Was that<b>… </b><b>a </b>confession?
Watching her ears turn bright red, <b>a </b>smile tugged at theers of Sean’s mouth.
His Lottie was blushing.
J
The next day<b>, </b>Snowbell’s medical report came back.
Every health marker <b>was </b>normal<b>. </b>There were no signs of distress <b>or </b>illness.
<b>However</b><b>, </b>they did find a scratch on the back of her neck. It was likely caused by a sharp object.
Based on the <b>location</b>, only someone on her back could have made it.
Once Sean learned that, he stopped visiting Vivian at the hospital altogether.
The Jasper family assigned <b>top</b>–tier nurses <b>to </b>her care, and a housekeeper delivered meals on schedule.
But Sean? He <b>was </b>with Charlotte every single day–helping her try on engagement gowns, pick out jewelry, and n everyst detail of the
ceremony<b>. </b>
No matter how much drama Vivian stirred up, he never set foot in that hospital again.
When Vivian had fallen off the horse, Charlotte thought for sure their engagement would be put on hold.
She hadn’t expected Vivian’s entire scheme to backfire <b>so </b>spectacrly<b>–</b>actually pushing Sean <b>to </b>confess his feelings sooner.
That night changed things. Charlotte started to warm up to him.
It wasn’t love<b>–</b>not yet.
After the heartbreak she had gone through with Zac, she couldn’t fall again so easily.
But having someone believe in <b>you</b><b>, </b>choose you without hesitation, and stand by you unconditionally, it was impossible not to be moved by
that.
The engagement was officially set for the 15th of next month.
It was early October, with just over a month left until the engagement.
That afternoon<b>, </b><b>Sean </b>brought Charlotte <b>to </b><b>a </b>high–end fashion boutique.
<b>They </b>sat together on a plush <b>couch </b>inside the VIP <b>suite</b><b>, </b>watching as several models, each with a simr build <b>to </b>Charlotte<b>, </b>walked by showcasing thetest seasonal designs.
<b>“</b>That pale blue dress looks great<b>,</b>” Sean said, leaning in and speaking softly by her ear.
“I thought so too,” Charlotte nodded. “And I really like that cream–colored coat as well.”
Just then, her phone buzzed.
She nced at the screen and <b>opened </b>the message.
Sean respectfully looked away, giving <b>her </b><b>space</b>.
Charlotte scrolled through a set <b>of </b>pictures.
They were pictures of Wendy and Zac together. From <b>the </b>background, <b>it </b>looked like they were in Silverridge.
A momentter, a message followed.
“He wouldn’t take you there<b>, </b><b>so </b>I went for you. Silverridge is beautiful. Too bad <b>you’ll </b>never get to see it.”
Charlotte rolled her eyes.
She wasn’t <b>dead</b>. What was that nonsense about never seeing it?
<b>Back </b>when she was with Zac<b>, </b>she was working full–time, <b>just </b>like anyone else.
<b>She </b>only <b>had </b>a few vacation <b>days </b>a year, and Silverridge had always been on her list.
<b>She </b>didn’t want to go alone, <b>so </b>she had asked Zac <b>to </be.
Now? If she wanted to <b>go</b><b>, </b>all she had <b>to </b>do was say <b>the </b>word.
<b>She </b>didn’t bother replying.
<b>For </b>a second<b>, </b>she considered blocking Wendy.
Then she changed <b>her </b>mind.
Wendy’s antics were actually kind of
<i>entering</i>.
She might as well keep her around like a little digital pet.
With a small smirk, she slipped her phone back into her bag.
*
Wendy sent those carefully chosen, heavily filtered photos while curled up in Zac’s arms.
Zac didn’t stop her. In fact, he watched <b>the </b>whole thing.
He was hoping Charlotte would react–get mad, get jealous, maybe even call him in a rage.
It had been days since he had heard from her.
He missed her.
So when Wendy sent those pictures, he didn’t say a word.
But then, Charlotte never replied.
“Do you think she blocked me?” Wendy asked, frowning. “No way, right? If she did, the text wouldn’t have gone through.”
Zac tried to reassure himself. “She probably just hasn’t seen it yet.”
Yeah, that had to be it.
There was no way she could just ignore him.
By <b>the </b><b>next </b>night, there was <b>still </b>no response.
Zac <b>couldn’t </b>sit still anymore.
While Wendy was <b>out </b>of the <b>room</b><b>, </b><b>he </b>pulled out his phone <b>and</b>, with a dark expression,
“Find <b>out </b>Charlotte Riley’s hometown address<b>. </b>Now.”
called his assistant.
+25 Bonus