Five

CHARLOTTE’S P.O.V.

I didn’t think it would be possible for my heart to break any more than it already had, but it felt like it stopped this time.

I stood there staring in shock until the fog lifted and I could think again. My footsteps were quiet as I followed after them, watching from a distance as Justin led his mistress into the elevator. 

As soon as the doors closed, I was running down the stairs as fast as my feet could carry me.

The heavy metal door swung open as I threw my body into it, but I immediately ducked back inside when I heard the elevator ding and saw them getting off. 

They didn’t notice me, and for that I was grateful, because everyone else in the lobby was staring at me like I had just escaped from the psychiatric ward. 

I forced a smile and waited for them to reach the front door before I followed behind them, just in time to see my husband help her into a car identical to the one he had just given me for my birthday.

As Tara got into the car, she glanced back toward the hospital. Her eyes immediately landed on me, as if she had known I was here, watching them, and sent me a triumphant smile that made my stomach twist in knots.

Justin closed the door after her before jogging around to the other side and getting in the driver’s seat. 

He had refused to drive with me, always insisting he was far too busy for it and that he needed to use his personal driver, but he seemed to have the time for her.

Dark clouds were forming overhead, and as they pulled away, I took a deep breath before pulling out my phone to check on my ride. 

Instead, there was another message, and my thumb trembled as I hovered over the notification before selecting it. 

‘I believe congratulations are an order. I’m pregnant with the child he’s always wanted, the one you haven’t given him in four years.’

I stood frozen, unable to tear my eyes from the screen as an ultrasound image came in next.

It was true. She really was carrying his baby.

The first raindrop hit my cheek as I stared after their car. 

I tapped my phone screen to call for a ride, only for my screen to turn black as the battery died. 

Within seconds, the sky opened and rain began pouring, leaving me soaked.

“Are you kidding me?!” I yelled at the sky as I shoved my phone in my pocket. 

Fat drops of rain pelted my face, and I looked back down as a car pulled up before me. 

The backseat window lowered, and my jaw dropped open as flashes of the club filled my head. 

“Fancy running into you here,” Derek said, grinning widely, before scooting over. “Come on. I’ll give you a ride.”

My eyebrows pinched together in disbelief as I stared at the perfect stranger. “Absolutely not! I’ve listened to enough true crime podcasts to know when I would get murdered, and getting into a stranger’s car in the middle of a storm is it.”

Butterflies filled my chest with embarrassment as his head dropped back and he laughed loudly. 

“I have a meeting later and don’t have time to deal with a body, and Alfred here,” He said, pointing to his driver, “Doesn’t get paid enough to look the other way. You’re safe with us.” 

I blinked at him several times as my body began to shake from the cold, the rain soaking in through every layer of clothes, down to my skin. 

“My answer is still no,” I said, but I couldn’t help but lean in closer when I felt the warm air coming from his car. 

“Then we’ll just wait until your ride is here so I know you’re safe.” He said, tilting his head to the side in a challenge, as if he knew I was stranded. “Besides, we aren’t strangers. Even if you weren’t my nephew’s wife, with what happened two nights ago…”

Horror and humiliation rushed through me, and I pointed my finger in his direction. 

“Hey! We had a deal to pretend like that never happened!” I accused, and his hands shot up in surrender.

“You’re right.” He said, and I slowly lowered my hand. “If you let me give you a ride, I won’t mention it again.”

I stared at him for a long moment, taking in his piercing green eyes, his smile, and his suit, before giving in. I sighed, yanked the door open, and slid in. “Fine. Deal.”

He immediately sat forward, pulling off his jacket and handing it to me. 

I was shocked, and hesitated for a moment, but eventually gave in and pulled it on. My eyes instinctively closed as I was surrounded by its warmth and his incredible smell, feeling the car start to move forward. 

“Where to miss?” The driver asked, and I glanced between them once more before giving him my address. 

“You really shouldn’t tell strangers where you live,” Derek said teasingly, rolling his sleeve up over his forearms, just like he had them in the club. 

“I thought you said we weren't strangers."

 His smile grew wider at my sass, and I couldn’t help but return it. 

“Well, it’s only right that we fix this, then, so we aren’t strangers.” He finally said, and I raised my eyebrows at him. “Especially since you threw yourself at me the other night…”

“I did not!” I gasped as he chuckled. 

“It’s nice to meet you, Charlotte. I’m Derek Moretti.” He said, and for reasons that are beyond me, I held my hand out to shake his, heat rushing to my cheeks at my awkwardness. 

I had just started to pull my hand back in embarrassment when his large, warm hand wrapped around it instead. 

“Charlotte… Valente,” I said, hesitating for only a moment as I said my last name. 

“Valente? So either you didn’t take the family name or…” Derek said, and I winced when I realized I had given too much away. I couldn’t have him telling Justin about the divorce before I did. 

“It’s my maiden name,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him in warning. “And it is not up for discussion with me or…” 

“With Justin?” He finished for me. 

Hearing the name was like getting hit with a bucket of ice water, and suddenly the warmth of Derek’s jacket, his smell, his laugh… everything that had made me feel so calm only minutes ago now felt cold. 

“I just saw them… him and the other woman. I’m sorry that he would do that to you. I never thought he would have it in him, but like father, like son. I guess.” Derek said, and I turned my head to peer out into the slowly flooding road and the pouring rain. “If you need help, I know a good divorce lawyer.”  

I forced a smile and shook my head as we pulled up to the front of my house. He didn’t need to know I already had a lawyer on retainer working up the paperwork.

“I’m sorry to have dragged you into it, but I’ll handle it myself. Thank you for the ride.” 

I grabbed the handle of the door only to see Derek doing the same on his side. 

He didn’t seem at all bothered by the rain and rushed out of the car and around to my side, opening it for me. 

I smiled in gratitude and took his hand, allowing him to help me out.

“Here,” I said, starting to shrug off his jacket as the rain began to lighten. 

“Hold onto it,” He said quickly with a grin, pulling it closed over my chest again. “I’ll get it back another time.”

“Okay,” I breathed out as I tilted my head back to meet his stare before realizing how close we were. 

My feet moved back as I put some space between us. 

“Thank you again, Derek,” I said as the back of my heel hit the step behind me, and I tumbled backward until warm arms wrapped around me.

“I’ve got you,” Derek said, repeating the same words he had the other night when he caught me the first time. “We’ve really got to stop meeting like this.”

I couldn’t help the laugh that left me. But it felt so foreign, like it didn’t belong to me. “I think you’re right.”

My laugh cut off as a cold, familiar voice cut through the drizzle with a fury.

"Let go of my wife!"