bChapter /bb505 /b

    bCharlotte /bbdidn’t /bwant bto /bsay more. b“/bLet’s not talk about him. bIt’ll /bin bmy /bbmood/bb./bb” /b

    bSophie /bnced over. b“/bCharlotte, are you okay?”

    Charlotte’s expression was slightly tenseb, /bbut she said, “I’m fine.

    Sophie and Jenny exchanged a look and, with unspoken agreement didn’t press further.

    Jenny looped her arm through Charlotte’s and gave it a yful shake. b“/bCharlotte, I just sang a song and Sophie said I was boff- /bkey. I don’t believe her. I’m going to sing it again–you be the judgeb. /bTell me if I was really offb./bb” /b

    She was clearly trying to change the subject, hoping to take Charlotte’s mind off what had just happened.

    Charlotte’s expression softened, and she gave a faint smile. “All right, let’s hear it.”

    “You got it.”

    To make Charlotteugh, Jenny deliberately sang off–keyb, /beven changing her tone so the song sounded nothing like before. What should have been a perfectly fine tune ended up sounding more like a grade school poetry recital.

    Charlotte caught on to Jenny’s intention. Warmth spread through her chest, and she yed along,ughing heartily

    Before long, her bad mood hadpletely lifted. With Jenny coaxing her, she even had two drinks.

    When the night came to an end, they all walked out together.

    In the open–air parking lot in front of the club, Scott walked over, His

    full of concern.

    “Lottie, you’ve been drinking. You shouldn’t drive. Let me take you home.‘

    b” /b

    Charlotte had only had fruit wine with a very low alcohol content. Two sses were nowhere near enough to get her drunk.

    Her gaze was clear as she politely declined. “Thanks, Mr. Lucas, but I’m going back with Petra. She hasn’t been drinking, so she can drive.”

    Next to her, Petra jingled her car keys with a smile.

    Scott’s expression didn’t change. He gave a small nod. “All right. Just be careful on the road.‘

    “Mm,” Charlotte replied.

    “Call me when you get home,” Scott suddenly added.

    Charlotte looked at him, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. “Call you? Do you have something you need to tell me? If bso/b, you can just say it now.”

    His gaze softened. “Nothing’s wrong. I just want to know you got home safe.”

    Charlotte was silent for a moment.

    “Mr. Lucas, I don’t think that’s necessary,i” /ishe said seriously. “bI /bhave a boyfriend. When I get home, I’ll call him to let him know I’m safe. I’m sorry, but he’s the jealous type, and I don’t want to do anything that might upset him. So… let’s skip the call,

    okay?”

    Her voice was gentle, but the wordsnded like a knife in Scott’s chest.

    He lowered his gaze, his eyes dimmer than the yellow glow of the streemp beside them.

    b“/bI understand,” he said quietly, his voice so soft the breeze almost carried it away.

    Charlotte nodded. “Goodnight, Mr. Lucas.”

    bGoodnight/b.”

    bShe /b

    turned band /bwalked away.

    bScott stood /bbthere /bwatching her walk away, the

    sadness in

    his eyes

    ngering long

    bafter /b

    bshe /bwas gone.

    The white McLaren pulled out of the lot and disappeared down the street.

    Beside him, someone let out a quiet sigh.

    Asher patted him on the shoulder. “Maybe it’s

    ‘s time to find someone ? else.

    chasing after her like this isn’t doing you any favors.”

    Scott stayed silent and walked straight toward his Maybach.

    “What a

    stubborn yet somehow he’s

    Ms. Riley

    clearly doesn’t

    feel the same

    wayb, /band

    guy,” Asher muttered

    a

    under his breath.

    true. hopeless romantic. I

    guess it’s

    of that “Such a waste

    perfect face.

    -what

    have always seems the you can’t

    He

    was born be a

    to

    heartbreaker,

    most

    tempting.”