“I…” Damn it. Charles ran his fingers through his hair again. Why was it so hard to say it out loud?Was it because he had never told anyone before?“I went to settle some scores… with the people who murdered my brother.”Sadie’s eyes widened.“You were the one who asked,” Charles added quickly, trying to brace for her reaction.“You… killed…” she swallowed, her voice trembling. “You killed someone last night?”Charles scoffed. “No. Death would be a much easier way out for them… when I finally get to them…” He stopped mid-sentence when he caught the horror spreading across Sadie’s face.Damn it.He was only scaring her more.“I mean…” he motioned to the necklace around her neck. “That necklace belonged to the person who murdered my brother.”She instinctively tried to unclasp it, panic written all over her face. Charles quickly stepped forward and gently caught her hand.“Stop. P

Before she could blurt out anything, Charles quickly covered her mouth. “We’re very sorry. We’ll come next time,” he said with the same polite smile.Sadie glared at him. “What the heck are you doing?!” she hissed under her breath.Just then, another woman approached — familiar. Charles blinked. Emmy’s sister. That explained the heavy tension dripping in the air.“I know her,” Sadie whispered, her confidence returning. “She’ll help us.”Charles tried to pull her away, but who was he kidding? She was Sadie Wyatt.“Mrs. Lincoln, we’ve been trying to get in but were blocked at the door,” Sadie explained.“Then why are you still here?” Mrs. Lincoln’s voice dripped with disdain.Sadie frowned. “Mrs. Lincoln—”“Step aside. Don’t act like you’re the queen of the universe when you’re just a lowlife lucky enough to marry into a rich family.” Her eyes moved deliberately to Charles.“Mrs—”“And could someone kindly move that man away? His odor is polluting the entrance.”Sadie’s eyes widened. “H

“I can't wait anymore, babe. I really love you…” Sadie whined like a damn lover who has missed her lover for years. What the fuck? Charles looked at her, resisting the urge to groan in disgust. What has the woman being doing all her life? Work apparently. Because she just made his skin crawl right now with what she said. “Since I met you, you’ve always been so handsome. I mean, what have I even been doing with my life without you?”At the other end of the room, Emmy froze. She’d been walking casually through the crowd, but now her eyes locked on the couple. Wait a second… is that Sadie? And... isn’t that Charles?She instinctively took a step closer. And then stopped herself. What was she doing?Was she about to… stop them?Her throat tightened, like she suddenly forgot how to swallow. Watching them stirred something inside her she didn’t want to admit.Jealousy? No way… right?Just as she tried to look away,

Roger let out an exasperated breath. Why the hell was Charles behaving like this? This was two billion dollars they were talking about!!“This… this matter… Mr. Charles, just name anything you want me to do for you and I’ll do it.”Just as Charles was about to give another nonchalant reply, Sadie’s phone rang. He sat up on the sofa while she stepped outside to answer the call.“Charles, I underestimated you,” Roger said quickly as soon as Sadie left the room.“You went too far, dude,” Charles replied. “I get that you’re a guy without half a brain, but how could you bring your shit near my fiancée? Or you didn’t know it could lead to this when you started?”Emmy looked at Roger. “What’s he talking about?”“Check the internet, will you?” Roger snapped at her. Then turning back to Charles, he said, “If you let it go this once, I’ll never come near you again.”“Sorry, but I don’t change my mind once I have it set.”

“Sir, Big Boss never disappoints,” one of the men the godfather had sent to spy on Charles said, handing him the phone with the footage. “I almost fainted inside the hall. You should’ve seen the way Big Boss was kissing... oh my damn! He’s the GOAT in everything,” another added, barely able to contain his excitement. The women in the room — most of whom had secretly crushed on Charles before he left — rolled their eyes in frustration. “What can that woman even offer him?” one sneered bitterly. “She’s not even as beautiful as she looks. Thank God for filters.” “She doesn’t understand him. She never will,” another muttered, her eyes fixed on the plasma screen displaying the video now playing. “I’m sure my Charles will never love her,” one of the women said with quiet venom. “Keep dreaming, girly,” one of the men teased. “Charles has his woman now, and there’s nothing you can do abo