Charlotte nced at Vivian, then turned bto /bSeanb, /bher voice bcalm /band t.

b“If /bI told byou /bshe’s lyingb, /bwould you believe me?b” /b

Sean froze for a bsecond/bb, /bcaught off guard. He bdidn’t /banswer right away.

Charlotte let out a softb, /bbself/bb–/bbdeprecating /bugh.

Why had she even asked bsomething /bbso /bstupid?

bOf /bcourse he would choose Vivian–the girl who had grown up with bhim/bb, /bnot the fiancée he hadn’t seen in three years and barely had a rtionship with.

Anyone would know bthe /banswer bto /bthat.

But bthen /bSean looked her in the eye andb, /bwithout hesitationb, /bsaid, “I believe you.”

Charlotte’s breath caught bin /bher throat.

She stared at him, unsure if she had heard right.

He believed her?

Then what about Vivian?

Charlotte saw her face go ghost white in an instant.

“Sean! She’s making things up! How could you believe her over me?”

“Enough.” Sean’s eyes turned sharp, his voice cold as bice/b. “From the moment you met Lottie, you’ve had this strange hostility toward her. The second you imed she kicked the horse behind your back, I knew you were lying.”

His expression darkened, frosted over with disapproval.

“Lottie’s not that kind of person. I know her. And you said it yourself she’s never done anything to you. So tell me, why would she want to hurt you?”

Charlotte stood quietly, eyes fixed on Sean.

Her heart felt like a tangled mess of emotions.

Why was he standing up for her like this? Why was he choosing to believe her, bno /bquestions asked?

She had been so sure–sq sure that when bit /bcame down to it, Sean would always pick Vivian.

But nowb, /bher nose stung, and her eyes welled up with something she couldn’t bname/bb. /b

Sean’s gaze returned to Vivian, as cold as ice.

“Vivian, don’t forget–byou’re /bba /bXander, not a Jasper. Don’t btake /bbthe /btitle bof /b‘adopted daughter‘ and think bit /bgives you free reinb./b”

Vivian’s face turned even paler.

Her lips parted, tremblingb, /bbut she bcouldn’t /bbget /ba word out.

Tears streamed silently down her bface/b.

bSean /bdidn’t stay. “Get some restb. /bI’m leaving.”

He turned band /bwalked out without another word.

Charlotte stood at the bfoot /bof the bed and looked at Vivian, who was sobbing uncontrobly.

bWith /bba /bsighb, /bbshe /bsaid quietlyb, /b“Was all this really worth it?”

Outside bthe /bbhospital/bb, /bbin /bbthe /bbopen/b–air parking blot/bb, /bSean walked beside Charlotteb, /bhis bvoice /bfull of remorse.

“Lottie… I’m sorry.”

+25 Bonus

bShe /bnced at him. b“/bbWhy /bare you apologizing to me?”

b“/bbIt’s /bmy family’s fault we didn’t raise her right,” he bsaid/bb, /bbletting /bout a long sighb. /b“I still don’t understand why she’d do something like that. But don’t bworry/b–I’ll bget /bbto /bthe bottom of it.”

Charlotte gave ba /bbsoft /bugh.

b“/bbNo /bbneed/b. I already know whyb./bb” /b

Sean bfrowned/b. “You do?”

She looked at him, lips curling slightly.

“Seanb, /bbdon’t /btell me you really haven’t noticed how Vivian feels about you?”

He blinked. b“/bWhat are byou /btalking about?”

“She did thisb… /bbbecause /bbof /byou,” Charlotte bsaid /bslowly. “She sees me bas /ba threat. That’s why she tried to turn you against me.”

Sean fell silentb, /bbbrows /bfurrowed in thought.

Charlotte turned and walked ahead.

He caught up. b“/bLottie, wait.”

She pulled open the car door and slid into the driver’s seat. Sean got into the passenger side.

As he fastened his seatbelt, he said, “I understand now. I’ll keep my distance from her from now onb./bb” /b

Charlotte froze mid–motion. b“/bWhy?”

“Because you said she likes me,” Sean replied inly. “I never realized it before. To me, she was always just a sister. But now that I know, it’s only right to draw a clear line.”

He looked over at her, his voice gentle but firm.

“Lottie, I want to make sure you feel safe with me.”

Charlotte stared straight ahead.

“That’s bnot /bwhat bI /bmeant. I meant–why did you believe me? Vivian grew up with you. Shouldn’t you have trusted her more than me? Why did byou /bchoose meb?/b”

Sean held her gazeb, /bwarmth in his beyes/b.

“Because I already said… you’re not someone who’d do that.”

“That’s it?” she asked bquietly/bb. /bb“/bbJust /bbbecause /bof that?”

The streetlight outside bcast /ba bsoft/bb, /bgolden glow into the bcar/b.

bSean’s /bbeyes /bwere full of btenderness/bb. /b

“And bbecause /bI love byou/bb,/bb” /bhe saidb, /beach word steady and certain. “And love means trusting without conditions.b” /b

Charlotte’s heart gave a sharpb, /buncontroble flutterb. /b

bShe /bturned away in a panicb, /bcheeks flushedb, /bpletely bat /ba loss for words.