Chapter 38
CHARLOTTE
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The party buzzed behind me, the laughter and music muffled by the heavy double doors as I stepped outside into the cool night air. My eyes scanned the garden, the flickering lights from the lanterns casting shadows over the neatly trimmed hedges. Then I saw him. Damien stood by the fountain, his back to me, one hand in his pocket.
He looked….pensive. Almost vulnerable. It was rare to see him like this, the great Damien Hale looking anything but composed. I straightened my dress and walked toward him, my heels clicking softly against the cobblestones.
“Damien,” I said, feigning surprise, my voice light and casual. “What are you doing out here all alone? Your party is inside.”
He turned slightly, just enough to glance at me. His expression was hard to read, his jaw tight. “I wanted to be alone,” he said shortly, turning his gaze back to the fountain.
I stopped a few feet away, letting my voice soften. “Alone? At your own party? That doesn’t seem very host–like of you.”
“Charlotte,” he said sharply, his tone a warning. “I said I want to be alone.”
But I didn’t leave. I wasn’t going to.
I stepped closer, closing the space between us, “Oh, come on, Damien,” I said, letting a small smile play on my lips. “You look like you could use some company. And I can’t, in good conscience, let the host of the evening sulk out here by himself.”
I placed a hand lightly on his arm, the fabric of his suit warm beneath my fingers. He stiffened but didn’t pull away. Encouraged, I slid my hand down his sleeve, my touch lingering. “You’re tense,” I said softly, looking up at him. “You’ve been working too hard. You should let someone take care of you for once.”
He turned to face me fully, his expression guarded. “Charlotte,” he said in a low voice, “what are you doing?”
I tilted my head, feigning innocence. “What do you mean? I’m just concerned about you. You’ve been so… distracted tonight.” I let my hand trail lower, brushing against his waist. “If only Rosalie had a bit more sense, she’d be out here with you instead of making a fool of herself inside.”
The words barely left my mouth before his hand shot out, gripping my wrist in a vice–like hold. His dark eyes burned with anger as he pushed my hand away.
“Don’t,” he said through clenched teeth.
I laughed softly, masking the sting of his rejection. “Oh, Damien,” I said, shaking my head. “Why are you acting like this? I’m only trying to help. You clearly need someone who understands you.”
He released my wrist and stepped back, his voice rising. “Do you hear yourself, Charlotte? Do you have any shame? You’re trying to seduce your sister’s husband, and you think I don’t see right through you?”
1 flinched at his words, but I quickly composed myself, my smile unfaltering. “Seduce?” 1 echoed, a mock gasp escaping me. “You make it sound so scandalous. I’m just pointing out the obvious. Rosalie doesn’t appreciate you, Damien. But I do.”
His eyes narrowed. “And who says she doesn’t appreciated me? You’re two–faced, Charlotte, and I won’t let you drag her down.”
I laughed again, this time louder. “Two–faced? Oh, Damien, stop acting so self–righteous. You can barely keep yourself faithful to Rosalie. You’ve never truly been in love with her, not even back in high school. This marriage? It’s just a game to you. So spare me the lectures about loyalty.”
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Dreame–Road Romance…
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14:28 Tue, 18 Feb
Chapter 38
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He stepped closer, his voice low and deadly. “You don’t know a damn thing about how I feel. I have always loved Rosalie. From the moment I first saw her, I’ve been in love with her. She’s the only woman I’ve ever wanted, and nothing you say or do will change that,”
His words stung, but I refused to show it. “Oh, please,” I said, rolling my eyes. “If you love her so much, why were you with that lady, Melanie, tonight? Why were you ignoring Rosalie, humiliating her in front of everyone? Is that love, Damien?”
His jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides.
*Rosalie told me everything.” I continued, my voice dripping with fake concern. “She hates you right now, Damien. She’s inside, crying her eyes out because of you. But I’m here. I’ve always been here.”
He shook his head, his expression unreadable. “You think you are smart Charlotte,” he said quietly, his voice shaking with restrained anger. “I haven’t told Rosalie about your little “advances‘ because I know how much it would hurt her. But don’t mistake that for tolerance, Charlotte. I won’t let you poison what we have.”
“What you have?” I shot back, my voice rising. “Damien, you and Rosalie have nothing. You were never meant to be. She doesn’t even want this marriage. She begged Father not to marry her off to you. Did you know that? She didn’t want you, Damien. But I did. I’ve always wanted you. It was supposed to be me. Not her. Never her.”
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His face darkened, and he grabbed my arm, his grip firm enough to make me wince. “Enough,” he growled. “I don’t care
you think or want, Charlotte. Rosalie is my wife, and I will spend the rest of my life making it right with her. You, on the other hand, need to stay the hell out of our lives”
I glared at him, even as his grip made my arm throb. “You’re making a mistake,” I hissed.
“No,” he said, releasing me and stepping back. “The only mistake I’ve ever made was letting you anywhere near her,”
I smirked, taking another step closer. “You deserve better than this, Damien. You always have.”
He clenched his jaw, but I pressed on, taking full advantage of the moment. I placed a hand lightly on his arm, letting my fingers trail down in a slow caress.
“You’re a man who needs someone strong.” I whispered, stepping closer. “Someone who understands you. Someone who knows how to handle the weight you carry. Someone who doesn’t make you feel like this.”
He stiffened under my touch, but 1 ignored it, letting my fingers drift lower toward his waist. Just as I was about to make my point more direct, his hand shot out, gripping my wrist in a painful hold
“Enough,” he growled, his voice like ice.
I winced, trying to pull away, but his grip tightened. “Damien-”
“Enough, Charlotte!” he barked, shoving my hand away. “Shut the fuck up!”
I staggered back slightly, but I quickly composed myself, masking my frustration with a mocking smile. “You can pretend to be the perfect husband, but we both know you’ve never truly loved her. You’re obsessed, maybe, but love? Please”
His eyes burned into mine, his voice cold and furious. “One more word from you.”
“And you will do what?” I shot back, stepping closer again. “You’ll pretend I didn’t just say the truth? You think Rosalie loves you? She doesn’t. She’s never loved you. And you? You don’t love her either. You’re clinging to a fantasy because you can’t stand the thought of not having what you want. That’s all this is, Damien. You’re not in love–you’re obsessed.”
I leaned closer, letting my voice drop to a sultry whisper. “But I could love you I would love you, Damien. Completely. No strings, no games. I’d give you everything–my body, my soul, all of it. Just say the word.”
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Chapter 38
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I reached out to touch his face, but he recoiled, shoving me back so roughly I stumbled, barely catching myself before I fell
His voice was deadly quiet, but it cut through me like a blade. “If you touch me again, lay just a finger on my skin, Charlotte, I swear to God, you’ll regret it. I’ll cut off that finger and give it to you in a gift box I promise.”
My chest heaved with anger and humiliation, but I forced a bitter laugh. “Fine. Go back to your precious Rosalie,” I spat, my voice trembling with rage. “She’s doing such a great job of honoring your name, isn’t she? Did you know she’s making a scene in there right now? Embarrassing you in front of everyone. That’s your wife, Damien. Your perfect Rosalie.”
He froze, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “You’re lying.”
I shrugged, brushing imaginary dust off my dress. “Go see for yourself,” I said, my voice dripping with venom. “While you’re out here playing the noble husband, she’s in there proving exactly why she doesn’t deserve you.”
He didn’t respond, but the look he gave me was enough to make me shiver. He turned abruptly and stalked back toward the house, leaving me standing there, seething
As I watched him walk away, my fists clenched at my sides. “You are mine Damien Hale,” I whispered to the empty night. “And I’ll make sure of it.”
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