Desmond gave a slight nod. “When you have time<b>, </b>1991 take you to meet a few contacts – fileruds of mine, It could help you build up a client base,”
Charlotte understood he was trying to offer her resources and connections. She didn’t turn him down.
“Alright, How about next weekend?”
Just then, little jodie came bounding down the stairs, her footsteps light and quick, she ran straight to Charlotte and hugged herleg.
“Charlotte! <b>You’re </b>back!”
Charlotte reached down and patted her head <b>“</b>reali, <b>l’on </b>house.”
Isnap back like she used to,
standing off to the side, Xena smiled warmly and asked how she had been, if she was adjusting well to living on her own. Charlotte didn’t s She simply gave a small nod.
“I’m just heading upstairs to <b>grab </b>a few things.”
Upstairs in her room<b>, </b>
<b>pause</b>.
Charlotte changed into a new outfit and made her way toward the vanity, just as she sat down, her eyesnded on something that made her
sat on the vanity–bright and colorful, showing a cheerful family of four.
A crayon drawing sat on th
It was Jodie’s drawing<b>. </b><b>Two </b>adults on either side–Desmond and Xenia–with two girls in the center. The taller one was her. The shorter one was Jodie.
Charlotte stared at it for a long time, a mess of <b>emotions </b>stonning quietly behind her eyes. After a while<b>, </b>she rolled up the <b>drawing </b>and carefully ced it into a storage box
She did her makeup, then came downstairs to leave for the Jasper estate.
<b>Today </b>she wore a cream–colored long–sleeve dress paired with white heels–elegant, polished, exactly the kind of outfit elders would approve of
Judar was dressed in a bright red dress, with her <b>hair </b>in two yful buns and little strawberrylial clips.
<b>Charlotte </b>and Jodie walked ahead while Desmond and Xena followed behind. The four of them entered the Jasper estate together..
Seancame out personally to greet them.
Inside, Mr. and Mrs <b>Jasper </b>weed them warmly.
Standing beside them, Vivian offered the usual polite pleasantries.
Charlotte’s gaze brushed past her with a nk expression.
Druier was Larish, clearly prepared <b>with </b><b>care</b>. The entire spread featured all of Charlotte’s <b>favorite </b>dishes
After dinner, both families <b>sat </b>together in the living room to go over final details for the uing engagement ceremony, which <b>was </b>only a few days <b>away</b>.
but before Mis Joper couldaprak, <b>Sean </b>cut in
#Salice everyone’s here, there’s something I <b>need </b>to address.”
All eyes turned to ham
– “Vivian,” Sean said coldly, e over and apologize todurlotte<b>.</b>”
<b>Vivian’s </b>eyes widened. Her lips trembled.
Mrs. Jasper frowned. “Bean!”
But he ignored <b>het</b><b>, </b>gaze fixed en <b>Vivian </b>with sharp, unwavering intensity
” saide over and apologize. t?ida’t you hear me?
Mis: Jasper lookedpletely confused “What is going on?”
dean’s voice was <b>icy</b>, radi word cutting like a de. “<b>Why </b>don’t you tell everyone what really happened at the stables that <b>y</b>?”
Vivian paled She nced at the older woman beside lies with a pleading expression
Mis Jasper ?i pave Vivian a sympathetic nce, then looked at bean with a
(of disapproval.
“Sean<b>, </b><b>Vivianalgrady </b>exined the situation at the stables to me. It was just abundestanding There’s no need to put her on the spot.” Cudatte brand this and gave a tatte, uneadable sinde, but said nothing.
Desmond and Yvonne exchanged confused looks, clearly in the <b>dark </b>about what was going on.
Desmond leaned closer to Charlotte and asked in a low veier, “Why is Sean making Vivianapologize? What exactly did she do?
Charlotte’s tone was calm and even “Let’s see how she decides to exin it.”
Sean’s patience was weer
wearing! thin. His expression <b>had </b>tumed sharp and cold,
“Vivian,” he said, voice clipped, “hell everyone exactly what happened at the stables that day. Every detail. Either you tell the truth, or I will.”
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