Chapter 208
The house was completely still. Not a sound,
So when the phone buzzed on the table, the vibration seemed unusually loud.
Sean glanced at the screen. It was Charlotte calling.
His eyes darkened. He answered, his volce hoarse.
“Hey, Lottie.”
On the other end, Charlotte immediately picked up on the rasp in his voice
Hyon olay, Sean? Did something happen on your way back?”
Charlotte paused.
“‘ve made it here safely. No trouble on the road. The place is really hidden, and the lady taking care of me is kind and thoughtful. Everything’s fine.” She wanted to say that she missed him terribly, that not seeing him was breading her heart, that she worried about him every second, But she said none of it.
Now wasn’t the time for sweet words. Sean had more important things to deal with. She just needed to be good and stay hidden like he asked. Sean gave a vague *Mm.”
Charlotte noticed how cold and distant he sounded today. Maybe the earlier attack had left him shaken.
“Then..” she hesitated, unsure if he wanted to keep talking. “Then I’ll let you go. Take care, okay?”
Sean leaned his head back, eyes blank as he stared at the bright winter sunlight outside the window. His voice came out tight and raw
“Lottle. let’s break up.”
No more waiting.
His
grandfather was right. The Riley family were legitimate businesspeople. They didn’t stand a chance against someone as vicious and ruthless as joseph. Every day he dragged this out, the more danger they were in.
Charlotte traze, stunned silent with the phone still pressed to her ear. Her lips pacted, but she couldn’t get a single word out.
Tears slipped down her face before she even realized it,
Fully she whispered, voice trembling, “Is it because.. you’re afraid I’ll get hurt?”
Sean paused, then forced a breath in to keep the pain from cracking his voice.
“It just let me this whole thing isn’t worth it. You..”
He swallowed hard, the lie catching in his throat
“I used to think you’d make a good wife. You’re smart, beautiful, from the right land of family… the perfect choice for the future Mrs. Jasper. But now..” He closed his eyes, pressing down the ache in his chest, and finished with effort
“But now I’ve changed my mind. I’m not done playing around, I don’t s one who let you down.”
want to spend the rest of my life with just one woman. So let’s break up. Forget me. I’m the
Charlotte was playing in a two–story villa just outside the city, with a small garden below her window.
This time of year, the garden looked withered and lifeless, like it was grieving along with her.
Ship lay curled up on the bed, clutching a blanket, crying silently.
It had been over an hour since the call ended, and the tears hadn’t stopped.
How could one person have so many tears?” she thought.
No matter how much she cried, it felt endless
She didn’t believe Sean meant what he said
He wasn’t like that.
It had to be because of Joseph.
Sean didn’t ware her getting buit, so he was pushing her away,
But the things he said, they really cut deep.
She couldn’t just brush them off like they didn’t matter.
She didn’t want to cry, but the tears came anyway.
They wouldn’t s
I stop.
The winter sky darkened early. By six–thirty, the world outside was already cloaked in dusk
Knock, lock knock
Mrs. Sanders, the housekeeper, called gently from outside the door.
Charlotte sniffled, her voice soft and hoarse.
“I’m not hungry, Mrs. Sanders.”
Maybe Mrs. Sanders didn’t hear her, because she knocked again.
Miss Liley? Are you asleep?”