After settling the children down, Charlotte pulled Zachary into her room and gave him an earful.
“Zachary, what’s the matter with you? Don’t you know that this place is full of my brother’s spies? As much as I can try my best to tolerate you for the sake of the kids, Danrique won’t! I can’t even imagine the consequences if he finds out that you’re here.”
“Danrique will be too occupied to be bothered about me, so don’t you worry,” Zachary said confidently.
“What do you mean? What did you do?” Charlotte was dubious about his statement.
“Oh, you haven’t heard? His illegitimate child is exposed,” he gloated with a raised eyebrow. “Someone’s getting busy.”
“An illegitimate child?” The news came like a bolt from the blue. “Are you kidding? My brother has never had a girlfriend, let alone a child?”
“Come on, how can a normal man have no girlfriend? Unless he’s gay.” Zachary continued placidly, “He’s just very good at hiding his dirty little secrets from you.”
“How did you find out?” she asked suspiciously.
“We are rivals. Needless to say, I must know him very well.” He smiled smugly. “He’s been giving me a lot of headaches. I’m just returning the favor.”
Charlotte paused. “What is that supposed to mean? Did you hire an impostor?”
“Of course not. I just leverage on a little situation…” He shrugged. “Anyhow, there’s nothing for you to fret about. Even if he knows I’m here, let him come to me. All you have to do is to put the blame on me.”
As he spoke, he scanned around Charlotte’s room and slumped on the bed. “What a great place! I’ll take this room…”
“Get up!” Charlotte tried to pull him up, but he managed to turn her over and pin her on the bed instead.
“What are you doing? Let go of me right now,” Charlotte roared while pushing him away.
“Stay still.” He clasped her hands and looked her in the eyes. “I just want to hug you.”
His gaze was gentle and affectionate.
Within a split second, Charlotte almost fell for his charm. She soon recollected herself and kneed him in the groin.
“Ahh!” Zachary shouted in agony. He curled into a fetal position and muttered, “Darn it. Why did you do that?”
It was not Charlotte’s first time to hit him on the same spot. The last time, it was in Seacrest Restaurant.
Unfortunately, he never learned his lesson.
“This is my house.” Charlotte pushed him away angrily. “I’m Charlotte Lindberg, not Charlotte Windt who lived at the mercy of others.”
“It’s your loss if you handicapped me.” Zachary just had to emphasize that, though he was in excruciating pain.
“There are plenty of men around. Do you think that you’re my only option?” Charlotte taunted. “I just need to snap my fingers and there will be a long queue of excellent men fighting to marry me.”
“I shall see who is brazen enough to do that.” Suddenly, Zachary turned solemn. “I’ll announce to the whole world tomorrow that you are the mother of my children.”
“I doubt that there’s no courageous man around who’s up for the challenge.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Do you think that everyone else is a coward?”
“Try me.” Zachary arched his brow.
“I’ve had enough of your nonsense,” she uttered. “Leave now while the kids are sleeping soundly.”
“No way! Are you going back on your words? You promised the triplets that you’d let me stay here.” Zachary sulked. “They will all cry if I’m not around by the time they get up…”
“I’ll just comfort them.” Charlotte cut him off. “That’s how children grow and learn.”
“Why are you so cruel? Why can’t you just let me stay for a few days? What’s the big deal?” He could not understand her decision.
“Are you leaving?” She started to get impatient. “Otherwise, I’ll drag you out.”
