Rex, drank il methodically, then stood and walked out without a single glance in her direction
Rex followed immediately.
Charlotte’s eyes unconsciously tracked Zarek’s tall figure, wondering what he might be thinking….
“Your breakfast”
Chapter 61
