The walls were bare, with none of the little touches Charlotte would have added. Even the curtains weren’t in a color she liked.
Zac closed his eyes, but the image in his mind only sharpened–Charlotte tangled up in bed with that man.
Were they doing <b>it </b>right now!
A sharp, unshakable pain gripped his chest,
Before he came here, he had yed out a hundred different scenarios in his head. But not once had he considered the possibility that Charlotte had already moved
on with someone else.
People said heartbreak happened twice in a rtionship.
Once at the breakup, and again when you saw the other person with someone new
For Zac, that saying <b>proved </b>painfully true.
<b>The </b>next <b>day</b>, the sky was high and clear, the kind of crisp, golden wat moming that felt too good to waste.
|Charlotte had ns to go out with Sean, so she let herself sleep <b>in </b><b>and </b><b>had </b><b>a </b>light breakfast before getting ready.
She <b>wore </b>a long–sleeyed ck velvet dress with soft vintage lines. Her long, dark waves draped elegantly over her shoulders, and the bold red lipstick she cho paired perfectly with the dress.
She already had striking features–strong brows, high nose bridge, big almond eyes—but today, her look was next–level stunning. She was bold, confident and unforgettable.
<b>Sean’s </b><b>ck </b>Cullinan SUV was parked outside when she came downstairs.
She spotted him leaning against the car, finishing up a <b>phone </b>call.
When he saw her, his eyes lit up <b>for </b><b>a </b>second before he hung up and smiled. “This look really suits you,” he said, admiring the outfit <b>and </b>makeup.
Charlotte smiled as she pulled open the passenger–<b>side </b>door <b>and </b>got in. “So, where <b>are </b>we going?”
“You’ll see,” he replied.
He was driving himself today–no <b>assistant</b>, no chauffeur.
They left the city behind, trading sleek skyscrapers for long stretches of open road and rolling countryside. The sky was a clear, endless blue, and golden fields of swayed gently in the breeze
Fammers were scattered across thend, busy with the harvest<b>. </b>Every so often, they passed quiet farmhouses with hare apple trees out front, their branches stripped. |_ clean–signs that fall was in full swing.
Charlotte rolled the window down halfway. The cool breeze slipped in, carrying a <b>honeysuckle </b><b>or </b>just the scent <b>of </b>autumn in the air.
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “Mmm. this is so nice.”
Sean kept <b>his </b>eyes on the <b>road</b><b>. </b><b>“</b>We’re almost there.”
a faint track of dried leaves and something sweet–maybete–blooming
After another twenty minutes on <b>a </b>narrow <b>rural </b>cement road, the car stopped in front of a modest three–story farmhouse
“We’re here,” he said, turning off the engine and ncing at her.
Charlotte looked at the house, surprised. “Where is this?”
Sean sailed slightly, “Come see
As soon as they stepped out, a man caine walking toward them. He looked <b>a </b>bit puzzled at first, then surprised, and finally broke toto a wide grin. “Mr. <b>Jasper</b>, what <b>a </b><b>surprise</b>!”
He handed Seana cigarette.
Charlotte noticed the <b>brand</b>–Yellow Crane Tower. It was one of those cheap ones she had seen inconvenience stores, maybe ten or fifteen dors a <b>pack </b>
She watched in fascination as Sean–dressed in his <b>usual </b>high–end, tailored <b>suit</b>–epted it without a word. The man lit it for him with <b>a </b><b>kind </b>of revertice
*<b>Sorry</b>, Mr. Jasper<b>,</b>”
“the man said with a sheeptal chuckle. “Didn’t know you were <bing </b><b>today</b>. Don’t have any Laney smokes <b>in </b>the house.”
Charlotte raised <b>a </b>bow, cleady amused. So this was the kind of cigarette Scan <b>smoked </b>sometimes<b>? </b>
<b>Judging </b><b>by </b><b>bow </b>familiar the man was with him, Sean muste here often.
The man turned to her. “And this is?
“Miss Riley,“Sean said evenly.
The man’s face it up. “Miss Riley! You’re here!”
Then he turned his head and shouted toward the house, Mom! Mem–Miss Riley’s here!
Charlotte nced <b>at </b>Sean, confused.
“Wait.. these people know me<b>?</b><b>” </b>she wondered.