Arrange Marriage to a Heartless CEO のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 71 - チャプター 80

CHARLOTTE'S POVThe scream tore from my throat before I knew it was mine. It wasn’t fear exactly more like a rush of something half-remembered, something that hit so hard and fast it burned behind my eyes.Elsie’s hands were on my shoulders in seconds. “Charlotte? Charlotte, what is it?” The room blurred. The walls in my room seem as if it was closing up. My breathing was sharp and uneven, the sound too loud in the quiet room.“I…” My lips trembled. “I saw… I don’t know what I saw.”Elsie’s worried eyes darted to the door. She didn’t have to call, Aiden was already there. He moved quickly, quietly, in that controlled way of his that made the air around him shift.“What happened?” His voice was low, steady, but the tension underneath it was impossible to miss.“Charlotte.” He said my name like it was sacred, like he’d been afraid he’d never repeat it.I pressed a hand to my chest, forcing myself to breathe. “It’s… blurry,” I whispered. “Something flashed in my head. Just voices, and

AIDEN’S POVThe morning light broke through the tall glass windows, painting gold lines across the floor of my study. The house was tranquil, too quiet, except for the soft, distant hum of the house staff starting their day. Having two home staff members is so peaceful.The silence had weight to it now. Since Charlotte’s return, every sound, a door closing, the clink of a cup, carried an echo of everything she didn’t remember.I closed the laptop on my desk and leaned back in the chair. My reflection in the dark screen looked older than I remembered. Maybe it was the sleepless nights, or maybe guilt aged a man faster.The home phone on the desk buzzed. “Sir, Miss Sheila on line one,” came Elsie's voice on the intercom.I sighed. “Put her through.”Her voice came brisk and clipped, as always. “Good morning, sir. Quick rundown, Tokyo wants confirmation on the shipping clause. Mr. Bennett from London is waiting for your signature, and… your father’s been calling since seven.”.”My jaw cl

CHARLOTTE'S POVAiden walked beside me in the hallway. Aiden gave me a tour of the house and took me to show me my study room.His shirt sleeves were rolled up, veins visible against his skin, a silver watch catching the morning light. The faint scent of his cologne, woody, subtle, hung in the air, grounding me in that fragile calm.Then my phone rang.“Hello?” My voice trembled just slightly.“Charlotte Kingston,” a lady asked. “Yes, this is she, who is this, please?”The pause that followed felt longer than seconds. Then, a voice.Smooth. Cold. Calculated.“Hey, Lottie.”I froze. “What?”The sound of my name from that voice was enough to send a ripple of dread through my spine.“Theodore?” I whispered.I felt Aiden stiffen immediately. He turned toward me, eyes narrowing as he read my expression.“I see your husband is still playing hero,” the voice continued, mocking, as though enjoying my disbelief. “Tell him I’m not done.”My heart started pounding in my chest so hard it hurt.

CHARLOTTE'S POV The next morning felt too quiet, like the walls of the mansion were holding their breath.Light filtered weakly through the sheer curtains, soft and gold, but I couldn’t feel its warmth. My head throbbed dully from all the crying. My throat ached and my eyes felt raw. There was that heavy stillness that comes after chaos, the kind that tricks you into believing peace has returned, when in truth, it’s just exhaustion.I was still sitting up when the door creaked open. I didn’t look. I didn’t have the strength to perform.Aiden’s footsteps entered the room, slow, measured, uncertain. He wasn’t used to being uncertain.“You should eat something,” he said quietly. His voice was hoarse, like he hadn’t slept either. “Elsie left a tray.”“I’m not hungry,” I replied flatly.He lingered a few steps from the bed. I could feel his eyes on me, searching for the smallest opening, the smallest mercy.“Charlotte…” he began.“Don’t,” I said softly. “Please don’t.”There was a long p

AIDEN’S POVThe night was soft. Warm, golden lights hung from the trees, the scent of roses mixing with the faint sound of the fountain nearby. Charlotte sat across from me in the garden, her face glowing gently under the lights, her laughter quiet and unsure, like she didn’t trust it yet.And I couldn’t blame her, not after everything I’d put her through, she had every reason to be cautious around me, but God, she is beautiful.I lifted my glass, pretending to study the wine just so I could look at her longer. She had this way of tucking her hair behind her ear whenever she was nervous. She’d done it three times since we sat down.“You’ve been quiet,” she said softly, breaking the silence. “What are you thinking about?”“You,” I answered before I could stop myself.Her eyes widened slightly, a hint of pink brushing her cheeks. “Me?”“Yeah,” I said, leaning back. “I’m thinking about how grateful I am that you’re still here… still trying.”She smiled faintly. “It’s not easy.”“I know,”