Indeed, when Louis went to Charlotte and told her about the beach getaway, she rejected his offer at once.
Bluntly, she told him that Zachary would be here in two days to pick the kids up, so she would be spending the remaining time with Ellie in the manor.
Though Louis usually would not press the matter if he got rejected, this time, he tried to convince her by saying Ellie could come with them and that he had a surprise all planned out.
Alas, no matter what he said, Charlotte insisted on remaining in the manor.
Dejected, he could only leave reluctantly.
The children’s joyous cries sounded from downstairs when he stepped out of the room.
“I can’t wait to see the magic show!”
“Is the magician any good?”
“Can he teach me some magic?”
The three children gathered around Sherlyn and chattered about the magician troupe that was to arrive tomorrow excitedly.
“Of course, the magicians are good. You’ll love them, I promise. They can teach you magic. If you wish, I can ask them to teach you.” Sherlyn was good at coaxing the children.
“Yay, that sounds amazing!”
Louis felt a stab of jealousy in his heart when he saw how overjoyed the kids were. He was about to return to his room when Robbie and Ellie came upstairs to look for Charlotte.
Ellie had a few dresses in her arm. Hopping happily along the hallway, she asked, “Robbie, which dress is the prettiest? When Daddy and Jamie are here, I want to dress up for them!”
“They are all pretty,” Robbie replied. He seemed to be in a good mood on that day. “All three are of different styles, so you can pick whichever you like most.”
“Hmph, you know nothing. I shall ask Mommy.”
Ellie gathered her dresses and scampered off to Charlotte. When she ran past Louis, she greeted him politely, “Hello, Sir Louis!”
“Hello, Ellie.” Louis flashed her a smile before turning to Robbie. “Hi, Robbie!”
Robbie gave him a friendly nod and followed Ellie into Charlotte’s room.
“Mommy, pick the prettiest dress for me! I shall wear the prettiest dress when Jamie and Daddy arrive!”
“They are all pretty,” Charlotte responded with a hearty laugh.
“See, I was right,” Robbie chimed in.
As the mother and children trio chattered merrily in the background, conflicted feelings washed over Louis.
The insecurity he felt in the face of Zachary’s arrival was insurmountable. Strangely, he had a hunch that his relationship with Charlotte would end once Zachary arrived.
It also meant that their wedding scheduled to be held nine days later might be called off.
At that thought, he plodded back to his room unhappily and drowned his sorrows.
“Louis.” Right then, Diana knocked on his door and entered with a tonic in her hand. “You’ve just recovered from a cold and require a proper recuperation. Aunt Sherlyn told me to give you this—”
“Thank you,” Louis cut her sentence short. He was propping his forehead in his palm, slightly drunk from the alcohol he had consumed earlier.
“What’s wrong, Louis?” she asked, her voice full of concern. “Why are you drinking? Are you in a foul mood?”
“I’m fine. You can leave now.” He brushed her off and returned to his drink.
“Stop drinking!” Diana reached out to take the glass from him, but he refused to loosen his grip.
Losing her balance, she fell onto his lap.
Louis shoved her away hastily and demanded sternly, “Diana, I’m about to get married soon. Don’t do this, please.”
“Get married? Doesn’t sound like that would be happening,” she mumbled to herself.
“What did you just say?” he hissed in displeasure.
“I went past Ms. Lindberg’s room earlier, and I overheard her speaking on the phone with someone. She talked to the person so affectionately, and I even heard her say ‘Hubby.’ I think she hasn’t forgotten about her ex-husband. They will definitely get back together once he comes here,” Diana said, embellishing the truth.
“That’s not possible!” Louis panicked.
Though the rational side of his mind was telling him that Charlotte was not someone like that, he could not help feeling restless at the thought of Zachary and Charlotte’s past relationship.
“It’s true. I heard it with my own ears!” Diana pressed. “Ms. Lindberg even told the kids that she won’t marry you, for she sees you as a good friend. She even said their family will reunite once their daddy arrives.”
