ds Banus
Downstairs, Mrs. Sanders picked up the phone and dialed Sean’s number.
He <b>had </b>given her his private line specifically so she could update him immediately it anything happened with Charlotte.
“Hello, Mr. Jasper? This is Cora Sanders, the housekeeper taking care of Miss Riley,” she said gently. “She hasn’t been herself since yesterday. I’m not sure what happened, but she didn’t eat dinnerst night or breakfast this moming, I just went up to check on her. She looks very pale and has dark circles under her eyes. It’s like she didn’t <b>sleep </b>at all.”
Sean fell silent for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was strained
“Try to get her to eat something.”
“made all her favorite dishes,” Mrs. Sanders replied. “Just now she said she’de down to eat after her shower.” She hesitated, then added, “Honestly, Mr. Jasper, she really doesn’t look well. Would <b>you </b>like <b>to </be see her?”
Another pause.
Sean’s jaw tightened. His voice was low and tired.
“No Someone will being to take her home today.”
|“Oh_alright then.”
After her shower, Charlotte slowly came <b>downstairs</b>.
Mrs. Sanders brought the food to the table.
“Miss Riley, these are all your favorites. You didn’t eat anythingst night or this morning. You must be starving by now. Please try to eat a little more.” “Thank you.” Charlotte’s voice was faint. She looked drained, her eyelids heavy. The pain in her <b>head </b>throbbed dully from theck of rest.
“I’ll leave you to <b>eat</b>,” Mrs. Sanders said softly. “I’ll go clean up the <b>kitchen</b>.”
Charlotte stared at the table full of steaming, fragrant dishes but had no appetite at all.
She took a few sips of soup and checked her phone. Still nothing from Sean. No calls. No messages.
Mrs. Sanders had said Sean asked her to report any issues right away.
“He probably knows exactly how I’m doing. So why hasn’t he peached out? Has he truly stopped caring?” Charlotte wondered.
She lowered her gaze, the ache in her chest sinking deeper.
As soon as Charlotte stepped through the front door of the Riley estate, Jodie came running and threw herself <b>into </b>her arms.
“You’re finally bome! I missed you so much!”
Charlotte gave her a weak smile <b>and </b>peached out to pat her head<b>. </b>
“I’in home now. I’ll keep <b>you </bpany.”
“Yay!” Jodle beamed with delight.
Standing nearby, Xena watched with concern in her eyes.
“Lottie<b>, </b>are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” she said quietly.
Xem didn’t press further
“We’ve beencleaning your <b>room </b>every day while you were gone. You should <b>go </b><b>up </b>and take a <b>look</b>.”
Tokay”
“Jodie,” Xena gently pulled her back, “<b>your </b>sister’s very tired. Let her rest fast, alright? Stay downstairs with me for a bit.”
Jodie pouted<b>, </b>her baby–round che full of protest
Bat she just got home! I want her to y with me!”
Xen crouched down and spr patently.
“Be a good girl, sweetheart. Your sister is back now, so you’ll see her every day. Let her test fit. She’ll have more energy to y with you after
Jodie looked up at Charlotte and suddenly paused.
“Why do you have dark circles under your eyes?”
Charlotte’s voice was hoarse, het ansv
Hearing that<b>, </b>Jodie stopped insisting and nodded obediently.
“Okay. You go nap first, then y with meter.”
“Good girl.”
Charlotte’s head throbbed with pain. Her eyes burned from exhaustion, and her whole body felt on the verge <b>of </b>copse.
She forced herself up the stairs, each step unsteady and weightless, as if she were moving through tog