Chapter 33
Sarah’s expression turned cold as she replied flatly, “Not really.”
Charlotte clearly wasn’t going to let the conversation end there. “We just saw you dining with Mr. Reynolds. James and I thought we were seeing things. When did you get so close to him?”
A strand of hair fell across her collarbone, adding to her image of gentle innocence.
“That’s none of your business,” Sarah tossed her paper towel in the bin. “Miss Garnett, we’re not close enough for you to be asking about my personal life.”
Charlotte took a deep breath, a hint of hurt flickering in her eyes. “Aren’t you being a bit defensive? We’ve known each other for some time, and I’m just making polite conversation. There’s no ulterior motive.”
No ulterior motive? Really?
Every time Charlotte spoke, it was with such measured politeness that no one could find fault with her words, yet it made Sarah deeply uncomfortable.
Sarah gave a bitter smile. “If you’re so concerned with proper etiquette, Miss Garnett, was it also proper etiquette when you came back and destroyed my marriage?”
The coldness and hostility in Sarah’s eyes was unmistakable. Charlotte appeared wounded by her words, looking at her in disbelief. “I never meant to hurt you. I knew nothing about what was happening here while I was abroad. I only found out James was married after I returned. But James told me there was never any love between you two, that you were already planning to divorce. That’s why we got together.”
Charlotte maintained her innocent tone, continuing, “Besides, I met James first. If it weren’t for you, we probably would have been married years ago. If anyone destroyed a relationship, it was you who came between James and me all these years.”
Sarah laughed coldly, infuriated by Charlotte’s act of innocence. “Charlotte, spare me your manipulative rhetoric. You and James had a clean break before you left the country. I met and married him after your relationship was completely over. How exactly did
I come between you?”
Moreover, while she might have fallen in love first, it was James who had proposed,
Yet Charlotte had been seeing James before their divorce was even finalized. What did they take her for? A convenient plot device in their love story? A disposable chapter meant to highlight the depth of their connection?
When Charlotte returned to James, her eyes were red from crying.
“What’s wrong, Charlotte?” James quickly pulled her close.
“I just ran into Sarah. I tried to be polite and say hello, but she seemed resentful,” Charlotte said softly, clutching James’s shirt.
1/2
“James, am I being selfish? This is all my fault. If I hadn’t come back, you wouldn’t be divorced…”
“You saw Sarah?” James frowned, hating to see Charlotte blame herself. “Did she accuse you of breaking up our marriage?
So Sarah was telling Charlotte these things? Clearly, she still had feelings for him.
He had given Sarah a chance back then. She was the one who insisted on divorcing – he couldn’t be blamed for that.
James kissed Charlotte’s eyes gently. “I never had any real feelings for her. You’re the one I’ve always loved. She was just deluding herself – how could you have broken up something that wasn’t real? I told you not to speak to her anymore. She’s not
worth your concern.” (1
“But she took care of you for three years…”
“She signed the divorce papers willingly, and I gave her a fair settlement. We owe each other nothing.”
James seemed eager to change the subject, showing clear distaste at the mention of Sarah.
Charlotte secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “James, I always knew you loved only me.”
