Scott wore a faint, unreadable smile, but his eyes were cold.
He looked at Sean, his gaze saying clearly, “So now you’re using a kid to make your move too? What–decided to copy me?”
Sean, meanwhile, met his look with a subtle smile in his eyes- “What? You got a problem with that?”
Seeing how much Jodie adored the gifts, Xena finally epted them. Her attitude toward Sean softened a little too.
Sean chatted with her briefly, making no move to leave.
Xena asked the housekeeper to move all the gifts upstairs so Jodie could y with them easily.
Jodie, still bubbling with excitement, pulled Tiana along and dashed back upstairs.
Down in the living room, Sean and Scott sat stiffly on the couch like two stone statues – neither saying a word, and the tension between them thick as tog
After a few polite words, Xena excused herself and went upstairs to keep Jodiepany.
1
Charlotte didn’t want to get stuck between them, but they were both guests. Scott had brought Tiana over to y with Jodie, and Sean had just delivered <b>a </b>mountain of gifts. If she walked away now, it woulde off as rude.
So she sat on the couch, half–heartedly watching TV, bored out of her mind.
Sean clearly wanted to strike up a conversation with her, but Charlotte wasn’t interested. No matter what he said, she brushed it off with a few vague
responses.
It wasn’t until Scott brought up some work–rted topics that she perked up.
They started with a recent case at the firm, then moved on to cutting–edge issues in legal theory.
The more they talked, the more engaged she became. Scott wasn’t just well–versed in practical matters his grasp of academic theory was just as strong. He had clearly kept up with thetest developments in the field.
Watching them get deeper <b>into </b>the conversation, Sean’s expression grew colder by the minute.
Finally, lunchtime rolled around.
Neither of the two men had the shame to leave. Both shamelessly stuck around for a meal.
After lunch, Scott noticed that Sean was still lingering. Realizing Charlotte was feeling awkward, he stood up and said, “I’ll head out now. I’lle backter to pick up <b>Tiana</b>”
Once Scott left, Sean turned to Charlotte. <b>She </b><b>was </b>still being distant, barely looking at him.
He said quietly, “Lottie, things are changing in Antis. The people backing Joseph are abour to fall from power.”
Charlotte froze
<b>She </b>understood exactly what <b>Sean </b>meant
Once the corrupt officials protecting <b>Joseph </b>were out of the picture, taking him down would be much easier. Without that support, the whole option would copse
She understand what Sean was implying,
Chce je was dealt with, there would be nothing standing in their way. They could be together <b>again</b>.
sudin everything that had happened, how candid they just go back to the way things were?
foto sign. Me tag was still alive and the would never approve
Chariots <b>Lowered </b>the pose, loties resting shadows over her eyes. She gave a quiet, heavy “Mm.”
El band<b>‘ </b><b>sanderassed </b>bun and derided to spell it and
*akhen I take care of one, you and your family won’t have to worry anymore. You’ll be safe”
But Chariunte sol dude kook of him. Her eyes yed dinucant, and her voice gave nothing away
“My <b>dad </b>bed a team of <b>taghly </b>skilled trayguards. He even found in a very captde fale bodyguard to stay by my side. Even if Josephes after pa
, sand bea
She paused, a dull ache pressing against her chest.
“Even if Joseph disappears, we can’t go back.”
Sean’s voice trembled. “Why not?”
“Because…” Charlotte’s heart twisted. It took everything in her to get the words out.
“Because I don’t love you anymore.”
Sean’s eyes darkened, and his face went pale in an instant.
The pain hit him like a punch to the gut.
<b>He </b><b>stood </b>there<b>, </b>stunned.
Charlotte whispered, “I’m <b>sorry</b><b>,</b>” then turned and walked away without looking back.