His Heart 22


    Chapter <b>224 </b>


    they estate. On New Year’s <b>Day</b>, Charlotte made a quick trip back to the Riley


    Both <b>Xena </b>and Desmond were home.


    +35 Bonus


    As soon as Charlotte walked through the doot, Xena greeted her with a warm senile.


    “Lottle, you’re back! Lunch is almost ready, Go wash your hands first,”


    She <b>had </b>woken upte that moming, still feeling the effects of a hangover. It was already close to noon by the time she showered, got dressed, and drove home, arriving just in time for lunch.


    Jodie came running over, bet patent–leather shoes clicking loudly against the floor as she threw her <b>arms </b>around Charlotte’s leg


    Charlotte beamed and pulled a present out of her bag.


    “Happy New Year<b>, </b>Jodie.”


    Jodie lit up with joy and nted a loud kiss on Charlotte’s cheek <b>as </b>she took the present.


    Desmond walled over and handed Charlotte <b>a </b>shopping bag.


    “Your New <b>Year’s </b>gift, do alwad<b>, </b>open it.”


    Curious, Charlotte peeked inside, only to find a set of house keys and a property deed<b>. </b>


    Desmond spoke in <b>his </b><b>usual </b>calm tone.


    “This <b>ce </b>is close to yourw firm. It’ll be easier for you to get to work Young people like celebrating the new year, right? So think of it as a gift from your dad. The car’s in the garage–Xena picked it out. Go take a look after lunch”


    Awave of warmth rushed through her chest. Her eyes stung slightly


    “Thank you, Dad. Thank you, A Xena H


    She epted their gesture with <b>gratitude</b>.


    After lunch, Charlotte opened her phone and scrolled through her notifications, just dlling time.


    Anew friend request popped up on Instagram


    Herbrant skipped <b>a </b>beat.


    Steheld her breath and tapped it open, only to feel a wave of disappointment crash down


    It wasn’t Sean


    Zac had been blocked and deleted ages ago. Since he couldn’t contact her directly, he had clearly made a new ount just to get through<b>. </b>


    Artiest<b>, </b>she didn’t recognize the profile. But the message gave it away.


    “You and Sean broke up?


    “<b>Told </b>you guys are all the same. You just wouldn’t listen Charlotte,e <b>back </b>to <b>me</b>.”


    Her stomach turned it felt like swallowing something rotten


    She didn’t hesitate. She rejected the request and blocked the new ount <b>too</b>.


    The car Dood gave hier was a white Holls–Royce Phantom.


    Starlett Sear’s gifta pale blue Bentley–to collect dust in the underground garage, and drove the new one <b>instead</b><b>. </b>


    The apartment was in a luxuryplex near herw firm, where every <b>square </b><b>foot </b><b>cost </b>a fortune. Over 1,000 square <b>feet</b>, fully furnished in a soft cream palette,


    – menplete with high–end appliances and everything styled exactly how she liked it


    Charlotte made a call to Mrs. Sanders, the housekeeper at the vi in seaside Garden. She asked her to throw out all of her belongings from the house.


    <b>Mrs. </b>Sanders agreed over the phone<b>, </b>but her eyes nervously <b>dated </b>toward the man sitting <b>silently </b>on the living <b>room </b>couch.


    After hanging <b>up</b>, she spoke carefully.


    Mrijasper Miss Riley said she wants me to throw <b>out </b>all


    things..!


    Se’s voor was soft and hourse.


    “Don’t throw anything away. Packit all up neatly. And keep her room clean. She’ll be back.”


    MIL


    Mix Sanders hesitated.


    Han……what about me? i mean, should I still keep cooking?


    She had been hired specifically to cook for Charlotte. Now that Charlotte had moved out, she wondered if she was about to love her job.


    Sean paused for a long moment.


    <b>“</b>she has a new ce now, I don’t know if her new housekeeper can cook the way the likes.”


    Tifteen minutester, Charlotte’s phone rang again


    “Miss Riley,” Mrs. Sanders said gently, “Mr. Jasper let me go, I don’t have a job anymore. Do you need <b>a </b>cook at your new ce!”


    durlotte Troo


    She quickly understood. Sean had only hired Mas, Sanders to make sure she ate properly. When she had struggled with her appetite, he went so far as to track down The Sullivan family’s old housekeeper to leam the recipes she grew up with. He had personally chosen Mrs. Sanders to recreate the meals she <b>liked</b><b>. </b>


    He used to rate so much.


    Charlotte wanted to say no.


    But as she imagised Mis. Sanders losing her only source of ie, the words caught in her throat. She just couldn’t bring herself to reject her.