The courtroom crackled with tension as Derik sat stiffly beside Charlotte and the lawyer he had hired, the best lawyer in the world. His eyes fixed on Jessica, the woman who had torn his world apart.Charlotte, on the other hand, was cold, her hands shivered as her wounds were opened again. She couldn't help but remember her tragic past. The feeling of being pushed down the stairs, the pain of losing her first child. Her emotions were just like how she lost her mother twelve years ago when she lost her mother. She stared into space as heaviness clouded her mind.Derik sensed the tension in her heart and saw her clustered hands shaking, couldn't help but feel sorry for her. He felt it was his fault, if he had not met Jessica that night, if he... emotions clouded his mind. He placed his hand on Charlotte's shivering hands and turned to look at her, "Justice will be served, I promise you."Hearing those words, tears began to flow from her eyes. He gently pulled her into his embrace, feeli
The next morning, they left in a car. On the way, he asked her, "Do you have plans for tonight?"She looked at him. "Working.""Cancel. I have a wine shop to attend tonight. Accompany me there. Consider it as the reward for helping you out of the predicament at the bar last time.""I thanked you""As far as I am concerned, that was not thanks. Rather, it is a form of torture for drinking that bitter coffee. To make the me feel comfortable would be to thank him.""This man is...." He tilted his head and smiled, looking out the window.When the driver saw this scene in the rearview mirror, he silently thought to himself, His big boss was actually smiling because of a woman, is this some kind of miracle?When class ended in the afternoon, she had just left school when she was picked up by the secretary arranged by Derik The secretary took her to buy a dress, put on makeup, and a haircut. Standing in front of the mirror, she almost couldn't recognize herself.Although her face was still th
Charlotte could hear nothing in the silence.The music and the discussions.All she could feel was the warmth of his lips, the aroma of wine.As for him, he seemed to be unable to stop from kissing her.Initially, he thought that he was infatuated with her lips because he had never had a woman. However, all of a sudden, he was unable to control himself.But this time, why?He couldn't explain it to himself.When the dance ended, she was led unsteadily out of the dance floor, but her mind was still in a daze.The looks from the crowd hadn't lessened, but she wasn't in the mood to pay attention to them.She just couldn't understand why he would do that.Thinking that James Lockwood was still here, she felt so embarrassed.She looked towards the corner where James Lockwood wasBut he had left some time ago.She didn't see James, but she saw Ethan Lockwood, her brother with a single glance.Ethan, who was standing, looked at her in disappointment.Her heart tightened with shame.After a mo
Ethan smiled as he caressed her hair, "Good girl"she chuckled,I know you wanted me to say that but I'm afraid I can't agree to your request for the time being,"she looked at him." Mr. Miller brother's exam is happening in a month's time and changing tutors might not get along well with him and besides I've already been paid for the services.""That is not a problem, Name the price, I will goddamn pay it.As for your worry between Derik's brother and a new tutor, that is not something you should be bothered about. A person like Derik is not someone that you should toy with Charlly. With a person like him, you can't get anything other than a one minute happiness. Take advantage of the fact that you are not friends and get away from him immediately.""A moment of hapiness" she kept repeating those words and felt a little uncomfortable, "At least, I got that from a stranger rather than my family.""Charlotte, I understand your plight. But...that moment of happiness will only lead to nothin
Suddenly, his Secretary called, "Mr. Miller, I have information regarding the lockwoods"He wanted to hear it badly but definitely not in front of charlotte, "I'll catch up with you later," he said, eyeing Charlotte, who was busy foaming in the back seat.Later that night, in his room, he phoned his secretary, "What's the deal with the Lockwoods?""Mr. Miller, last year, Lockwoods' company started going bankrupt.""Company? Lockwood's Corporation?""Yeah, their annual revenue dropped from three million dollars to thirty million in a few months.""What? How...? What happened?""Ethan Lockwood took over the company, and now it's on the brink of collapse.""Collapsing?" He smirked. That word pleased him. "He wanted to bring down the Lockwoods, but it looks like he's got help. What's their next move?""They're trying to marry off their daughter to Zayn Smith, the Smith family's eldest son.""Their daughter? Which one?""We're not sure, but it seems to be Emily."Derik frowned. They were tr
"What? Bastard!" He cursed at him.He continued to laugh like the jerk he was. "What audacity do you have to come here thinking I will give my sister to you, Mr. Miller? You've got some nerve," he said, walking closer.Derik scoffed, giving him a look the man could never seem to fathom. "Oh! Yes, I demand your sister and I won't leave without her." he said authoritatively "You know why? Because you are personally going to hand her over to me!""I love your fantasies; it keeps me on edge," he rolled his eyes. "Mr. Miller, I advise you to leave now before I send the guard to throw a man of your caliber out!" His voice suddenly changed."I don't think so, you bastard!""Enough of you calling me a bastard," he said as he hit Derik's chest in fury, making him stagger back."Oh, yes! You are a bastard, you are a snake! Listen, Ethan, you know what I am capable of doing. If you don't release Charlotte right away, I'm going to tell the whole world your true identity!"His face suddenly change
Charlotte's Point of View I couldn't pinpoint how or when it happened, but I felt a soft kiss on my lips, tasting of strawberries. I wanted to push him away, but found myself unable to resist his gentle touch. Before I could fully comprehend what was occurring, he delicately laid me back on the bed, continuing to kiss me. Slowly, he untied my blouse, and I knew what was about to transpire. I removed his shirt, leaving himself half-naked, he rested upon me, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around his shoulders as we continued kissing Suddenly, he stopped and stood up, his emotions on his face. "Derik, why did you stop?" I asked, unable to conceal my desire for it to stop "Charlotte," Derik whispered, his voice so gentle. "I stopped because if I continue, I might not be able to control myself. I don't want to rush this. I want it to be right, to be meaningful. What happened between us that night was a bit of a mistake." I stare at him in shock, unsure of what's going on, Did he
When the class ended in the afternoon, Charlotte saw Vincent coming to pick her up at the school gate.She hadn't planned to go to Millers at all. However, in the afternoon, Vincent called her and said he did well in the exam and wanted to treat her to a good meal. In order to not let Vincent's good mood go, she agreed.When they arrived, they saw Derik there along with his secretary. Derik was chatting in the courtyard with his secretary, giving her orders and sounding a little pissed. The secretary left, and Derik met her gaze.She nodded at Derik and Derik walked up to her and pointed to Charlotte a perfectly packaged portable box. "Charlotte, this is my gift to you."Charlotte smiled and waved her hand. "It's enough that he did well; that is enough gift for me as his teacher. This is not necessary."Derik smiled, knowing she wasn't going to accept it like in the past, but he secretly hoped that she would."Alright, I will treat you to a meal, the least I can do," he said, withdra