2025-06-03 15:36:40
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
43
The ride to her parents’ place was a psychological warzone. Sadie seemed to invent new ways to poke at him every five minutes. It took every bit of Charles’ composure not to drive the car into a pole.“Could you please not call me that ridiculous name in front of your family?” he asked as he parked.“Why?” She blinked innocently. “Afraid they’ll find out how you boss me around?”Charles sighed like his soul had aged twenty years. “I still get flashbacks to the look your mother gave me the first time she saw me. Don’t add to my trauma, I beg you.”“I’ll think about it… Daddy,” she grinned, already stepping out.Charles rubbed a hand down his face. Meeting Sadie might’ve been the worst mistake of his life. If they ever ended up in court, the judge would probably hand the gavel to God and walk away, completely unable to declare either of them innocent.He raised his head and noticed Sadie chatting with some guy in a suit who looked
42
Charles reduced the speed of the treadmill and stepped off, chest heaving. He moved to the weights and began lifting without pause, sweat pouring from his skin like blood.But it wasn’t enough.The memories still clung.His family was the reason he joined the military.The only legal way to hunt the man who destroyed them.After that night, everything shattered.His father—crippled.His mother—left with a limp.And his sister… forced to wear glasses for the rest of her life because of the trauma her eyes suffered from whatever smoke or flashbang was used that night.“Charles?”He barely heard it.“Charles?” Sadie’s voice broke through, clearer now. She tapped him gently.He blinked, finally snapping back to the present. She’d probably been calling him for a while.She eyed him with concern. “Are you okay?”Charles gave a small nod, breathing heavily. “Ye
41
“He made me lose my pregnancy, Dad,” Emmy said. “I didn’t say anything because I knew you’d never believe me. Not with the image he’s built for himself — the perfect son-in-law, the silent achiever.”She took a small step forward. “I was going to show you the scan. I kept it. But I lost the baby before I could even tell you.”His shoulders sagged. And for the first time, he looked… tired.“There’s more,” Emmy added quickly. “While Charles was shutting me out, someone else stood by me. The only one who noticed I was breaking. His name is Roger — Roger Kingsley. You must have seen him in the news.”Mr. Harrington’s face barely moved. No words. Just a tightening around the eyes.“He’s everything Charles isn’t. Supportive. Loving. Present. I didn’t plan to fall for him, Dad. It just… happened.”Silence.Mr. Harrington turned without a word and walked back to the dining table. He poured himself a glass of water and took
40
___ The Harrington Family Villa___“Who is this coat for? Me?” Emmy asked, pulling out a sleek black coat from the gift bag. “You know I don’t like black, Dad.”“That one’s not for you,” Mr. Harrington said, chewing steadily. “It’s for your husband.”A tense glance passed between mother and daughter.Emmy forced a laugh. “People might start thinking he’s your real son and I’m just the daughter-in-law.”She reached for another package and pulled out a bundle of socks.“For him as well,” her father said flatly, not looking up.“Dad!” she whined.Mr. Harrington finally put his fork down and joined them in the sitting room, his voice lowering slightly. “I’ve kept this to myself for long enough. It’s time you understood how indebted we are to Charles.”Another glance passed between the women.“Charles… he’s not just some guy. I don’t even know what he does, not really, but an old friend — someo
39
Later that night, Charles lay on his bed, mind replaying the day’s chaos. His phone buzzed quietly on the table beside him — his godfather calling.Shit.He answered, voice steady but wary. “How are you doing today, sir?”“Kid, you nearly gave me a heart attack seeing your name all over the internet. What the hell were you thinking?”“I don’t let any man make advances on my woman. Besides, I kept my face hidden.”His godfather chuckled, excitement clear on the other end. “Lost cause, kid. That’s what I’ve been telling you. When you’re in love, you do crazy things. Don’t you love how it feels? No booze can top that kind of intoxication.”Charles shook his head. Sadie was cool, but the last woman he’d want to fall for. Marriage to her? Hell no. He’d rather be a bachelor at 100.“So, is she pregnant already? I’m coming to check on you two if anything’s wrong,” his godfather pressed.“Nothing’s wrong. You’re ju
38
“What?” Charles asked, caught off guard. “When you caught her… what did you do? Yell at her? Break something she loved?”Charles let out a short laugh. For the first time since they arrived that evening, Sadie could finally breathe.“It was after that night I realized she never meant anything to me.”“Still,” Sadie said, “you can’t just let her off the hook. She should pay for what she did.”Charles wanted to tell her he already made Emmy pay—leaving was enough. But he didn’t. In two weeks, if the Harrington family didn’t hire people at least half as skilled as he was, their companies would collapse under the weight of incompetence. They’d be swimming in debt.“When are you free this week?” Sadie asked. “Let’s meet somewhere she’ll be. Let her see what she lost.”Charles stared at her, amused. Wasn’t this why she’d been angry earlier? And now she wanted him to use her to make Emmy jealous?“What if she wan
You may also like
Underrated Son-In-Law
Estherace104.4K viewsInvincible Billionaire Heir
Chanhlee79.1K viewsThe Rise of a Master: It Starts With Rejection
Dreamy Fire196.6K viewsThe Heir's Revenge
Twine Twin76.9K viewsRise of the Student Zillionaire Heir
Author_Rivenlox3.1K viewsPerverted War God
Sage834 viewsRise Of The Orphaned Student: Eddie Is An Aviatux!
YEMII WRIITES659 viewsThe Wealth Swap: Reclaiming His Legacy
Christy I.403 views