Brooke had set out toiletries for Alicia. After a hot shower, Alicia felt the weight of the day pressing down. Exhaustion wrapped around her bones. <fnbbd3> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find{n}ovel</fnbbd3>


    “Brooke,” she said lightly, “go home and rest.”


    Brooke shook her head. “Miss Lawrence, I’m your live-in caregiver. I stay in the room overnight-on a cot or even the couch-so I’m close if you need anything.”


    Alicia let out a softugh. “It’s just a stomach bug, not like I can’t move. I sleep through the night just fine- once I’m out, I don’t wake up till morning. You should go home and get some real rest.”


    Brooke hesitated, ready to protest again. Alicia nodded toward the call button beside the bed. “If anything happens, I’ll press this. Don’t worry. And no need toe too early tomorrow either.”


    Brooke blinked, a little touched-she’d never had an employer this considerate. But hesitation still lingered. Walking away now felt like not doing her job.


    Alicia sighed, gentle but firm. “I don’t sleep well with someone in the room.”


    That eased her. Brooke smiled. “You’re really kind, Miss Lawrence. Then I’ll head out. But if you need me, call anytime. My phone stays on, day and night.”


    Alicia had never heard anyone speak with such simple warmth. She smiled back, a small nod. “All right.”


    The Yates Manor.


    Charles had barely stepped through the door when his stepmother, Samantha Hunter, appeared with a practiced smile. “Charles, you’re back. Quick, wash up for dinner. Everything’s been reheated once already- any more and it won’t taste the same.”


    He gave her nothing more than a nod.


    The moment Samuel Yates saw Charles, irritation red. “Why are you back sote today?”


    He lifted his wrist, checked the time, and added coldly, “Nearly two hourster than usual.”


    “Business.” Charles’s voice was cool, detached.


    “What business?” Samuel pressed.


    Charles lifted his gaze, dark eyes cutting across the room. One look, sharp and cold, and Samuel felt it- pressure, like the air had thinned. His own son, staring him down.


    He forced himself steady, jaw tightening. “Youe home barely once a month, never stay the night. We hardly see you. Tonight you’re two hourste, and now it’s just one meal before you vanish again. Charles, you’re nearly thirty. Still alone. You live like a machine-work, nothing else. I only called you back because I


    want this family to spend more time together.”


    Charlesughed then, low and edged with mockery. “When I needed a father, mine was busy with someone else. Now I don’t need one-and suddenly you want to y family. Tell me, Samuel Yates, when will you finally learn your ce?”


    Samuel bristled at Charles’s words. Anger rose in his chest-he wanted tosh out. But he held it back. His son barely came home as it was, only because Charles’s grandfather-George Yates had ordered him to show up once a month. Without that, Charles wouldn’t bother seeing him at all.


    Samuel forced down the fury, drew a slow breath. “Charles, it’s been so many years. Do you still hold this grudge? I never imagined someone would dare kidnap you. And I never imagined your mother would die saving you…


    20


    Pain twisted his face as his voice cracked. “You miss her? You think you’re the only one? I’ve missed her all these years.”


    At that, the shadows in Charles’s eyes deepened. He shot to his feet. “You miss her? You lost that right long ago.”


    “I was her husband-” Samuel began, but the words never finished.


    Charles’s hand snapped out, sending the cup beside him crashing to the floor. Porcin shattered, the sharp crack knifing through the silence. Every head in the room jerked up, servants frozen where they stood.


    Charles stood like ice forged into flesh, the air around him so frigid it was hard to breathe. The room held its breath. No one dared move.


    “You call yourself her husband?” His voice was a de. “What kind of husband cheats while his wife is carrying his child? You said you loved her. All you ever gave her was pain.” His re cut straight through Samuel.


    Samuel’s lips trembled. “I thought… I thought she wouldn’t mind. It was just a distraction. Nothing serious.”


    “You don’t deserve to be called a husband.” Charles’s teeth ground the words out, each syble iron.


    Samuel clutched his chest, breath ragged, unable to find an answer.


    Samantha rushed to Samuel’s side, steadying him. “Please, don’t work yourself up. Think of your health.”


    She rubbed his chest gently, then turned to Charles with a cating smile. “Charles, don’t be angry. Your father was only asking out of concern. Let’s drop it now. Come, sit. Let’s have dinner.”


    She waved quickly at the staff. “Dorothy, bring out the dishes. Dinner is ready.”


    Dorothy jolted into motion, hurrying toward the kitchen.


    Charles’s gaze cut to Samantha, a sharp, mocking curl to his lips. “Still ying the saint? You were the affair, weren’t you? And now, sitting in her ce-you must be so pleased.”


    With that, he turned and walked out.


    ET 55 vouchers


    Samuel opened his mouth, wanting to call after him, but the words died before they could leave his throat.


    Outside, Charles’s driver-Kevin was still waiting. He always waited. Every time Charles came back to the old estate, Kevin would be there to take him home again.


    Charles never stayed at the Yates manor. He lived at Lavender Court. Normally, he endured a few hours inside before leaving. Tonight, he hadn’tsted thirty minutes.


    Kevin nced at his watch, startled, then hurried from the car to open the door.


    Charles slid into the back seat, leaning his head against the leather rest, his voice low with fatigue. “Back to Lavender Court.”


    “Yes, sir.” Quinn asked nothing more, only started the engine.


    Charles closed his eyes. He stayed that way, still and silent, his mind reying the house, the words, the ghosts of his parents’ ruin.


    His father, Samuel Yates, was the only son of the senator. At the time, his grandfather-George Yates was consumed with army, climbing his way through the ranks, and had little time to spare for his child. Left unchecked, Samuel grew up spoiled by his mother, reckless and untamed.


    Samuel had no interest in following his father into army. Instead, under his mother’s influence, he turned to business. And to his credit, he had a head for it. In just a few years, he pushed the Yates family fromfortable middle ss into Riverdale’s elite circles.


    But even then, the Yates name hadn’t reached the level of the city’s most powerful families. Samuel thought only of business, never of love. For the sake of advancing the family, he chose to marry a woman whose connections would benefit his career.


    That woman was Hannah Sharp, the mother of Charles’ half-brother, Cameron Yates.


    The marriage fueled Samuel’s rapid rise. Under his hand, the Yates family cemented its ce among the city’s top echelon. But Hannah died giving birth to Cameron.