2025-06-06 15:38:31The 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
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“Oh, Grandma! I forgot—let’s go see her.” Hailey’s eyes lit up. “She’s ninety, and she still has all her teeth. People say I got my smile from her.”She flashed him a grin.Charles smiled back—not because of the smile, but the effortless way she spoke. If he were a hitman, she'd have given away every family secret by now, and then offered him cookies.They stepped into a softly lit room. In the wheelchair sat a woman whose body looked like it had weathered a century, but her smile... Hailey hadn’t lied. It was beautiful. Genuine. Full of light.“Oh my God. Thank you, Jesus,” she breathed, wheeling toward him and clutching his hand. “This is real. God has done it. What’s your name, young man?”"Charles Decker, ma’am."“Charles. What a fine name. It must be exhausting, dating Sadie. In all my years, that girl is the most difficult person I’ve ever met.”“Grandma…” Sadie groaned.“That’s painfully accurat
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Charles blinked. That... surprised him. The first time he’d actually met someone who’d pushed the line far enough to get officially kicked out. It almost impressed him. His own parents had threatened it plenty, but he’d never let it come to that.“Guardians?”“I live alone... in the apartment Becket got me.”Charles glanced at her. “Of course,” he muttered. “That’s why he thought he could treat you like that.”Then he added, “Guess he’s going to kick you out now that he accused you of—”“Sir,” her voice cracked, soaked with tears. “I didn’t cheat on him.”She shook her head, eyes glistening with desperation. “I don’t know what he saw, but it was definitely a misunderstanding. I’d never cheat on—”“You know,” Charles cut in flatly, “people like him? They’re jerks. You could apologize until you’re blue in the face—it wouldn’t matter. He’s done. Game over.”“No. You don’t get it. Becket was in love with me. He
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People finally looked up.Charles turned to the girl. Her eyes were swollen and red, cheeks streaked with tears.“Clean your face,” Charles said, voice like ice. “And get out of here.”“I—I didn’t cheat on him, sir,” she stammered, desperate to be believed.“Who the fuck cares?” he snapped. “Even if you did, a coward like him doesn’t deserve an apology.”She stared, stunned. That was probably the first time anyone had called Becket exactly what he was.Becket staggered to his feet, clutching his ribs.“So this is he? The guy you were cheating with?” he mocked.“I—” The girl tried to explain again, but Charles was done.“Shut your damn mouth,” he snapped at her. “Why keep apologizing when you know you didn’t do it? Are you a fool?”Becket straightened and scoffed. “Hey, little boy. From whence does thou cometh without manners?”Charles didn’t even blink. “If you’re bored, go play v
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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
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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
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“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
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