Charlotte didn’t want to ruin the mood. She pushed aside her lingering sadness and offered a bright smile, praising Mrs. Wilson’s cooking
Mrs. Wilson beamed. “Sweetheart, I bet you don’t know this, but Mr. Jasper’s been here plenty of times. Every time he <b>came</b>, he’d follow me into the kitchen to watch me cook”
Charlotte rumed toward Sean, her eyes misty. Her voice was slightly masal, soft fromemorion “Why did youe here to learn how to cook?”
Sean’s features softened, his tone light and even. “So I could cook for you.”
she blinked. “Why?
He bumed fully to Lace her, gazing into her beautiful eyes. “Back when your mom passed away, <b>you </b>wouldn’t eat properly. I was worried about you.”
Mrs. Wilson let out a quiet sigh, her own grief vorfacing at the mention <b>of </b>Sue.
After a pause, Mrs. Wilson <b>added</b>, “A few years after your mom <b>got </b>married, I got sick. The doctor told me to take it easy, <b>so </b>I quit working and moved back here When your <b>mom </b>waster hospitalized, I visited a few times. That’s when I met Mr. Jasper. He <b>was </b>just a teenager back then, still a boy
She looked between them with warmth in her eyes “That young mancared about you a lot. You weren’t eating, so he came all the way here just to learn how to make fond you’d like. He picked it up <b>fast</b>, <b>too</b>–smart boy.
After that, he’d stille by now and then to check on me. It was Mr. Jasper who found the doctor who treated my illness, and he paid for all of it. Said it was the Tuition for cooking lessons”
Charlotte’s eyes widened as a sudden <b>realization </b><b>hit </b>her. “Wait… the meals the housekeeper used to bring me after Moon passed… that was you? You made them yourself?
Sean nodded. “Yeah.”
Just one word. But it bit her like a tidal wave.
The days passed <b>quietly</b>, carried along by the cool October
That weekend, Zac suited up, dressed to impress for a high–profile auction. Due of the headlining pieces was a rare pink diamond ne rumored to have one belonged to the royal family. He nned to win the bid and present it as an engagement gift for Mr. Sullivan’s cousin.
Wendy, decked out in shy designer from head to toe, apanied him
Just outside the venue, Zar spotted Charlotte.
And the man walking beside her was the same man he had fought with before.
<b>Itis </b>expression immediately darkened. He stoned over.
“Charlotte, What are you doing here?”
She had just been chatting with someone who politely excused himself at Zac’s approach.
Charlotte, still holding onto Sean’s a nced at him coolly. “What do you think? I’m here for the <b>auction</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Wendy scoffed <b>as </b>walked up. “You? Atation? Please. What could you possibly afford to bid on?”
Zar’s eyes <b>shed </b><b>a </b>warning at her, his expressiondackening.
Wendyed and fell stint, though she couldn’t stop herself from rolling her eyes.
Then her gazended on the man beside Charlotte, and slie froze
The man was sinkingly handsome, his demeanos regal, his entire look clearly custom–tailored. A luxury watch <b>gleamed </b>on his wrist. <b>By </b>the <b>look </b>of it, it was worth
more than anything, it was <b>his </bmanding presence. He carried the kind <b>of </b>authority that made people instinctively step aside. Even Zac, who was known <b>tot </b>
d–chatiuna, <b>faded </b>into the <b>background </b>standing urat tolim.
When had Charlotte managed to chan someone like that?
Jealousy crept into Wendy’s expression, washing away her earlier smugness.
Sean, for his part, didn’t eveti nce at Zac or Wendy. His gaze was solely on Charlotte
“Let’s go, Lottle,” <b>he </b><b>said </b>gently, his voice full of wannth.
Wendy was stated. The tenderness in his tour, the way Chuslotte responded without hesitation–it was blous. These two were close. Very close
Charlotte didn’t spare another nce at Zac and walked off with Sean by her side.
1.2
Wendy watched them go, eyes narrowing in contemtion
zac, furious, quickly stepped after them, leaving Wendy behind at the entrance.
D