002

CHARLOTTE

In the blink of an eye, Noah landed a punch on Liam.

“You bastard!” Liam rushed forward to retaliate, but I moved between them, spreading my arms to obstruct him.

“Stop! Stop, please!” I cried desperately and then looked at Liam pleadingly.

But he just scoffed and spat out blood from his bruised lips. “Measly bastards! That is what you both are. You know, right?”

His chest rumbled with wicked laughter as he swiped his mouth with his palm.

Noah moved to punch him again, but I held him back.

“No,” I shook my head. “He is not worth it,” I told him, pushing him back.

Liam clapped, still not giving up. “You want to protect your sister, huh? Then it would be best if you protected yourself first, Noah. Your sister is an imposter, or have you forgotten how she managed to live under Sophia’s identity for so long?” He spat. “She will do the same to you if you’re not careful.”

“My sister didn't–” I pulled Noah back, shutting him off before he could continue. “Let’s just leave.”

“But sis…”

“Let’s go.” I cut in, dragging him away, but Liam’s next words stopped me.

“If you don’t come with me to the hospital, then just forget about your son.”

“You…you wouldn’t dare.” My feet wobbled as I turned to look at him, but he only smirked.

“Try me.” He began to walk to his car. “I will let little Charlie know that his mother abandoned him when he needed her most. That his mother is a selfish, uncaring liar who has no regard for…”

“Stop!”

“…anyone. She’s a bitch, and she doesn’t care about him.”

“Stop!” I screamed, fingers digging into my palm, but Liam didn’t stop like always.

He wouldn’t stop until I gave him what he wanted. And he wanted my bone marrow for Sophia.

Suddenly, I let go of Noah’s wrist and stepped back.

“Charlotte, what are you doing? I came to take you home. Won’t you…”

“I’m sorry, Noah, but I have to do this. I have to go with Liam.”

“Why? You shouldn’t do anything you don’t want to…”

I cut in again, this time sniffing back the tears. “I don’t have a choice, Noah. I have to do this because of him. I have to do what Liam says because of my son."

Unhappiness coated my face as I leaned against the car, ignoring Liam as he rambled on how useless I was.How blind he had been to marry a wench like me.

I said nothing in response. He wanted me to talk. He wanted to rile me up so that I would fuel his hatred and anger, but I was not going to do that. I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

“You will do as I say, okay?” I managed to hear him amidst his tirade.

I leaned further into the car, wishing I could run away from him and his family.

Honestly, I felt guilty for taking Sophia’s place in the family. When it was revealed, I was shocked and had put myself in her position.

If I were to be the one, I would also be filled with hatred. But I wasn’t, which was why I endured Sophia's deliberate actions.

Honestly, I did think of ways to apologize to her, but she had her motives: to bring me down before everyone who thought I was a good person. It reached the point that even the maids didn't deem me respectable anymore.

My life in the Windsor house was not rosy, even though that was what people thought.

They believed that for as long as you lived in the Windsor mansion, you had luxury at your beck and call. It was a lie they had somehow managed to paint for the press.

I didn't blame the people who thought coming into the Windsor’s mansion was like a jackpot for wealth.

People kept asking me in prison what living in such a luxurious mansion felt like. I was tempted to tell them the truth but hid it and never responded.

I was mocked for falling from grass to grace, beaten like a bag of shit, and degraded by the prison attendants. One would think I committed murder judging by the way I was treated.

The only thing that kept me going was the knowledge that my biological mom and Noah had accepted me.

The fact that Noah even remembered the day I would be released brought warmth to my heart.

At least I was not entirely rejected and abandoned.

I didn't want to trouble them. Noah would go to any length to protect his family, and I knew he could kill Liam if he had his way.

I let out a deep sigh and kept my eyes glued to the traffic lights.

Everything had changed, and for the briefest moment, my mind wandered to Sophia. Again.

God, that woman was the bane of my existence.

I still remember years back when she accused me of pushing her down the stairs. That accusation was the worst she’d ever told of me, and for the first time, I’d decided to fight back.

I couldn’t sit back and watch her ruin my entire life. But maybe I should have sat back. Perhaps I should have kept mute and not fought back because I only met more humiliation when I did.

Somehow, Sophia had made the entire family see me as the villain and the jealous witch who wanted what did not belong to her, so even when I tried proving my innocence, no one believed me. The Windsor’s didn't trust me anymore. My husband, Liam, didn’t either.

He filed for divorce quickly after learning the truth, and after Sophia's accident, Liam used my children as leverage to demand that I go to jail for Sophia. Those three years were painfully slow, and once I requested that I see my son, I was given the flimsy excuse that the prison was the wrong place to bring children.

Now, again, for the sake of my kid, I have to do as told or else… I glanced at Liam before shaking away the thoughts in my head.

The car slowly screeched to a halt and parked before the hospital building.

Turning off the car’s engine, Liam removed the key and faced me. “I know you have something up your sleeve. Don't try it. I'm warning you, or else… you know the consequences.” He warned. “Get out, and don't try to escape..”

I hurried out.

He rounded the car, stopped before me, and spoke again. “You will do as told. After all, you pushed her down the stairs, and she was there because of you. Donating this bone is the price you have to pay.”

“But why, Liam.” My voice sounded broken. “Why did you never believe me?I never wanted to steal Sophia's life. ”

“But you done! ” He hissed and grabbed my arm. “Shut the fuck up! You’re a filthy liar, and I’ll never believe a word that comes out from you!”He pushed me roughly into the moving elevator.

“Please, Li…”

“Move! Now, move!” He cut in, barking heavily, and the door slid closed.