Charlotte nced at Vivian, then turned <b>to </b>Sean<b>, </b>her voice <b>calm </b>and t.
<b>“If </b>I told <b>you </b>she’s lying<b>, </b>would you believe me?<b>” </b>
Sean froze for a <b>second</b><b>, </b>caught off guard. He <b>didn’t </b>answer right away.
Charlotte let out a soft<b>, </b><b>self</b><b>–</b><b>deprecating </bugh.
Why had she even asked <b>something </b><b>so </b>stupid?
<b>Of </b>course he would choose Vivian–the girl who had grown up with <b>him</b><b>, </b>not the fiancée he hadn’t seen in three years and barely had a rtionship with.
Anyone would know <b>the </b>answer <b>to </b>that.
But <b>then </b>Sean looked her in the eye and<b>, </b>without hesitation<b>, </b>said, “I believe you.”
Charlotte’s breath caught <b>in </b>her throat.
She stared at him, unsure if she had heard right.
He believed her?
Then what about Vivian?
Charlotte saw her face go ghost white in an instant.
“Sean! She’s making things up! How could you believe her over me?”
“Enough.” Sean’s eyes turned sharp, his voice cold as <b>ice</b>. “From the moment you met Lottie, you’ve had this strange hostility toward her. The second you imed she kicked the horse behind your back, I knew you were lying.”
His expression darkened, frosted over with disapproval.
“Lottie’s not that kind of person. I know her. And you said it yourself she’s never done anything to you. So tell me, why would she want to hurt you?”
Charlotte stood quietly, eyes fixed on Sean.
Her heart felt like a tangled mess of emotions.
Why was he standing up for her like this? Why was he choosing to believe her, <b>no </b>questions asked?
She had been so sure–sq sure that when <b>it </b>came down to it, Sean would always pick Vivian.
But now<b>, </b>her nose stung, and her eyes welled up with something she couldn’t <b>name</b><b>. </b>
Sean’s gaze returned to Vivian, as cold as ice.
“Vivian, don’t forget–<b>you’re </b><b>a </b>Xander, not a Jasper. Don’t <b>take </b><b>the </b>title <b>of </b>‘adopted daughter‘ and think <b>it </b>gives you free rein<b>.</b>”
Vivian’s face turned even paler.
Her lips parted, trembling<b>, </b>but she <b>couldn’t </b><b>get </b>a word out.
Tears streamed silently down her <b>face</b>.
<b>Sean </b>didn’t stay. “Get some rest<b>. </b>I’m leaving.”
He turned <b>and </b>walked out without another word.
Charlotte stood at the <b>foot </b>of the bed and looked at Vivian, who was sobbing uncontrobly.
<b>With </b><b>a </b>sigh<b>, </b><b>she </b>said quietly<b>, </b>“Was all this really worth it?”
Outside <b>the </b><b>hospital</b><b>, </b><b>in </b><b>the </b><b>open</b>–air parking <b>lot</b><b>, </b>Sean walked beside Charlotte<b>, </b>his <b>voice </b>full of remorse.
“Lottie… I’m sorry.”
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<b>She </b>nced at him. <b>“</b><b>Why </b>are you apologizing to me?”
<b>“</b><b>It’s </b>my family’s fault we didn’t raise her right,” he <b>said</b><b>, </b><b>letting </b>out a long sigh<b>. </b>“I still don’t understand why she’d do something like that. But don’t <b>worry</b>–I’ll <b>get </b><b>to </b>the bottom of it.”
Charlotte gave <b>a </b><b>soft </bugh.
<b>“</b><b>No </b><b>need</b>. I already know why<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Sean <b>frowned</b>. “You do?”
She looked at him, lips curling slightly.
“Sean<b>, </b><b>don’t </b>tell me you really haven’t noticed how Vivian feels about you?”
He blinked. <b>“</b>What are <b>you </b>talking about?”
“She did this<b>… </b><b>because </b><b>of </b>you,” Charlotte <b>said </b>slowly. “She sees me <b>as </b>a threat. That’s why she tried to turn you against me.”
Sean fell silent<b>, </b><b>brows </b>furrowed in thought.
Charlotte turned and walked ahead.
He caught up. <b>“</b>Lottie, wait.”
She pulled open the car door and slid into the driver’s seat. Sean got into the passenger side.
As he fastened his seatbelt, he said, “I understand now. I’ll keep my distance from her from now on<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Charlotte froze mid–motion. <b>“</b>Why?”
“Because you said she likes me,” Sean replied inly. “I never realized it before. To me, she was always just a sister. But now that I know, it’s only right to draw a clear line.”
He looked over at her, his voice gentle but firm.
“Lottie, I want to make sure you feel safe with me.”
Charlotte stared straight ahead.
“That’s <b>not </b>what <b>I </b>meant. I meant–why did you believe me? Vivian grew up with you. Shouldn’t you have trusted her more than me? Why did <b>you </b>choose me<b>?</b>”
Sean held her gaze<b>, </b>warmth in his <b>eyes</b>.
“Because I already said… you’re not someone who’d do that.”
“That’s it?” she asked <b>quietly</b><b>. </b><b>“</b><b>Just </b><b>because </b>of that?”
The streetlight outside <b>cast </b>a <b>soft</b><b>, </b>golden glow into the <b>car</b>.
<b>Sean’s </b><b>eyes </b>were full of <b>tenderness</b><b>. </b>
“And <b>because </b>I love <b>you</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>he said<b>, </b>each word steady and certain. “And love means trusting without conditions.<b>” </b>
Charlotte’s heart gave a sharp<b>, </b>uncontroble flutter<b>. </b>
<b>She </b>turned away in a panic<b>, </b>cheeks flushed<b>, </bpletely <b>at </b>a loss for words.