spanng="EN"Seth’s POV

    spanng="EN"“He’s your son?” I asked in shock. Wait, this changes everything. I suddenly feelpletely humiliated by my words and actions this week. I looked over at Dad, and he gave a small shrug.

    spanng="EN"“You could have told me, Dad,” I snapped out.

    spanng="EN"“It wasn’t my story to tell,” Dad replied.

    spanng="EN"“I was wrong, Charlie is eptable as your husband. I’m sorry, I didn’t know who you were. I was just trying to protect Ana,” I responded.

    spanng="EN"“You could have just asked, instead of just assuming. There’s no need to get upset. Ana was doing the same thing to Roger. I just happened to know who I was dealing with from the beginning. But that’s not why I fell in love with her. She’s special. The moment we picked her up, she offered to buy me and Drew a coffee for stopping for her. That’s not normal spoiled heiress behavior. The more I got to know her, the more I fell in love. Ana’s a treasure that I will never let go of,” Charlie replied.

    spanng="EN"He was looking at me, at first. But once he mentioned that he was never going to let her go, he directed thatment towards Holden. What’s worse, he wasn’t even rude about it when he spoke to me. Not like I’ve been to him all week, every time I brought him up to Ana. If I had known, I wouldn’t have treated him as badly as I did. I was just trying to keep Ana from being scammed.

    spanng="EN"Ana seemed a little surprised herself. I guess Dad had kept the secret from us both. But she didn’t seem upset. She had been nning on doing the same thing to Roger, so I guess she understood. The Billingsley family was equal to the Vaughn family in wealth. Knowing that Charlie co–owned the security business, they might edge the Vaugh’s out of the second spot. They kept a very low profile. It was a well–known fact that we were at the pinnacle of our peers.

    spanng="EN"It all made sense now. This was the whole reason Dad was happy to go along with everything. Charlie wasn’t a broke bodyguard; he co–owned thepany. I can see from my father’s expression that he was trying to teach me a lesson. He’s warned me about blindly following Holden before, but I’m getting it now. Holden and

    spanng="EN"have been friends since birth. We both know how to work each other around to get what we want. I felt the weight of embarrassment as everyone else here, except Holden and Ana, watched me realize just how far I had gone.

    spanng="EN"“Yes, I could have asked, but you have to see my side of it, too. Some guy just shows up, and allegedly falls in love with my sister in a week. I’m sorry, but that just seems suspicious to me. I’ve changed my mind. You have my blessing, Charlie. Not that you needed it. Ana seemed intent on marrying you, no matter what I said about it,” I replied.

    spanng="EN"“I didn’t know either, Seth, but I trust himpletely. He could see past all the barriers I put up. I look forward to seeing him. I know that he loves me. You would like him if you would just give him a chance,” Ana told me, “Now, let’s get this done. I would like to eat dinner and speak to my soon–to–be inws.”

    spanng="EN"Just like that, the focus was off me, and everyone gave a smallugh at how excited she was to get to know them better. The only one who was still upset was Holden.

    spanng="EN"“You said that you would help me win her over, Seth,” Holden ground out.

    spanng="EN"“I did try. It’s time to admit defeat. Ana made her choice, and the wedding will proceed as nned. I can’t help you, but I will bail you out on Monday. We should have expected this, Holden. Charlie has been two steps ahead of us the whole time,” I replied.

    spanng="EN"“Ana, do you see what he is doing? He is taking your choice away because he’s scared you’ll pick me. Can’t you find it in your heart to forgive me? I didn’t know I hurt you like that. I would never have said what I did if I had known you were there. I swear on my life I wouldn’t,” Holden quietly stated. I felt bad for him as the fight had drained from him. He knows that he won’t be able to stop the wedding now. He was upset, but this was Ana’s choice, and she’s already made it.

    spanng="EN"“Holden, whether you knew I was there or not, doesn’t matter. It was intent. You willingly left the country to get away from me. Even if I hadn’t overheard you, I would have suspected why by the third year you were gone. I trusted you, and you destroyed it. Whether you meant it or not. If the roles were reversed, and you had caught me, your arranged bride, having s*x with someone else, what would you have done?” Ana asked, her tone serious.

    spanng="EN"The expression on his face gave his answer without him having to open his mouth. He sought forgiveness for something he would never have forgiven her for. I’m not going to help him again. He had me on his side, but now that I see his double standard, I can’t support him anymore. I know better than anyone what he’s done over the years. I was in college with him, so I know exactly what he did while engaged to my sister. I originally thought he was the better choicepared to Roger or Charlie. Now that I know who Charlie actually was, I’m no longer worried. The fact that she clearly loves him makes it even better.

    spanng="EN"She wasn’t even trying to stick it to Holden. I would have, if it had been me, but the universe helped to make that happen. He’s got no one else to me for losing her. His own actions were the very reason he lost her. I know Ana, and she might have forgiven him for having s*x with Gretchen. But he left not just the city, but the country, to get away from her. That act had sent a clear message and was an insult to Ana.

    spanng="EN"“Officer’s you can take him away. My soon–to–be,wife wants to get thisplete. I’m not changing my mind about pressing charges. I know better than to listen to Holden. He would do anything to cause us problems during the wedding. Ana wants a drama–free wedding, and that is what I’m going to give her. Holden, you’re angry at me for pressing charges when you punched me. If I had done it to you, you would have had me arrested the same day. If you ever decide you want a shot at me again, let me know. We have a boxing ring and a sparring pad at thepany. We can have a little match whenever you want to try your luck again. But I would suggest against it,” Charlie advised.

    spanng="EN"“You just heard him. He threatened me. I want him arrested for it,” Holden snapped out. He was frantically looking at all the officers, willing them to step forward and do something. He was upset and looking to cause any issue to try to stop the wedding

    spanng="EN"“That wasn’t a threat. He offered you an opportunity to spar or box. A threat is when someone says, “I’m going to kick your a$$, that’s a threat. But don’t worry, once you and Seth showed up, we started recording. We knew what you were here to do, and we weren’t going to get caught up in it. We know what a threat is, and believe me, that wasn’t a threat. Keep it up, and you’ll find that out the hard way. If you wanted her so badly. why did you leave her? Don’t act like the victim now. No one here believes it. I think you saw her and wanted to bring back the old arrangement. I don’t me you. Ana is a beautiful woman. Trust me when I say that it’s too little, and way toote, at this point,” Drew pointed out.

    spanng="EN"“Of course you would say that. You work for him. But I feel threatened. I still want to press charges,” Holden angrily demanded. One of the officers called for an avable Sergeant toe to our location.

    spanng="EN"“Let’s go ahead and finish the rehearsal up, while we are waiting for their Sergeant to arrive. That way, the wedding nner and the minister can go ahead and leave instead of being dragged into this. I don’t want to hold them up,” Ana said.

    spanng="EN"“I don’t mind, Analise. This isn’t my first time this has happened, but not necessarily to this extent. I would like to help you out if I could,” our officiant advised.

    spanng="EN"I took a seat and watched as they finished up. I hate that I still think of Ana as needing me to protect her. She has Charlie now, and he seems intent on doing that for her from now on. What was Holden thinking? Trying to get Charlie arrested because he’s not going to be able to crash their wedding like he wanted to. Holden’s hands are tied, quite literally, yet he’s content to be this spiteful? I’m disappointed in my friend. We were still rebuilding our friendship, but he’s willing to do this to Ana? Because at the end of the day, he’s only hurting her.

    spanng="EN"“Holden, it wasn’t a threat. You need to stop this now. Are you willing to humiliate Ana like this? If the wedding doesn’t go as scheduled, she will be the one to bear the embarrassment of it. The whole city will be talking about her, which gives Roger and his family ample opportunity to make things so much worse. Didn’t you say that you wanted to be her friend again? That you had epted the fact that they were getting married and would wait and see if she was happy? When did that change? You have had your fun over the years, and Ana never said anything about it. Not until we confronted her about why she had an issue with you. You know that as well as I do. Ana had every right to cancel your arranged marriage. Knowing what you and your sister did. How can you cause her even more pain?” I asked.

    spanng="EN"I waspletely serious. I wanted to know. He needs to understand that arresting Charlie would ruin everything. Ana would never forgive him for that, not in this lifetime. He’s so angry at the circumstances that he’sshing out, trying to hurt Charlie. When he would actually be hurting Ana. Because if this wedding doesn’t happen tomorrow, she’s going to be the talk of the town for a long time.

    spanng="EN"“Fine, I’ll let this go. But I’m only doing it for Ana, not you, asshole. I’m telling you now that you’d better treat her well. Because if your foot slips, even a little, I’ll be there to catch her. We will be on equal footing then, as we will have both made mistakes. So don’t think that I’ve given up, Charlie. I’m never going to give up trying to get her back. Ana will forgive me for what I did, one day, and you best believe I’ll be waiting for that day toe,” Holden resolutely answered.