Chapter <b>243 </b>
“Lottie,<b>” </b>Zac said, his toneced with bitterness<b>, </b><b>“</b>I told you–men are all the same. Don’t go thinking Sean Jasper is any better than me. Do you believe me now?”
Charlotte responded tly, <b>“</b>Oh.”
“I saw the news about your broken engagement. So it’s over between you and him, right? That means you’re single now. Can I pursue you?”
“No.”
Charlotte stood up. She had no intention of staying to listen to Zac’s nonsense.
As she turned to leave, Zac reached out and grabbed her wrist. But before he could get a word out, Charlotte twisted his arm with <b>a </b>swift move, his wrist cracking audibly under the pressure<b>. </b>
“Ah-!” Zac cried out, instinctively recoiling in pain.
She <b>flung </b>his hand away, eyes cold with unmistakable disgust.
<b>“</b>Zac Gibson<b>, </b><b>I </b>thought I made myself clearst time. Stop bothering me. Don’t you understand English?”
<b>Zac </b>looked genuinely hurt<b>, </b><b>yet </b>his <b>eyes </b>stayed locked on her with infatuation.
“Lottie, I can’t. I can’t let you go.<b>” </b>
“You make me sick,<b>” </b>she snapped.
With <b>that</b><b>, </b>she turned and walked away without looking back.
Zac <b>chased </b>after <b>her</b><b>. </b>
“Sean was probably sleeping with that actress while he was still with you! The moment you broke off the engagement, their rumors blew up all over the inte. Is <b>that </b>why <b>you </b>left him–<b>because </b>you found out he cheated?”
Charlotte’s <b>lips </b>pressed into <b>a </b>thin line<b>. </b>Her face <b>was </b>cold as ice. She didn’t respond. She just walked faster.
<i>Zac </i>followed relentlessly.
“Did you see tonight’s entertainment <b>g</b>? Sean and that actress walked the red carpet together. It’s official, Lottie. They’re public now. You need to give up on
him<b>.</b>”
At the word <b>“</b>official<b>,</b>” <b>Charlotte’s </b><b>steps </b><b>faltered</b>.
<b>Zac </b>saw her <b>pause </b>and smirked.
“Lottie<b>, </b>I–”
<b>“</b>Leave<b>.</b>”
“Lottie<b>, </b><b>don’t </b>shut me <b>out</b>. I know <b>you’re </b>hur-”
<b>“</b>! said <b>leave</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
At the <b>hotel </b><b>lobby</b><b>, </b><b>Charlotte </b>strode <b>toward </b>the <b>security </b><b>desk</b><b>. </b>
“Excuse <b>me</b><b>. </b><b>I’m </b><b>a </b><b>guest </b><b>here</b><b>. </b>This man is harassing me. Can <b>you </b><b>please </b>help<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“Lottie<b>, </b>please<b>, </b><b>just </b><b>let </b>me <b>expl-</b><b>” </b><b><i>Zac </i></b><b>started </b><b>to </b><b>follow</b><b>, </b><b>but </b><b>one </b><b>of </b>the security guards <b>quickly </b><b>stepped </b>in and held him back
“Sir<b>, </b>I need <b>you </b><b>to </b><b>stop </b>harassing <b>this </b><b>woman</b><b>.</b>‘
<b>Zac’s </b>face turned red <b>with </b><b>anger</b>.
??
<b>“</b>Harassing? She’s my girlfriend<b>! </b><b>We’re </b>just having <b>a </b><b>fight</b>. <b>Let </b><b>go </b><b>of </b>me<b>!</b><b>” </b>
The <b>guard </b>turned to <b>Charlotte</b><b>, </b>seeking <b>confirmation</b>.
Her face <b>was </b><b>cold </b>andposed<b>. </b>
Tm not his girlfriend.”
Without another <b>word</b>, she turned and walked <b>away</b>.
Behind her<b>, </b>Zac kept <b>calling </b><b>out</b><b>, </b><b>“</b>Lottie! <b>Don’t </b><b>go</b>, Lottle<b>–</b>please<b>!</b><b>” </b>
The <b>security </b><b>guard </b>held firm.
<b>“</b><b>Sir</b><b>, </b><b>I’m </b>going to have <b>to </b>ask you to <b>stop</b><b>. </b><b>You’re </b>disturbing our guests.” “Let <b>go </b><b>of </b>me! What the hell-”
“Sir<b>, </b><b>if </b><b>you </b>continue<b>, </b><b>we’ll </b><b>have to </b>call the police<b>.</b>”
“I’m not harassing her! I told <b>you</b>, she’s my girlfriend!”
Back in her hotel room<b>, </b>Charlotte closed the door behind her and leaned against it, staring nkly at the floor. After a long pause<b>, </b>she numbly pulled out her phone and opened the trending <b>topics </b>on Twitter.
Right at the top was a photo of Sean and Lucinda together.
ck Her phone hit the floor.
The evening breeze <b>swept </b>in through the open window<b>, </b>rustling the sheer white curtains.
Charlotte stood frozen under the warm glow <b>of </b>the lights, as <b>if </b>struck by lightning.
In an instant, her blood turned to <b>ice</b><b>. </b>All color drained from her <b>face</b>.