Chapter 228
Outside the police station, James watched Charlotte emerge, exhaustion etched on his face.
The revelation still stunned him. He’d suspected everyone – Lucy, his mother- but never Charlotte. He’d been too confident in his understanding of her, too certain her kindness was genuine.
“James,” Charlotte’s voice quavered, her eyes red–rimmed as she reached for him. He stepped back, irritation clear in his
movements.
“Just get in the car,” he said flatly
During the drive home, Charlotte couldn’t bear his silence. “James, please. I never wanted to hurt Sarah. I just wanted to… I mean, nothing really happened?”
“Were you behind those social media posts?” His voice was ice
“I only shared the truth,” she dabbed at her face with a tissue. “I know it was wrong. I won’t do anything like that again. Everything I did was because I love you so much.”
James kept driving his jaw set, ignoring her words.
That evening. Sarah’s phone lit up with a call from Mia.
“Sarah?” Mia’s voice trembled.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
“I fell in the shower. I can’t get up,” Mia choked out.
Sarah jumped up. I’m coming
As she rushed past Melvin and Uncle Richard in the living room, she called out, “Mia fell – I need to check on her!”
They shared a look but stayed put
Upstairs, Mia yanked her inside before she could knock. After a quick glance down the hallway, she shut the door.
“Mia? Are you alright?”
Mia grinned mischievously. “Pretty good acting, right? Someone couldn’t wait another day without seeing you
Sarah turned and found herself engulfed in Zachary’s embrace. His familiar cologne enveloped her, and tears pricked her eyes She’d missed him so much.
“Ugh, it’s like I’m invisible,” Mia teased as they finally broke apart.
Zachary laced his fingers through Sarah’s. Tve missed you.”
He’d tried everything to see her these past days, but Melvin always appeared, driving him away with cutting remarks
“They want to take me back to the family estate,” Sarah said softly
Zachary’s expression darkened “Did you agree?”
“They’re not really asking,” she gave a helpless smile
“I won’t let them take you” His voice was fum. “I’ll talk to them again.”
But they both knew how the last conversation had gone Melvin and Uncle Richard’s hatred for Zachary ran deep they’d never allow him near Sarah Yet he couldn’t walk away
An hour slipped by too quickly Sarah’s phone buzzed repeatedly
bridge.
