Louis stood at the doorway of the study room, staring at Zachary fearfully.
When he finally collected himself, he was surprised to discover a small handgun in his hand. Louis hastily stuffed the weapon into his shirt sleeve.
“What’s it got to do with you?” Charlotte remained as hostile as before and continued, “I’ve cut ties with you since the moment you threw me out on the wedding and forced me to leave without my child. You have no right to interrogate me about the men I date or marry.”
“Is this your way of saying that y-you were together last night?” Zachary seemed to ignore her statement, obsessed with only knowing what had happened the night before.
Charlotte steeled herself and answered, “Yes.”
Technically, I was together with Louis last night. He’s the one asking vague questions.
“Great! Just great!”
Zachary’s hopes were utterly destroyed, along with his earlier composure. His gaze turned dangerous as he emanated a murderous aura.
He had initially thought that this was an elaborate hoax by the Laurent family to prevent him from reuniting with Charlotte and foiling her marriage plans with Louis.
In his imagination, Charlotte was a victim of drugging. Even if anything happened between Louis and her, he would forgive her if she was not a willing participant.
Charlotte’s face was, however, devoid of any sadness or regret. Instead, she behaved as if she was trying to keep her distance from him.
She had not refuted anything that Sherlyn and Louis had said earlier.
And now, she had given him a direct answer to his pressing question.
Little by little, they chipped away at Zachary’s fantasy of a loving reunion with Charlotte.
I should never have come here bearing false hope. She’s changed a great deal since returning, and she’s no longer the Charlotte of my past. How could this be?
Zachary’s clenched fists were shaking with anger as he glared at Charlotte like a starved beast.
Charlotte continued to avoid his gaze as she declared, “Right then, everything’s cleared up. Thank you for bringing Jamie to visit me, and I’d be grateful if you could allow him to stay for a few days. I’d love to spend time with him and Ellie. You can take this time to accompany Robbie as well.”
She droned on about the children as if last night’s incident was nothing of consequence.
Unbeknownst to her, Zachary’s gaze was growing murderous at a frightful rate.
“You can even bring Robbie away with you for a couple of days as long as he’s agreeable to it.” Charlotte took a deep breath before saying her farewells. “That’s all I have to say. Goodbye.”
She was about to leave when Zachary lunged at her and pinned her against the couch.
“Zachary!” Louis rushed forward but was stopped by Ben.
“Ms. Lindberg!” Morgan was about to do the same when Marino pulled her back.
Zachary held Charlotte by her chin and gritted out, “Charlotte! Do you know how hard I’ve been trying to resolve the feud between the Lindbergs and the Nachts? I’ve been racking my brains for ways to approach you and make things up to you.”
He continued impassionedly, “I even risked my life to find you. Whenever I was on the brink of death, the thought of you filled me with hope and the determination to survive. I did all this because I believed you would be awaiting my return as eagerly as I anticipated our reunion. But it looks like I was wrong. You couldn’t even wait one night. You threw yourself into another man’s arms despite knowing that I was coming to get you today.”
