She can after it as fast as she could, chasing it down the snowy road.
But no matter how fast she ran, she couldn’t catch up.
She could only watch as the white ambnce carrying her mother disappeared from view.
That night, Soe passed away.
Desmond stayed by her <b>side</b>, grieving until he waspletely drained.
Charlotte didn’t know any of this.
She hadn’t been able to catch up with the ambnce. She had fallen in the snow, and it was the housekeeper who had run out after her and carried her back inside.
That night, she came down with a high fever. In her sleep, she kept calling out for her mother, crying on and off until morning.
She wept the entire night.
By the time she woke up the next morning, the first thing she heard was the news
Her mother was
Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to go to the hospital for a final goodbye. She was terrified of seeing her mother’s
For a long time, she lied to herself.
If she never saw it, maybe it wouldn’t be real.
Maybe Mom was still alive.
Maybe she had just gone on a trip, somewhere far away.
Lifeless body.
In Charlotte’s heart, the warm, gentle woman who always smiled like the spring sunshine was still out there, somewhere, living.
After Sue’s passing, Charlotte clung to the ceramic Cinnamoroll, holding it day and night.
She refused to <b>eat</b>, refused to drink.
She would fall asleep clutching it, and when she woke up, she would just <b>cry </b>silently
Desmond, on the other hand, seemed to age overnight
Hic hair grayed
His eyes dimmed.
It was like all the life had drained out of him, leaving behind nothing but exhaustion and grief.
He barely had the energy to take care of himself, let alone his daughter
Later, he was diagnosed with depression.
Charlotte truly believed he would never remarry.
He had loved so much. How <b>could </b>he ever have room in his <b>heart </b>for another woman?
But just two <b>years </bter, he did.
And the woman lie chose <b>was </b>none other than Sur’s best friend.
Charlotte lost in
She threw a fit that night and moved into her school dormitory
Even during holidays, she locked herself in her room at home, refusing to talk to them.
Excetually, things got better.
By the time she graduated college, she and Desmond had finally started to mend their rtionship.
And then, just when she thought things were Improving, he told her she had to marry into the Jasper family.
Thelt fragile rtionship shattered all over again.
This time, he was truly furlous
He had always spoiled her, giving her whatever she wanted.
But on this, he refused to back down.
To force her hand, he even froze her bank ounts, cutting her offpletely.
But for Charlotte, the arranged marriage wasn’t the real breaking point.
It was just the final straw.
The real reason she left, was because he had remarried.
It was a betrayal of her mother.
And Charlotte was convinced that the only reason he wanted her to marry so quickly was to get <b>rid </b>of her.
Everyone always said, “A married daughter is as good as gone.
She figured the Riley family no longer had a ce for her.
So she left.
And for three years, she never looked back.
Through it <b>all</b>, she carried the ceramic Cinnamoroll with her.
It was thest thing her mother had ever given her.
The most precious thing she owned.
But now, it was broker
And so was she.
When the tears finally stopped, Charlotte wiped her <b>face </b><b>and </b>forced herself to think.
Maybe…maybe it could still be saved
If she could find a top restoration expert, maybe there was still hope.
She snapped <b>a </b><b>photo </b>of the broken pieces and posted it on her Instagram story.
“Anyone <b>know </b>a great restoration expert?”
She had plenty <b>of </b>connections in Jersey City–family, friends<b>, </b>and rtives who were powerful figures.
Finding someone shouldn’t be too hard.
Her phone rang just minutes after she posted.
It was Sean,
She figured he was calling to rmend soquone, so she answered right <b>away</b>.
But <b>his </b>voice came through the line, low and urgent “Lottle, are you hurt?
Charlotte froze.
Then, she realized that there had been blood on the ceramic shards.
She hadn’t <b>even </b><b>cleaned </b>them yet
“<b>No</b><b>,</b>” <b>she </b>said quickly. “It’s not my <b>blood</b>.”
+25 <b>Bonus </b>
J
Sean didn’t sound convinced. <i>“</i>What happened? That’s the figurine Aunt Sue gave you, isn’t it? How did it break?”
Charlotte went silent.
She didn’t even know where to begin.
But what truly caught her off guard was that Sean had recognized in right away.
Just from a photo of the broken pieces, he had known exactly what it was.
A momentter, his voice came through again, firm and unwavering
“I’m heading to the airport now. Walt for me. I’ll see you in Harbor City soon.”
ow gap in the door