LOGINCharlotte's POV By the time we arrived at Johansson's estate, the sun had begun sinking into the dark horizon. The mansion stood behind enormous wrought-iron gates, surrounded by well-trimmed gardens and tall ornamental trees. The sprawling estate looked more like a private resort than an ordinary family home.The building itself combined classical architecture with modern luxury, featuring cream-colored stone walls, enormous windows, tall columns, and several balconies overlooking the gardens.The instant the car stopped, Melissa practically jumped out of the back seat. Beside their stunning house stood her parents, who were already waiting in open arms."Mom!" Melissa ran toward her mother.Rebecca immediately opened her arms."My little flower!" she purred, pulling her daughter into a tight embrace.Patrick Johansson stood beside them with a proud smile before pulling Melissa into another warm hug."Look at you," he said affectionately, giving her a gentle squeeze on the shoulder.
Charlotte's POVThe moment I stepped into the arrivals terminal at Asheville Regional Airport, I was surrounded by the familiar mix of rolling suitcases, overhead announcements, and the low murmur of travelers coming and going through the hall.Cautiously, I scanned the crowded arrival hall until I spotted a familiar brunette, standing beside several large suitcases near the baggage claim area.Melissa.She held her phone in one hand, while impatiently glancing between the digital flight board and the passengers emerging from the arrivals corridor.The instant her eyes landed on me, her entire face lit up with elation."Charlotte!" she squealed, dropping her phone onto one of her suitcases before rushing toward me.I barely had time to open my arms before she wrapped them around me in a crushing bear hug."You're finally here!" she exclaimed, squeezing me so tightly that my ribs almost protested.A tired smile tugged at my lips."Easy, Mel."I hugged her back, though my energy was now
Charlotte's POV For a brief moment, I simply stared at Dalton, wondering where this conversation was going. He had dragged me all the way here claiming he needed to explain himself, yet every answer he gave seemed to raise even more nerve-racking questions.What exactly was he trying to tell me?I raised an eyebrow suspiciously."What does that mean?""It's a contract," he stated, his tone bearing a serious edge."Of course it is." I sneered, taking his words as a joke."I'm serious," he insisted firmly.Then he lowered his voice to a hushed tone."The marriage was arranged for business reasons. Her family needed something from mine, and my company needed access to their resources.""So you married her for money?" I exclaimed, shock written all over my face."Not exactly." Dalton shrugged casually."You just described exactly that," I argued.His jaw clenched, and his gaze hardened like cold marble stone."Things were complicated.""Everything seems complicated when you're trying to
Charlotte's POV Standing in the kitchen, I prepared to make chicken fajitas for lunch. I sliced the chicken breast into thin strips, seasoned it with chili powder, cumin, garlic, salt, and a squeeze of lime, then set it aside.Next, I turned on my ThermaSense Smart Induction Hob and placed a large skillet on its smooth black surface. Once the automatic display indicated that the pan had reached the right temperature, I drizzled in some olive oil and added the chicken.While it was cooking, I turned to the vegetables. I grabbed a red bell pepper, a green bell pepper, and some shallot onion and began slicing them into smaller pieces.Just then, my phone pinged.Again.It had been going off nonstop since morning, ever since I'd run into my ex-boyfriend, Dalton Hunter, at the grocery store.At first, I ignored it.Then I turned on Do Not Disturb.But curiosity eventually got the better of me. Why had Dalton been texting me so persistently?Deactivating the setting, I watched as my screen
Charlotte's POV The moment Melissa had mentioned throwing me a party, I almost choked at my breath. She seriously wanted to throw a party? For me?The idea felt strange. After everything that had happened recently, celebrating wasn't exactly the first thing on my mind. I had spent the past few days dealing with an illegal pharmaceutical company, an assassination attempt, and a six-year-old boy who had somehow managed to worm his way into my thoughts.I wasn't even sure I deserved a celebration.But knowing Melissa, she probably wouldn't take no for an answer. She had always been like that—stubborn, overly enthusiastic, and completely incapable of letting me wallow in my own thoughts.A small smile crept across my face.As ridiculous as her idea sounded, a part of me couldn't deny that it was nice having someone who cared enough to make a fuss over me. However, I still declined her offer."No Melissa. I don't need a party" I said, trying to dissuade her."What's wrong with spoiling my
Charlotte's POV Sunday mornings have always been my favorite day. The reasons were there: no deadlines, no frantic phone calls from editors, no rushing through breakfast while mentally preparing questions for an interrogation. Just me, the road, and several peaceful hours before the rest of the world became noisy.I stirred up dizzily from bed as the warmth of sunlight brushed past my face. For a minute, I remained beneath the sheets, staring lazily at the ceiling. Then I turned my head toward the window.The morning outside was beautiful.The sky was a clear, pale blue, which was gradually brightening as the last traces of dawn thinned beyond the horizon. Patches of white clouds sailed lazily across it, while the rising sun cast a warm golden glow over the surrounding landscape.Beyond my window, Asheville looked almost untouched by the chaos of everyday life.A thin layer of mist hovered over the distant Blue Ridge Mountains, making their green slopes appear softer and farther away







