Chapter 86
CHARLOTTE
The car ride to the Hale estate was smooth, but my mind was racing with possibilities.
I leaned back against the leather seat, my fingers tapping idly against my lap. This visit had to go exactly as planned. Every word every glance, every pause–I needed to be careful, strategic. Eleanor Hale wasn’t a woman who could be easily manipulated, but she was predictable. She wanted what was best for her family, and right now, she thought Rosalie was a disgrace to the Hales
Good. That was exactly what I needed to work with
I let my gaze drift outside the window, watching as we passed towering buildings and sleek black cars that reflected the city’s endless lights. My family had wealth, but it was nothing compared to the Hales. Their power stretched beyond money–it was legacy, influence, an empire built on generations of calculated moves.
Rosalie never belonged in their world.
I smirked slightly, thinking about the irony of it all. She had been handed a life I had spent years preparing for, a life she had no idea how to handle. She had stumbled into this marriage with Damien like some lost little girl, expecting fairy tales and
Pathetic.
Damien needed a woman who understood him, a woman who could navigate power the way he did. That woman wasn’t Roglie. I had never been.
The car slowed as we approached the estate gates. The guards barely took a moment before granting us entry, and soon, we were pulling into the long driveway. The Hale estate loomed ahead, a breathtaking display of wealth and sophistication. It was the kind of home that made people feel small in its presence.
The driver came to a stop, and before I could reach for the door, the butler was already there, opening
Miss Charlotte,” he greeted with a small bow of his head.
I stepped out, smoothing my dress with an easy smile. “Is the family home?”
it for me.
The butler hesitated for a moment. “Mr. Hale and the others are out, but Mrs. Hale is in the sitting room.”
A flicker of disappointment settled in my chest, though I masked it quickly. I had hoped to meet the entire family, to plant the seeds of doubt in all their minds at once. But this was fine. Eleanor was the most important piece of this game.
“That’s perfectly fine,” I said smoothly. “I’d like to see her.”
“Of course. Please, follow me
I walked behind him as he led me through the halls, my eyes taking in the grand decor. Every inch of this house was a symbol of power. This was what true prestige looked like. This was what Rosalie never deserved.
We reached the sitting room, and the butler stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter.
As I was led into the sitting room, where she sat with a cup of tea, her expression as cold as ever. Eleanor was the kind of woman who rarely smiled, and when she did, it was never warm–it was calculated. Right now, she wasn’t smiling at all.
“Charlotte,” she greeted curtly, barely looking up from her tea. “What a surprise.”
I’m
not intruding”
1 forced a warm smile, stepping further into the room. “Mrs. Hale, I hope
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Chapter 85
“You are.” she said bluntly, setting her cup down. “But since you’re already here, what do you want?”
I bat back a smirk. Direct, as always
I settled into the armchair across from her, crossing my legs elegantly. “I assume you already know why I’m here.”
She arched a perfectly sculpted brow. “Do I?”
I sighed, shaking my head lightly. “Rosalie came to me she told me everything. About the divorce.”
That got her attention. Her fingers, which had been resting on the armrest, twitched slightly. “Did she?”
1
“Yes” I said softly. “And I want you to know, Mrs. Hale, that I understand. I won’t sit here and pretend my sister belongs in
his fimil. She doesn’t. We both know that.”
Her expression remained impassive, but I could feel the shift in her demeanor. She was listening now.
“I love my sister, I do,” I continued, lowering my voice as if I was sharing a painful truth. “But she’s never been… suited for this life. And it shows. Look at what’s happening–your son’s reputation is in shambles, all because of her.”
Eleanor finally leaned back in her seat, studying me. “And you believe this?”
I let out a bitter chuckle. “Believe it? Mrs. Hale. I’ve had to watch her destroy not just your son, but my family’s dignity as well. The scandals, the rumors, the humiliation–it never ends. And now, because of her. Damien is being questioned by his own people. That’s not fair to him. It’s not fair to you”
A slow smirk pulled at the corners of her lips. “Interesting.”
I knew then that I had her.
She picked up her teacup again, taking a slow sip before speaking. “It’s refreshing to hear this from a member of Rosalie’s own family. Even my son refuses to see reason. He’s blinded by her.”
I scoffed, shaking my head. “Blinded is an understatement. It’s as if she’s bewitched him. The Damien I knew was strong. decisive. Now, he’s weak. He second–guesses himself. And for what? A woman who was never meant to be here in the first place
Eleanor let out a low hum of approval. Finally, someone who understands.”
I smiled slightly, reaching for my own cup of tea and taking a delicate sip before continuing. “Even my father sees it now. He agrees with you, you know. He knows this marriage needs to end. He knows Rosalie is dragging Damien down, and he’s tired of standing by and watching it happen.”
Eleanor’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Your father is a wise man.”
I set my cup down, shifting slightly in my seat, preparing for the final step. “I don’t want to overstep, Mrs. Hale.” I began carefully. “But I can’t help but think… what if things had gone the way they were supposed to?”
She frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
I hesitated, as if debating whether or not to say it. Then, with a small sigh, I spoke. “You do know that originally, I was the one meant to marry Damien.”
Her frown deepened, and I quickly continued. “It was what was best for both families. My father and I both knew that. But Damien.. he insisted on Rosalie. He was stubborn about it, no matter how much we protested. And now look at where that’s led.
Eleanor was silent for a moment, her fingers tapping against the porcelain cup. Then, slowly, she nodded.
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er understood why he chose her, she admitted. “It was foolish. He could have had someone with more prestige, more education, more dignity”
Sank” I murmured “Damien needs someone who can handle this world. Someone who belongs in it. Someone who won’t just sit at home playing the role of a clueless wife, but someone who can stand beside him. Someone who undersunds business, understands power. Someone who won’t embarrass him at every turn.”
not’s eyes ficktred with something close to approval. “And you believe you’re that person?”
men her gase confident. “I know I am
Asłów sztorik tugged at the corners of her lips. “You are ambitious, Charlotte. I like that.”
som brugh, ritting my head slightly. “Tm only looking at the bigger picture. My father is already worried about what morce will do to our family’s standing. But if Damien were to remarry, and this time, with the right person, things could be salvaged”
Barock another sip of her tea, then set it down with a decisive clink. “You make a compelling argument.”
cmended to check my watch, sighing dramatically. “I should get going. I was actually on my way to the office before I stopped by
Eleanor nodded, standing as I did. “It was good speaking with you, Charlotte. We’ll talk again soon.”
a polite smile “Of course I’ll check in on you again soon.”
stirk stretched across my lips.
Everything was falling into place.
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