Nevaeh‘s POV:
After dinner, a bodyguard came to pick up Caroline.
"We are the only ones left in the house.Now you can tell me what you want."
Charles‘ tone was indifferent when he spoke to me.
Silently, I rolled up my sleeves, revealing the hideous scars and bruises.
"Except for my arms, I have more scars like this all over my body."
My voice wavered, revealing my fear.
"My husband runs a nightclub and he is very violent.Each time something makes him unhappy, he
makes himself feel better by turning me into a punching bag.About a month ago, he became addicted
to gambling and lost a lot of money.To make some of the money he lost back, he asked me to do a
striptease for his guests and I refused, so he beat me up.I ended up being hospitalized due to the
severe injuries I suffered."
With a cry, I threw myself at Charles.
"You have to help me Charles.It was very difficult for me to escape him and I know I won‘t make it out
alive if he ever finds me.I can‘t go back to that living hell.Please say you will help me."
Almost immediately, Charles pushed me away from him none too gently.
"You can stay in Los Angeles for now.I‘ll see what I can do about this." His reply was gruff.
"Thank you, Charles."
I beamed at him, relief swamping me.
When Charles turned away from me, I couldn‘t help laughing quietly.
I wasn‘t even bothered that Charles wasn‘t very receptive of me right now.
It would all change soon because I knew for a fact that sympathy was the beginning of love.
Caroline‘s POV
When I got home, I was completely distracted.
The only thing I could concentrate on was the scene I witnessed as the driver drove me home.
In the rearview mirror, I saw Charles and Nevaeh standing together and that image had been
embedded in my mind ever since.
Each time I was reminded of it, I couldn‘t help but feel jealous.
What did Nevaeh say to Charles? What was so important that I had to be absent before she could tell
him? The more I thought about it, the angrier I became.
I couldn‘t help flinging the throw pillow away.
"Why are you so angry? Are you jealous?"
Charles walked in at this exact moment and caught the pillow in his hand.
With a smirk, he grabbed my shoulders and pressed me against the sofa before I could escape his
hold.
His smirk widened into a pleased smile when I finally stopped struggling Frowning, I turned my face
away from him and refused to say anything.
He smiled indulgently and kissed the tip of my nose.
"Are you really angry?"
"What were you talking about with her? Why did it take so long?"
"We only exchanged a few words before I asked the driver to take her back to the hotel." His answer
failed to satisfy me and I pushed him away.
"Why didn‘t you drive her to the hotel yourself?"
"Nevaeh is not worth my time."
"Oh.Then who is worth your time?"
I didn‘t get a verbal reply from him, just a long stare and a faint smile curling his lips.
When my anger began to wilt beneath his affectionate eyes, I turned my face away from him and
muttered, "Why are you just staring at me? Answer my question."
Charles kissed my lips and said, "It‘s you!"
My smile was kissed away by his ardent lips.
The world fell away as I fell into Charles‘ kiss and it would be a very long time before we came up for
air.
"Then what did she tell you?" I asked when I could think agair
"It‘s true that Nevaeh told me something but it is not important.Don‘t worry about it."
He clasped my hand in his and asked, "Moving on to more important matters.When can you move back
to the Moore mansion?"
Mushed and explained hesitantly, "My Dad is…."
"Fine."
Charles cut through my fumbled explanation with a shrug.
Swiftly, he stood up and left.
A short while later, he returned with a bottle of wine and an open smile.
"I know you like it, so I took a detour to bring it back.Would you like some?"
I nodded happily and turned to get the glasses.
We shared a few glasses of wine and the world began to grow blurry.I fell back on the sofa with a
drunken smile.
Suddenly, Charles pressed himself against me.
"Caroline."
"What?"
Instead of replying, Charles kissed me again and I was able to taste the wine he was yet to completely
swallow.
Our tongues dueled as I swallowed the last of his wine.
For some reason, I began shedding tears.He gently kissed the tears on my eyelashes.
"You haven‘t said that you love me."
The murmured words were repeated a couple of times while Charles kissed me again and again.
It would appear that Charles was equally as drunk as I was.
"Charles…"
My thoughts were in a jumble and the ability to form words eluded me.
The only thing I could focus on was the feel of his breath. His breath was so heavy.He looked as if he
was going to swallow me whole.
Not long after, my brain began to lack oxygen.
Fortunately, he let go of my mouth and kissed my breasts.
I was so lost in the pleasure his touch invoked that I couldn‘t determine if this was really happening or if
I was dreaming it up.
"Do you love me?"
Charles murmured, kissing me as he took off all my clothes.
"I love you, Charles." I touched his face and said, "I fell in love with you a long time ago."
Lost in his gaze, I nearly forgot how to breathe.
All of a sudden, Charles crushed me to his body.
The way he clung to me gave the impression that he was scared.
"Which version of me do you love? Charles from seven years ago or the man that I am now?" he
whispered.
I hugged him back and kissed him passionately, my tears flowing out uncontrollably.
Which one of him? I had always been in love with him, that was the one thing that would never change.
It didn‘t matter if it was in the past, right now or in the future.
I loved him and I always would, regardless of what version of him I was with.
"If I said I was jealous of myself, would you believe me?"
The question was so ridiculous that I burst out laughing.
"Even if you love me now, I am different from the man I was before," Charles explained.
How could this proud and aloof man actually be jealous of himself? The thought amused me.
Cupping his cheek, I pressed a soft kiss to his lips and declared, "It doesn‘t matter whether it was
seven years ago or now.You are still the same domineering, strong and unreasonable man and I
suspect you always will be."
His eyes lit up at my answer and he suddenly bent over me and kissed my breath away.
When we separated, he rested his forehead against mine and rasped, "The year we separated is my
greatest regret."
I combed my fingers through his hair and murmured, "It doesn‘t matter anymore.We will be together
forever, won‘t we?"
Olivia‘s POV
After taking the medicine, Edward fell asleep.
The doorbell rang a short while later.
Feeling quite impatient, I rushed downstairs and opened the door.
Even before the door was open all the way, Adam stormed in and pressed me against the wall.
He groped my body roughly, his hands quickly finding their way into my clothes as he rubbed my
breasts wildly.
His rough touch elicited a loud groan from me.
I bit his shoulder and whispered throatily, "We need to keep it down."
"What are you afraid of? Edward has fallen into a deep sleep.He won‘t be able to hear you even if you
scream in pleasure all night."
Adam‘s reply was dismissive.
Almost immediately, he reached out to pet my private part and smiled obscenely.
I giggled at his antics before separating my legs.
Hitching my thighs up, I made him take most of my weight as I wrapped my legs around his waist.
With a low chuckle, he suddenly penetrated me.
It was rough and fast as Adam took his pleasure from my body at a vigorous speed.
The pleasure was so intense that I was almost in tears.
When the sex was finally over, I was so spent that raising my hand was an upheaval task.
Adam grasped my shoulders in a loose embrace, but his eyes were full of malice when it looked on
mine.
"When are you going to make your move?"
"Within the next few days.Edward grows weaker by the day.His illness is so grave that he mistook me
for Caroline on some occasions."
A wicked smile curved my lips as I stared back at Adam.
"Is it almost time?"
Adam stared at me meaningfully, "Yes."
My good day was coming.
Mine, not his.
Internally, I snickered but still found the grace to offer some hypocritical advice to Adam.
"You should play your role as a good brother and spend the last few days he has on earth with him."
"Ha–ha–ha, Edward is really a poor guy.Now all his property is mine, and so is his woman."
I returned Adam‘s deranged smile with one of my own and successfully hid the disgust I felt for him.
Both Adam and Simon were just my springboard to get rid of the crisis.
When I got Edward‘s money, I could shift all the blame to them.
When that time came and I was safely out of their reach, the two of them could fight each other as
much as they wanted.
I only wanted the money. After all, money was the only thing that would not betray me.
‘Edward, you forced me to do this! It‘s all your fault!‘ I yelled viciously within the safety of my mind.
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