At the Chancer Estate.

James returned home exhausted. Rubbing his temples, he braced himself for a fight with Charlotte-but to his surprise, she was already asleep.

He quietly pushed open the bedroom door. Their son was sound asleep. Charlottey beside him, her hand wrapped in bandages.

Right. She had cut her hand on the sharp edge of the invitation earlier. And he— too consumed by anger-hadn''t even noticed at the time.

A wave of guilt washed over James. He gently touched her forehead. When she''d fallen, her clothes had torn. In weather this cold, she could easily catch a chill.

Just then, Charlotte''s hand moved, grasping his tightly.

She opened her eyes, tears welling up.

"James..." Her voice trembled, choked with emotion, as if she had a thousand grievances she was finally ready to say aloud.

James''s guilt surged to its peak. She was right. Everything she''d said today was true. She''d borne his child, nearly died for it—and he had failed her.

"I''m sorry, Charlotte. This is all my fault." He bent down and held her, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"I never thought you would treat me this way, James. Don''t forget-it was you who chased after me in the beginning." Her voice was quiet, but firm. A reminder for both of them: of how this all started, and of how far she''d fallen.

"You''re right. I was a fool. I''ll fix this. I promise. Let me take a shower first."

As soon as James left the room, Charlotte wiped away her tears. Her expression turned cold, her gaze fixed furiously on his back.

"James... do you love her that much?"

In that moment, she ripped away every trace of the tenderness from just before.

James froze at the doorway. His back went stiff-but only for a second. Then, without a word, he walked out.

Charlotte let out a bitterugh.

"Coward."

Back at the Wilson Estate, Vivian stepped through the door. Marianne looked at her with concern.

"Miss, Mr. Wilson is very upset. He said to wait for him in the living room."

Vivian had expected this. She knew her grandfather would''ve heard about everything right away.

The sharp thump of a cane hitting marble echoed down the staircase it was nearly half an hour before she heard it.

His face was tight with irritation.fn47f1 Newest update provided by find?novel/fn47f1

"I told you toe up with

something better than the Sanders Corporation i trusted you I didn''t interfere with a single decision. And this is what you give me?"  s

Pn

"I''m sorry, Grandpa. I didn''t anticipate it. By the time we reacted, Sarah had already signed contracts with the celebrities." She tried to sound as clear andposed as Possible She didn''t want him t think she was ipetent.  s

Mr. Wilson scoffed coldly.

"You want to me Sanders Corp for this? What about that video? I can''t believe how much you''ve

changedte not for the

???????

better Zachary has had far too much influence on you. Do you even remember the kind of person you used to be?"

s

Fearless. Decisive. Confident. Never one to act without certainty.

Proud, ruthless, and never ruled by emotion.

But ever since Zachary broke off their engagement, she''d be someone else

-so much so that even she barely recognized herself.

"Grandpa,” she asked softly, "is it really wrong to love someone?"

His expression turned to ice.

"Falling in love with Zachary was your biggest mistake. Because he doesn''t love you back."