تسجيل الدخولDuring a quiet lunch, Mr. Wendell Carter, Howard, and Charlotte sat together, each lost in their own thoughts as the soft clatter of cutlery and muted conversations enveloped them. Wendell’s steady gaze broke the silence.“I’ve called you both here,” Wendell said, his voice calm but purposeful, “because I needed to speak with you alone.”Howard and Charlotte both paused, sensing the weight behind his words.Wendell continued without hesitation, “Delaying the wedding any further is not right. It must happen by the end of this week.”Howard’s patience wore thin. He looked at his grandfather with restrained frustration and then at Charlotte, trying to find some support. “Why such haste? I know your decision is final, but surely we deserve some time to prepare?” he asked quietly.Charlotte’s voice was even, her demeanor composed. “I have no problem with the timeline,” she said simply, taking a sip of her drink.Howard shot her a sharp glare, his anger simmering beneath the surface.Wendel
Wendell and Howard arrived at the city’s finest luxury restaurant, the neatly polished entrance gleaming under soft golden lights. As they entered, the maître d’ directed them to a reserved table. Howard scanned the room expectantly—but Charlotte was nowhere to be seen.Wendell glanced at him sharply. “Where is she?” he asked straightforwardly.Howard, irritation flaring, shrugged. “How would I know?”Wendell leaned forward, his voice firmer. “She’s your fiancée, Howard. You should know. Call her right now.”Howard stayed silent, eyes flicking to his phone but not moving to dial.Wendell raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you don’t have your fiancée’s number.”Howard’s jaw tightened. The air between them crackled with tension as Wendell waited for an answer.Charlotte glanced at her wristwatch and was shocked. "Oh no, I'm late!" she muttered urgently. Julia had sent her a message from Howard, reminding her of their 1 PM meeting at Le Bernardin. Anxiety pushed her to move quickly; she g
Howard entered his office without a word, the sound of his shoes echoing sharply against the marble floor. He caught sight of the files on his desk—stacked precisely, just as he’d instructed.Julia stood beside the desk, posture tense. When Howard glanced her way, she offered a quiet, “Good morning, sir.” He didn’t respond, not even with a nod.He moved to his chair, ignoring any attempt at small talk. Julia began, “I’ve prepared the annual transaction and financial expenses report, as you requested.” Her voice trembled just enough to betray her nerves.Howard didn’t look at her. “Leave it. Go.” His tone was flat and distant, every syllable clipped and disinterested.Julia hesitated, then silently placed the documents in front of him. Without another word, she left the room, the door closing quietly behind her. Howard’s expression did not shift. He picked up the first page, eyes scanning the numbers with the cold, unfeeling focus of a man who allowed no one near—especially not those w
Howard was busy on his laptop in his bedroom when there was a knock on the door.“Come in,” he said.Moments later, Anastasia entered with a cup of coffee, smiling sweetly.“Howard, your coffee,” she said.Howard looked up at her and smiled faintly.“Anna, thank you, but you don’t need to bring this every day. There are plenty of maids in the house—you could ask one of them to bring it.”Anastasia wore a mask of innocence, her tone filled with sweetness, but her mind was plotting something else entirely. She had never seen Howard as a brother but as the man she loved. And soon, Charlotte was about to take him away from her—something Anastasia could never allow.Placing the cup on the table, she said softly, “Howard, just like you care for me, I care for you too. It makes me happy to do little things for you. Your future wife thinks I’m a burden to this family. Once she marries and comes here, who knows what more she’ll say—maybe she’ll even take away my right to bring you your nightly
Charlotte’s irritation grew. She finally broke the silence.“This is my duty time, and I’m supposed to be focused,” she said sharply, her voice edged with frustration. “And here I am with you... You neither take any initiative nor let anyone else do anything. At least tell me—where are we going?”Howard paid no attention to her question. Without turning to her, he instructed the driver, “Take me to Ryan’s office.”The driver acknowledged curtly, “Yes, sir.”Charlotte sighed, sinking a little deeper into the seat, the unanswered question hanging heavy between them.After some time, the car pulled up in front of a familiar building—Brown Law Firm. Charlotte recognized the place immediately; it was known to her and linked to Howard’s circle of friends. Her mind recalled Ryan—the one friend who had always stood by Howard's side. But just two years after Charlotte and Howard’s marriage, their bond had abruptly ended for reasons unknown.Curious and cautious, Charlotte asked quietly, “Why h
The morning unfolded like any other in the hospital—busy, brisk, and buzzing with quiet urgency. Dr. Charlotte adjusted her mask as she trailed behind Dr. Robert through the echoing hallway. Both of them usually worked with adult cardiac cases, managing complex surgeries and recovery plans that required precision and nerves of steel. But today was different.The resident pediatrician was out on emergency leave, and the children’s cardiac ward still needed routine morning rounds. The head nurse, clearly overwhelmed, had asked the two adult specialists for temporary assistance.“It’s just a basic check-up, nothing critical,” Dr. Robert had said before they entered the ward. “Vitals, wound dressing, oxygen monitoring—routine stuff until Dr. Singh returns.”Charlotte nodded, though her heart softened as soon as they stepped inside. Rows of small beds lined the pastel-colored room, each occupied by a child hooked up to devices that hummed rhythmically. Their faces looked far too calm for w







