Was thatb… /bba /bconfession?

Watching her ears turn bright red, ba /bsmile tugged at theers of Sean’s mouth.

His Lottie was blushing.

J

The next dayb, /bSnowbell’s medical report came back.

Every health marker bwas /bnormalb. /bThere were no signs of distress bor /billness.

bHowever/bb, /bthey did find a scratch on the back of her neck. It was likely caused by a sharp object.

Based on the blocation/b, only someone on her back could have made it.

Once Sean learned that, he stopped visiting Vivian at the hospital altogether.

The Jasper family assigned btop/b–tier nurses bto /bher care, and a housekeeper delivered meals on schedule.

But Sean? He bwas /bwith Charlotte every single day–helping her try on engagement gowns, pick out jewelry, and n everyst detail of the

ceremonyb. /b

No matter how much drama Vivian stirred up, he never set foot in that hospital again.

When Vivian had fallen off the horse, Charlotte thought for sure their engagement would be put on hold.

She hadn’t expected Vivian’s entire scheme to backfire bso /bspectacrlyb–/bactually pushing Sean bto /bconfess his feelings sooner.

That night changed things. Charlotte started to warm up to him.

It wasn’t loveb–/bnot yet.

After the heartbreak she had gone through with Zac, she couldn’t fall again so easily.

But having someone believe in byou/bb, /bchoose you without hesitation, and stand by you unconditionally, it was impossible not to be moved by

that.

The engagement was officially set for the 15th of next month.

It was early October, with just over a month left until the engagement.

That afternoonb, /bbSean /bbrought Charlotte bto /bba /bhigh–end fashion boutique.

bThey /bsat together on a plush bcouch /binside the VIP bsuite/bb, /bwatching as several models, each with a simr build bto /bCharlotteb, /bwalked by showcasing thetest seasonal designs.

b“/bThat pale blue dress looks greatb,/b” Sean said, leaning in and speaking softly by her ear.

“I thought so too,” Charlotte nodded. “And I really like that cream–colored coat as well.”

Just then, her phone buzzed.

She nced at the screen and bopened /bthe message.

Sean respectfully looked away, giving bher /bbspace/b.

Charlotte scrolled through a set bof /bpictures.

They were pictures of Wendy and Zac together. From bthe /bbackground, bit /blooked like they were in Silverridge.

A momentter, a message followed.

“He wouldn’t take you thereb, /bbso /bI went for you. Silverridge is beautiful. Too bad byou’ll /bnever get to see it.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes.

She wasn’t bdead/b. What was that nonsense about never seeing it?

bBack /bwhen she was with Zacb, /bshe was working full–time, bjust /blike anyone else.

bShe /bonly bhad /ba few vacation bdays /ba year, and Silverridge had always been on her list.

bShe /bdidn’t want to go alone, bso /bshe had asked Zac bto /be.

Now? If she wanted to bgo/bb, /ball she had bto /bdo was say bthe /bword.

bShe /bdidn’t bother replying.

bFor /ba secondb, /bshe considered blocking Wendy.

Then she changed bher /bmind.

Wendy’s antics were actually kind of

ientering/i.

She might as well keep her around like a little digital pet.

With a small smirk, she slipped her phone back into her bag.

*

Wendy sent those carefully chosen, heavily filtered photos while curled up in Zac’s arms.

Zac didn’t stop her. In fact, he watched bthe /bwhole thing.

He was hoping Charlotte would react–get mad, get jealous, maybe even call him in a rage.

It had been days since he had heard from her.

He missed her.

So when Wendy sent those pictures, he didn’t say a word.

But then, Charlotte never replied.

“Do you think she blocked me?” Wendy asked, frowning. “No way, right? If she did, the text wouldn’t have gone through.”

Zac tried to reassure himself. “She probably just hasn’t seen it yet.”

Yeah, that had to be it.

There was no way she could just ignore him.

By bthe /bbnext /bnight, there was bstill /bno response.

Zac bcouldn’t /bsit still anymore.

While Wendy was bout /bof the broom/bb, /bbhe /bpulled out his phone band/b, with a dark expression,

“Find bout /bCharlotte Riley’s hometown addressb. /bNow.”

called his assistant.

+25 Bonus