CHARLOTTE’S POV You know those stories where the girl gets whisked off into a surprise marriage and ends up living happily ever after? Yeah, this might not be one of them. I was halfway through a cup of coffee and a chapter deadline when the world decided to flip itself upside down. “Charlotte, your mother and I need to talk to you”. That was Barry, my charming, overly groomed stepfather, whose love for tailored suits almost equals his obsession with control. He never “needed to talk”. He ordered meetings like a CEO who forgot he was also part of a family. I thought it would be about my writing again. Something about it wasn’t “career-worthy” or “profitable” enough for someone with a legacy like mine. Whatever that meant. They seize every opportunity to make fun of me and my career path. I dragged myself into the dining room and immediately regretted it. Barry sat at the head of the table, arms crossed, a folder in front of him like he was about to present or pitch a business deal to a potential client. My mother, Dianne, perched beside him, wearing that same silk robe she always wore when she had something to hide. I should have turned around. I should have walked out. But I didn’t, because I’m polite and stupid. And apparently, the bride-to-be. “You are getting married,” Barry announced. I laughed out loud. A full-on snort. “Funny.” He didn’t laugh. Neither did Mom. My stomach dropped. “I’m sorry, what?” I asked again, hoping I had heard wrong. Maybe they said “You’re not getting married” or “You’re burying someone,” which honestly sounded more pleasant. Barry opened the folder and slid it towards me. A neat, clinical contract. One glance, and my name was there, bold letters, right next to AIDEN KINGSTON. I blinked. “Is this a prank?” I asked Barry, expecting an answer. “This is real,” Barry said. “The company is going under. We are at the edge, Charlotte. If this marriage goes through, the Kingstons will bail us out.” “You mean they will own us,” I snapped. My mother reached for my hand. Hers was cold, trembling. “Sweetheart, we wouldn’t do this unless we had no choice.” “No choice?” I pulled my hand away. “You always have a choice. Like not selling off your daughter like a cheap product. I am your only child for crying out loud.” Barry narrowed his eyes. “It’s for your good. The company was your father’s….. “Don’t,” I warned. “Don’t bring my father into this.” His face tightened and I recognized that look. It was the same one he wore when he came into my life after my father died in a car accident. The same one he had when he married my mother barely three months later. I’ve never said it out loud, but some truths don’t need words. Barry wasn’t my father’s brother in any way that mattered except maybe in blood, and even that felt like a stain. “Why him? I don’t even know him,” I said quietly. “This Aiden guy.” “You’ll get to know him,” Barry said as if that made it any better. “He’s a good and handsome man, from a good family. Their family has power, money and we are drowning in debt. This marriage is the only thing that can save Parker & Co. ” “But it’s Dad’s company,” I shot back. “You’re just….” I caught myself not finishing my words: You are just the man who married my mother after my father died. Barry leaned forward, with a calm and calculated voice. “Your father left this company to me and all I am trying to do is to save what’s left of it, so you should be grateful. And like I said earlier, Aiden is very powerful” “Translation: He’s rich and can save your reputation,” I said in sarcasm. Neither of them responded. I stared at the contract again, my fingers hovering above the paper like it might bite me. “You want me to just sign away my life?” “No” Mom whispered. “We want you to survive.” There it was. Not “be happy.” Not “fall in love.” Just survive. And suddenly, it made sense. The hushed meetings, the growing tension. The way Barry’s name had started disappearing from company headlines. It was obvious the board of directors was on his neck. The man was drowning and he’d rather throw me overboard to save himself. What a father he was. I stood with anger, the chair scraping against the floor. “This isn’t over.” Barry didn’t even flinch. “It never is” I spent the rest of the day pacing my room, biting back panic. I needed to see him. I took out my phone and googled “Aiden Kingston” like a mad woman. Spoiler alert, he is disgustingly attractive in that dark hair, chiseled jaw, brooding way. GREAT. What was even better? He had zero social media, zero interviews, and zero expression in the few pictures I found. A mystery wrapped in expensive suits and silence. And he was going to be my husband. I was twenty-two, a writer and a dreamer. Someone who cried during dog commercials and believed love should be a choice, not a transaction. But in 48 hours, I’d be engaged to a stranger whose name felt like a headline, not a future. And deep down, I knew something was off. Barry wanted this marriage too much. My mother looked haunted. And the Kingstons…..they didn’t need us. But they wanted me. Why? This whole getting married is so sudden and strange. I mean who still does arranged marriage in this century? A few minutes ago I was excited about finishing my second book and submitting it to the editors and publishers. And now I find myself in this mess. Why does God hate me? Why has the universe decided to punish me? I didn’t have answers to any of my questions, but I had one feeling I couldn’t shake; This marriage wasn’t the end of my story, it was only the beginning.
AIDEN’S POV People think being born into money makes life easier. Oh, they are so wrong. Money doesn’t erase secrets. It just buys better ways to bury them. I was eight when I realized my family didn’t operate on the concept of love. They operated on a strategy. Every hug was calculated and every smile had an agenda. So when my father, Adam Kingston, called me into his office and said, “You are getting married” I didn’t flinch. I just asked, “To whom? “Charlotte Parker,” he said, pouring himself a drink from his wine shelf in his office. “Barry Parker’s stepdaughter and Dianne’s only child.” I sat down, legs crossed, watching the amber liquid swirl in his glass. I recognized the name. Who didn’t? The Parkers were once one of our biggest rivals in the industry until they weren’t. “Didn’t you bankrupt Barry?” I asked calmly. I saw the shocked expression on his face before he quickly replaced it with a smile. “I broke him, piece by piece. Years of precision. And now? He’s desperate. Perfect timing. Barry is greedy too.” I didn’t respond. I knew better than to question his motives. Adam Kingston never did anything without a ten-year plan attached. “She’s a writer,” he continued “Pretty, smart, wasted in that house. But she has your mother’s grace and your grandmother’s fire.” “So, you have been watching her.” He raised a brow. “We all watch what matters.” I leaned back in my chair. The leather creaked beneath my weight. “And what do I get out of this?” I asked. “Becoming the CEO of our company and Barry’s company and most importantly A CLEAN SLATE.” Those last three words cut deeper than I expected. Because no matter how many years passed, or how many stories my PR team covered up, I’d never been able to erase her. My past. The woman I once loved. Or maybe I still love her. Alana. Beautiful but toxic. Broken in all ways I refused to see until it was too late. We married young against both our families’ wishes. At first, it was passion. Then came the pregnancy… and everything fell apart. Alana said the baby ruined her. That motherhood wasn’t in her plan. That the life inside her was a mistake. She gave birth to a baby girl. My daughter. And within minutes, she was gone. The doctors said she died from complications. When they said Alana had passed, too, due to complications, it didn’t add up. The whole thing felt somehow. I saw the blood, her body but deep down I knew something else was up. And when I started digging and asking questions, my family shut it all down. “It’s over,” they said. “Let it go” But I couldn’t, I still can’t. So when my father offered me this marriage like it was a key to redemption, I didn’t say yes, and I didn’t say no either. Instead, I asked the only question that mattered to me. “Does she know?” He shook his head. “She’ll find out like you did, eventually.” And that was the thing about arranged marriages. No one ever asks the parties involved if they want to get married. Two days later I met Charlotte. She walked into my father’s office like a storm dressed in soft fabrics. Tall, graceful, and visibly pissed. Her eyes scanned the room like she was ready to bolt. Like the walls themselves were a trap. She looked at me like I was the enemy. Good. I probably was. “Charlotte,” Adam said standing from his leather chair, “Meet Aiden.” Her gaze didn’t waver. “I didn’t come here to be introduced. I came here to ask why your family thinks my life is a bargaining chip.” I tried not to smile. She had a spine and that was rare around here. “Nice to meet you too,” I said. Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t flatter yourself, this isn’t mutual.” “She’s bold,” I muttered under my breath. She heard me. Of course she did. Adam gestured to the chairs, “Sit both of you. We have much to discuss.” I sat first. Charlotte hesitated, then followed suit, like she didn’t want to give us satisfaction. She crossed her arms tightly over her chest. I could almost feel the force of her dislike radiating across the table. “You don’t want this,” she said, turning to me. “You think I do?” I asked, staring back. She blinked like she hadn’t expected that kind of response from me. “I don’t know you.” she continued, voice lower now. “ I don’t love you and I won’t pretend this is anything more than a transaction.” ”Good, then we understand each other.” I said giving her a smirk. There was a bit of silence. She shifted in her seat, visibly frustrated but under it all, I could feel something else. Fear, Exhaustion, and Confusion. I knew those emotions well. ‘I’m not your enemy, Charlotte.” I said quietly. “Then why do you look like an executioner?” Touché Adam chuckled like this was entertainment. “You two are perfect for each other.” We both ignored him. “I don’t plan to stay married,” she said finally. “I will play along until my family’s company is out of the mud. And after that, I’m gone.” I nodded. “Fine by me.” Her voice. Her honesty. She’s so different and I just couldn’t wrap my head around her. The fire in her eyes reminded me of the man I used to be, before the world broke me. She brought out some feelings I had buried inside of me over the years. Feelings I was unsure about too. And as she stormed out of the office like she hadn’t just been handed a future she never asked for, I realized something. This wasn’t going to be a business arrangement. It was going to be war. And part of me, the part I thought was dead, was curious enough to see who would win.
CHARLOTTE’S POV I wasn’t sure what I expected when I walked into that room. Maybe someone arrogant and cold. The type who saw women as part of a checklist. A name, a ring, and a legacy. But Aiden Kingston wasn’t what I imagined, he was worse. He was calm. And not the “let’s talk this out” kind of calm. The dangerous kind. The kind that said I’ve seen things you wouldn’t survive. He didn’t argue or smile. He didn’t try to charm me like most men would when told they’d be marrying a stranger. Instead, he just looked at me like I was another detail in a long, exhausting list of duties. Which pissed me off even more. I wasn’t a detail. And I wasn’t his. Back home, I slammed the door to my room and stared at the ceiling, unsure whether I wanted to scream or cry. I chose both A few angry tears slipped down my cheeks, but I wiped them away before they could fully fall. Weakness wasn’t allowed here. Not in Barry’s house. Not under Dianne’s shadow. And for what? A dying company? A reputation she already ruined years ago? The betrayal stung more than the deal itself. Barry, I could understand. He was always about power. Always looking for the next hand to play. But Mom? She looked at me like she had already mourned me. Like the version of me she loved had been buried with my father. Maybe it had. Maybe I died the day she moved on with his brother. I rolled onto my side, grabbing my phone, instinctively opening my notes app, the only place where my voice still mattered. > Title: The Deal. Opening Line: She never imagined her signature would cost her soul. Mood: Betrayed, trapped, angry.> I stopped typing. Because this wasn’t fiction anymore. This was my life. The next morning, I was summoned again. No “good morning,” no “how are you feeling?” Just a cold knock and a clipped voice from Barry’s assistant. “The Kingstons would like you to attend a dinner at their estate tonight at seven sharp. It’s a formal dinner. Like I was some prized puppy being trained for show. I didn’t respond. I just closed the door and stared at my closet. Formal. I hated that word. It usually meant stuffing myself into a dress that wasn’t made for comfort and pretending I wasn’t silently screaming on the inside. But I picked a dress anyway. A navy blue, off-shoulder, sleek, and subtle. Not flashy, not soft. Just enough to remind them I wasn’t easy to break. The Kingston estate was something out of a rich person’s fever dream. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, glass walls that reflected your thoughts before you even had them. Everything screamed money, but it was too clean. Too curated like a museum that was scared of feeling real. Aiden was waiting when I walked in, dressed in black. Of course, he probably slept in suits. He didn’t say much, just nodded at me like we were business partners about to sign a merger. I wanted to stab him with my heel. Instead, I smiled. Fake, Poised, and Perfect. We were led into the dining room, where his father and mother waited, looking like they had stepped straight out of a royal family portrait. “Charlotte,” Adam Kingston said smoothly, rising to greet me. “You look stunning.” I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Thank you, sir.” “Please, call me Adam. We’re family now.” The word made my stomach twist. Dinner was a blur of silverware, small talk, and veiled warnings disguised as compliments. “So, Charlotte,” his mother said, dabbing her lips with a linen napkin, “What are your views on privacy? Especially once you are married?” I blinked. “I’m sorry?” “I mean,” she continued, eyes sharp and polite, “Do you believe secrets should stay between husband and wife? Or do you think honesty is always best, no matter the cost?” Ah, there it was. I glanced at Aiden, He was expressionless, staring at his plate like it held answers to questions no one dared to ask. “I think,” I said carefully, “that honesty is useless if the person listening is already committed to lying.” There was a pause. Then Adam laughed. “She’s smart. I like that.” Aiden still didn’t speak. When dinner ended, Aiden walked me to the car. The silence between us was thick, buzzing with everything we didn’t say. Just before I stepped in, I turned to him. “I’m not your puppet,” I said. “I know.” “And I’m not staying quiet. If I find out what this really is —” “You will,” he cut in, his voice low. “Eventually.” His eyes met mine, and for a second, I saw something flicker behind them. Pain? Regret? Maybe even a warning. But then it was gone. And he stepped back. “Goodnight Charlotte.” The door closed. That night, I didn’t write anything, I didn’t cry, I didn’t pace. I just lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering how many lies it would take to break a person completely. Because something told me this marriage wasn’t the beginning of a story. It was the unraveling of one. And I was stuck inside it.
CHARLOTTE’S POV It’s strange how quickly life can pivot. One day, you are arguing with your mother about a future you don’t want, and the next, you are standing before a mirror in a wedding gown that doesn’t feel like yours, yet somehow it oddly fits. I always thought I’d run away if forced into something like this. But here I was, not running, screaming, or fighting. Just…. accepting. Maybe it was exhaustion. Or the way Aiden had looked at me the night we signed the marriage agreement. His eyes were quiet, guarded but not cruel. Maybe it was because deep down, I knew there was no going back. My father’s legacy was gone. My mother had made her bed and I was the final pawn left on the board. So I surrendered, but on my terms. I would walk into this with my head high, even if my heart dragged behind me. The morning of the wedding was calm. Too calm. No last-minute protests or soap opera-style objections. Just makeup artists, photographers, and my mother pretending this was every girl’s dream. “You look beautiful,” she said, adjusting the veil on my head. I glanced at her reflection beside mine in the mirror. “Do I look like someone marrying for love?” She paused, hands frozen. “You look like someone who’s ready.” Ready? For what exactly? I didn’t even bother to ask. The ceremony was held at the Kingston estate’s garden. Grand and luxurious. The kind of wedding fairy tales had been ghostwritten by a board of directors and filled with silent stares instead of sweet nothings. Aiden looked sharp, as always. Perfect suit, perfect posture. But his eyes….. they weren’t perfect. They were distant, like he was somewhere else. Still, when he took my hand, there was a spark. A flicker of something real. “Ready?” he asked under his breath. I nodded. “Let’s do it.” The vows were read, rings exchanged. A kiss that was more political than passionate and then just like that, I was Mrs Charlotte Kingston. The honeymoon was a blur. Not because it wasn’t memorable, but because it felt like someone else was living it. We flew to Santorini. Aiden’s choice was because I didn’t have a say. It was heartbreaking. Not having to get your dream wedding or honeymoon. We had separate rooms in a villa overlooking the sea. He never imposed, never assumed. Every moment we shared was polite…. careful. But on the third night, something shifted. We were sitting on the terrace after dinner, watching the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky with a hundred shades of fire. “You are not what I expected.” He said suddenly. I turned to him. “What did you expect?” “A spoiled heiress, a reluctant bride. Someone bitter and angry.” I chuckled. “Oh, I am bitter and angry. But I’m learning to keep it stylish.” He smiled. A real one for the first time since I met him. It changed his entire face. It made his face lit and his eyes pop. “You surprise me too,” I said. “You are less arrogant than I imagined.” He raised a brow. “Is that a compliment?” “Quite hard to believe it myself, but yes, it’s a compliment.” I giggled. The silence between us grew comfortable. We sat and just enjoyed each other’s company. And for the first time, I let myself look at him not as my husband on paper, but as a man. A complicated and guarded man with secrets behind those dark eyes. And maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t the villain I portrayed him to be. That night, we didn’t kiss, nor did we cross any lines. It wasn’t the usual honeymoon night where couples spend the night in each other’s arms or consummating their wedding. But when I fell asleep, I dreamed of him. Moving into Aiden’s mansion was a bit scary. Adjusting to a new environment was different for me. When we got out of the car and entered the mansion, it was as if all the staff knew what to do. They rushed into the living room and arranged. Aiden clears his throat slightly, his voice calm but distant. “This is Charlotte.” He paused and continued. “My wife,” “She will be staying here permanently. Whatever she needs, you give it to her with no questions asked or any delay. I glanced at him but he didn’t look at me. Elsie, Cheryl, you will make sure her rooms are always in order. If she wants to change anything in the east wing, let her. The house was too big and quiet. Aiden gave me the east wing of the mansion and said I could decorate it however I wanted. There were two maids, Elsie and Cheryl, a middle-aged woman, Petra, who is the chef, and coordinates the house. And also lots of securities. Elsie and Cheryl took my bags and took me to the east wing, and Aiden stayed back to give more instructions to the other staff. Aiden stayed in the west wing. Most mornings or evenings, we ate together. I started to notice some things about him. He always drank coffee at 6 a.m. and went to his private gym at 4 a.m. He always stopped at a particular window before leaving the house, like he was trying to remember something. Sometimes we stare at each other and other times our hands brush over each other. We weren’t in love but I guess we were trying to make it all work. I had hope. One evening, after a long walk in the garden, I returned to my room to find a gift box on my bed wrapped in a deep green ribbon. I opened the box and I saw a book. “The Secret Garden.” A book I had always loved since I was a child. And inside the box I found a note. “I remembered you mentioned this once. Not everything about this has to be a duty. – Aiden. My heart gave a small flutter. It was the gift he had given to me. Not a jewelry or perfume. It was a book. That night, I stood in front of his door for a full five minutes before I knocked. He opened the door. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, his hair slightly tousled. He looked…. softer. “I wanted to say thank you,” I said. He nodded. “You are welcome.” There was a long pause. I didn’t walk back to my room to avoid the weird silence. Instead, I waited and then I asked. “Do you ever think we could make this work?” He didn’t answer, he just smiled. I just walked back to my room smiling. I didn’t fall in love with Aiden Kingston that night but I think it’s safe to assume that the door to love might be opened a little. I hope he thinks so too.
AIDEN’S POV I messed up. Not because I said too much, but because I allowed her to see something I buried a long time ago. That moment on the stairs, the book in her hands, the softness in her eyes, it cracked something inside me. And cracks? They are dangerous. Because when people find the cracks, they start digging. I have lived most of my life behind stone walls. And I built them for a reason. The next morning, I didn’t wait for breakfast. I left early. Charlotte had this look on her face last night like she thought something had changed between us that we were finally becoming something. We weren’t. We couldn’t. By the third day of me successfully avoiding Charlotte, she finally confronted me. I was in the study, hunched over reports I brought home from the office. I was deep inside my work when she walked in. “Aiden.” Her voice was gentle. “Can we talk?” I didn’t even look up. “I’m busy.” “You have been busy for days.” I sighed. “It’s called work, Charlotte. You should try it sometime.” She flinched, but she kept standing there. “Did I do something wrong?” I set my pen down slowly. “No.” “Then why are you acting as if we are strangers living together?” “I’m not acting, Charlotte.” My voice sounded so cold. “This is who I am.” Her lips parted, but no words came out of her mouth. I could see the hurt forming but she tried to hide it behind her pride. “She stepped closer to my desk. “You do not get to pull me in and then shut down without an explanation. I’m not a child.” “I never pulled you in,” I snapped raising my voice a bit. “Don’t mistake one act of kindness for something deeper. It is not as deep as you might think.” “You gave me a book from your childhood,” she said, her voice tight. “That’s not nothing.” “It was a moment of weakness. One I will make sure not to repeat ever again.” She stared at me, her eyes were sparkling like a glass of tears and it made me uncomfortable. Guilt doesn’t suit me. “I thought there was hope for us,” she whispered. “Oh, come on Charlotte, don’t tell me you think this is some love fairy tale story that the man and woman fall in love and they live happily ever after. Let me make this clear, There’s no hope for us, so stop trying to find it.” I said flatly. Charlotte blinked rapidly, trying to prevent the tears from falling. Then she turned and walked out without saying another word to me. Not that I was expecting one. I left the house like I was a thief because deep down I couldn’t face Charlotte after the encounter we had in my office. Why did I even decide to work from home? I need a distraction. I need a fix. I picked up my phone and called my friend at the club I usually visit. “Hey man, how’s it going?” “Aiden, my boss, I’m good, it’s been a while. Congratulations on your wedding. Too bad I wasn’t invited.” “Sorry bro.” I didn’t know what to say to him because I wanted to brush him off. “I need you to send a girl over to the usual spot.” “Okay, boss.” He knew better than to question me and I’m certain he wanted to ask questions. At the bar, I didn’t drink much. I just had a few glasses and I left the bar with my distraction. I got home in the evening. Honestly, I didn’t want her. I just needed to prove something to myself, and maybe to Charlotte, too. The second we walked in, I saw Charlotte curled up on the couch in the living room with a blanket. She was reading a book peacefully. Until she saw us. She looked at the girl holding my arm, then back at me. She stood slowly. “I see,” she said softly. “So this is how it’s going to be.” I didn’t answer. She turned to the maid, Elsie, who I didn’t notice was standing in the hallway. “Please make sure she gets whatever she needs,” Charlotte said calmly. “She’s a guest after all.” She didn’t wait for a response. She grabbed her book and the blanket and walked up the stairs. Later that night, the girl passed out drunk in the guest room. I didn’t even touch her. I wanted to but I just couldn’t do it. All I could think of was Charlotte’s silence. I stepped out of my room and I met Petra, the chef, trying to lock the side doors. She glanced at me. “Having a long night, sir?” I raised my eyebrow. “Any problem?” “No, sir.” She paused. “Just wondering if you are planning to keep hurting her, or if this is a one-time thing.” I stared at her. “Excuse me?” “She ate dinner alone, again and she barely touched her food.” “I don’t care, and by the way, I am not paying you to put your mouth into matters that don’t concern you.” She nodded and left. The next morning, I ran into Charlotte. She was coming out of her room, holding sets of dirty bed sheets. “You don’t have to do that,” I said. “I live here, so I might as well clean up too,” she replied calmly. I winced. “She’s just…..” “You don’t have to explain,” she cut in, her eyes were free of any emotion. “I’ve gotten the message loud and care, I won’t expect anything from you.” “Charlotte……” She looked at me. “You know the worst part? It’s not the fling, it’s the fact that I let myself believe you were different.” “I told you not to,” I said with my voice low and deep. “You gave me hope, that’s crueler than ten flings, Aiden,” she said, pressing the sheets to her chest. She walked past me, brushing my shoulder, and it lingered. I decided not to go to the office. I stayed in my study from morning till night. The book I gave her was still on her nightstand. I saw it earlier when she left the door slightly open. She still keeps it till now. Even after everything. Elsie knocked lightly and peeked in. “Would you like tea, sir?” I shook my head.”No.” “Miss Charlotte asked for something calming. I thought maybe…” “She’s not sleeping?” She shook her head. “She hasn’t been eating much either.” I rubbed my face. “Thanks.” She looked happy that day, sir. The day you gave her the book.” I stayed silent. “She thought you were opening up.” I looked away. “That was a mistake.” “Then why does it look like you are the one hurting now?” Before I could answer, she turned and left me alone. And for the first time in a long time, I didn’t want to be.
CHARLOTTE’S POV My phone rang just after noon. I stared at the screen. It was my mother. I didn’t want to answer. But I did. “Hello?” “Charlotte.” Her voice was so oddly sweet. “It’s been almost two weeks since the wedding and not a single call from my only daughter?” “I have been … adjusting.” “Adjusting?” She laughed lightly. “What’s there to adjust to? You married a Kingston, you should be happy and thanking me.” I stayed quiet. She continued, “How is Aiden? He’s treating you well, isn’t he?” “He barely talks to me.” There was a moment of silence. “Are you doing your part?” she asked. “My part?” “Yes, being a good wife, obedient and respectful. Men like Aiden don’t want difficult women.” “Difficult?” I scoffed. “You think I’m the problem?” “You need to learn how to keep your voice down, young lady; you were raised better than this.” “I was raised to be silent and pretty, not to be someone’s doormat.” “You are being dramatic.” “No, I’m being honest. You married me off for a business deal and expect me to smile about it?” “I did what was best for you, for our family.” “Yeah Mom, of course, playing the awesome and caring mother card.” Note the sarcasm. “I don’t know what you are talking about…” “No mother, you did what was best for you and Barry.” “Watch your mouth, Charlotte, I’m still your mother.” I stood up from the chair, pacing angrily. “No, you watch yours. I’m not a child anymore and I’m not going to play house with a man who treats me like I’m invisible.” “Then make yourself visible the right way,” she snapped. “Dress nicely, cook for him, lie there and smile even when he doesn’t deserve it.” “I’m not going to crawl for him or feed his ego.” “You are his wife now. You don’t have a choice.” “I always have a choice.” Her words made me want to pull my hair out of my scalp. “Don’t be ungrateful, Charlotte. Every girl would want to be in your shoes. This marriage will make you wealthy and powerful.” “I don’t care about power. I care about respect. Something you and Barry don’t seem to understand.” She was silent for a beat. “Don’t ruin this,” she said coldly. “I’m not the one who ruined or is going to ruin anything.” “I won’t sit by while you embarrass this family.” “Then hang up.” “Charlotte..” I ended the call. I knew I was disrespectful to her, but she doesn’t understand my plight, and she isn’t trying to understand me either. I wish my Dad were alive. All these wouldn’t be happening to me. I stared at the window for a while trying to wrap my head around how messed up my life is. I need a breath of fresh air. I was heading downstairs to get some fresh air in the garden when I heard voices near the kitchen. Cheryl and Elsie were talking to each other. I stepped on the last step, while my hands were still on the wooden handle meant for support to and from the stairs. “I can’t take it anymore,” Cheryl said. “She walks around the house like she owns it.” “Well, technically, she does own this house; she’s his wife, Cheryl,” Elsie replied quietly. “She doesn’t love him.” “Hmmmm. How do you know that? Please say what you know.” “I have a feeling that marriage is forced. She doesn’t love him at all.” “That doesn’t mean she deserves hate.” “She does,” Cheryl hissed. “She doesn’t deserve him. You have seen how she talks and behaves to him as if he were beneath her. I bet she is with him because of his money.” Elsie sighed. “This isn’t your business.” Cheryl’s voice softened. “You don’t understand, Elsie. I have loved him for years. Ever since I started working here. I love the way he walks, talks, and commands the room. He deserves someone who actually sees him.” “And you think that’s you?” “Why not me?” she whispered. “I’d worship the ground he walks on and I will never make him feel unwanted.” “Cheryl…” “I hate her, Elsie. Every time I see her in his arms, I feel sick. She doesn’t belong here.” There was a pause. “She doesn’t even make his tea right,” Cheryl added bitterly. I stepped into the hallway. Both maids froze. Most especially Cheryl. Elsie’s eyes widened. “Miss Charlotte—” “I see,” I said keeping my voice calm. “So that’s how you feel, Cheryl?” Cheryl’s mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. “I.. I didn’t mean….” “Don’t lie. I heard everything.” I crossed my arms. “So you have been chasing after my husband?” “I just… I care about him.” “Enough to fantasize about replacing me?” She swallowed. “I just think he deserves better.” “Better than me?” I took a step forward. “Do you know what it’s like waking up every day next to a man who pretends you don’t exist? Being in a marriage you never asked for, in a home that doesn’t feel like yours?” She said nothing. “No, you don’t.” I continued. “Because while you were fantasizing, I was fighting to hold myself together.” “Miss Charlotte….” Elsie whispered, trying to calm the tension. But I wasn’t done. “You think he wants you?” I said to Cheryl. “Then by all means, go stand outside his door and wait for him to notice you.” “That’s not what I…” “Save it. Henceforth, stay out of my way. You don’t speak about me, you don’t serve me and you don’t come near me unless I call for you, that’s if I call for you. Understood?” Cheryl nodded quickly, her eyes filling with tears. I turned to Elsie. “I appreciate your honesty. Thank you.” Elsie gave a small nod. “I’m sorry you heard all that.” “I’m glad I did.” I was quite shocked by all things Cheryl said about me. But what can I say, I don’t really know her. And with that, I walked away. For once, I didn’t feel weak. I felt… awake.
CHARLOTTE’S POV The garden was quiet, birds chirping softly in the distance. I sat with Elsie on a bamboo chair under the oak tree, sipping a cup of cold lemonade. “You have been quiet these past few days,” she said. “I have had a lot on my mind.” “Still thinking about what Cheryl said?” Elsie pushed again, trying to make me talk. “It’s not just that; the house, the silence, Him, everything.” Elsie glanced toward the mansion. “He doesn’t talk to you much anymore?” I looked at her and scoffed, “He barely looks at me. I deserve more than cold glances.” “You deserve more ma’am.” “I don’t know what I deserve anymore.” We fell silent. Footsteps crunched on the path that led to the oak tree. “Charlotte.” I turned and saw Aiden. He stood a few feet from us in his suit, distant as always. “Yes?” “There’s going to be a dinner party tomorrow.” “A dinner?” “Yes, to celebrate our companies coming together and our marriage.” “And you are telling me this now?” “You have enough time to prepare.” “Why didn’t you mention it earlier?” “It slipped my mind.” “Of course it did,” I said, rolling my eyes at him. “Wear something that fits the image.” “Anything else, boss?” “Be ready on time.” “Are you going to pretend to be my husband for once?” “This isn’t about us, Charlotte. It’s business.” “Just be ready.” He turned and walked off. I stared at his back as he slowly disappeared into the house, my hands clenched in my thighs. Elsie whispered, “Do you want me to help you prepare tomorrow?” “Yes, please, I need to look awesome.” “So are you going to the boutique to get new clothes?” “Nope, I have lots of clothes to wear in my closet. I got them from my honeymoon trip.” “Okay, ma’am.” “Please, I want to look like someone he can’t ignore.” My room was a total mess. Elsie and I couldn’t figure out the dress I should wear to the party. I think I can say Elsie and I are like sisters. After two hours, two whole hours, I finally found the dress. It was an emerald green dress that showed my figure. It had a tail and it was an off-shoulder gown. One word to describe the dress is “Amazing”. I did a very simple makeup, just a few touches. I stood at the top of the stairs. My green dress shimmered under the chandelier, hair pinned up, lips red. I saw him standing close to the door pressing his phone. “Aiden,” I called out, smiling like a 16-year-old going to prom. He turned, froze and his eyes swept over me. He looked at me from head to toe as I walked down the stairs. But he said nothing. Not a single word. He turned away and walked to the car. I swallowed the sting and followed him. Deep down, I was hurt. The drive to the event hall took forever. At the event hall, everything was gold and crystal. “Mr and Mrs Kingston!” a host beamed. Aiden didn’t slow down. “Hi,” I said quietly, trailing behind him. We stepped inside and my stomach tightened. “Charlotte!” It was my mother’s voice. “Hi, Mom.” She pulled me into a hug. “You look so beautiful.” “Thanks,” I replied bluntly. Barry joined us. “You clean up well.” “Thanks, Barry.” I didn’t even know what he meant by that, but I just replied to him. “He gave Aiden a firm handshake. “Glad we could all be here to celebrate.” Aiden nodded curtly. “Likewise.” Then Adam and Eleanor appeared. Adam’s eyes lingered on Barry a little too long, which was quite weird. “Charlotte, my darling,” Eleanor said, cool, formal, and sweet. “You look radiant.” “Thank you, ma’am.” I gave her a fake smile. Adam gave a knowing look. “Enjoy the night.” Aiden leaned in. “Go mingle, I’ve got people to talk to.” He walked off. I stood there, holding my clutch with my breath tight. I moved to a quieter spot by the drinks table. I sat down and took a drink. Guests buzzed past me, but none of them stopped to chat. “Then I heard a voice behind me. “Charlotte?” I turned. “Dylan?” “I thought that was you. “God, you have changed.” He smiled. “In a good way, I hope.” “Absolutely. Stunning doesn’t even cover it.” I smiled genuinely. “It’s been years. What are you doing here?” “Business, you know, gathering like this, is where you gather connections and clients.” “Ah, that makes sense.” “But enough about that, how are you? I heard you are married.” “Well, yeah.” “Hey, why the sad face?” “Honestly, not great.” “Talk to me.” “I don’t think he even sees me.” “Then he is blind.” “You are just being nice.” “No. I remember you, you were fierce, funny, you lifted every room.” “I don’t feel like that person anymore.” “You still are. I can see her.” I laughed, a small, breathy laugh. “There it is, that smile. God, I missed that.” “Stop, Dylan. You are going to make me cry.” “Then cry, I will catch every tear.” “You haven’t changed.” “Neither have you. You are just… quieter now.” “Marriage does that.” “Well, it shouldn’t. I want to know why you married him.” “Just forget about that,” I said, trying to hide the reason. “Dance with me.” Dylan stood, stretching his hand towards me. “I can’t,” I said, feeling a bit scared and shy. “Just one dance, come on, for the old days. I nodded and took his hand. My hand was across his shoulders and his hands were on my waist. We moved to soft music. I felt his warmth and I felt relaxed. Until the air chilled. “Charlotte.” My heart dropped. Aiden stood a few feet away, jaw clenched, eyes cold, and if looks could kill, Dylan and I would be dead. “Aiden, we were just…” “Step away.” “He’s just an old friend.” “I don’t care,” Aiden shouted. Everyone was looking at us now. “Aiden, you are making a scene.” Dylan spoke calmly. “Relax, we were just dancing.” “You’ve had your moment, leave.” “No need to be rude, Aiden,” Dylan said, arranging his suit. Aiden raised his hands and punched Dylan in the face, and everyone screamed. Dylan was on the floor, blood running down from his mouth. Aiden grabbed my wrist. “Come with me.” “Aiden, please you are hurting me.” He didn’t listen. We didn’t speak in the car. I stared out the window. He gripped the wheel tightly. When we arrived home, he slammed the car door, opened the front door for me to walk in, and immediately slammed the door again. “What the hell were you thinking, dancing romantically with another man?” “He was just talking to me,” I said, fiddling with the chain in my clutch. “Laughing? Smiling? Dancing?” “I was happy for once.” “With him?” “Yes with him. It’s not that you were around to keep me company.” “You think this is some high school romance?” he shouted. “I think I deserve some kindness,” I shouted back. “You embarrassed me.” “You ignore me every day, tonight was no different.” “You forgot you are married. “Do you know what the headlines will be like?” “You forgot you have a wife, and I don’t care about headlines,” I replied, sitting down on the couch. My feet hurt because of the five-inch heels I was wearing. “You looked like a prostitute.” Slap. Yes, I, Charlotte, slapped Aiden, a multi-billionaire, and my husband. That’s a killer headline. “I’m done with you always treating me badly and ignoring me.” “Good, stay out of my way.” “I hate you.” “Then we are even.” I turned, tears burning my eyes. “Don’t follow me, speak to me, look at me, or even breathe the same air as me.” “Wouldn’t dream of it.” I was hurt by Aiden’s replies. I ran up the stairs to my room and slammed the door. And for the first time since the wedding, I broke down completely.
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