Semua Bab The Billionaire I Met On My Worst Night : Bab 21 - Bab 30

Andrew stopped a few feet from the Stewart family circle, slipping his hands into his pockets with a manufactured, arrogant swagger. He looked Charlotte up and down, his gaze lingering on the plunging neckline of her white silk gown before shifting to the imposing frame of the billionaire at her side. "Charlotte," Andrew drawled, projecting his voice so the nearby society bloggers could catch every word. "We were surprised to get the invitation, but we couldn't miss your big debut. You look... well, you look like you're trying very hard."Sienna let out a breathy, malicious laugh, leaning heavily against Andrew's arm. "It really is a stunning costume, sister. Though I have to wonder how long you can keep up this little charade. We all know you aren't exactly built for high society."A hushed, electric silence fell over the immediate vicinity. Cameras flashed rapidly in their peripheral vision. Beatrice held her breath, a triumphant gleam in her eye, waiting for Charlotte to shatter.

The morning sun crept through the sheer curtains of the master suite, casting a bright glow over the remnants of the night before. Charlotte's custom white silk gown was still pooled haphazardly on the floor, while the priceless diamond collar rested carelessly on a nearby velvet chair.Charlotte shifted, stifling a soft groan as her muscles protested. She opened her eyes to find Edward already awake, sitting in the armchair by the window. He had traded his tuxedo for dark gray slacks, leaving his crisp white shirt completely unbuttoned over his chest. He was scrolling intently on a sleek silver tablet. At the rustle of the heavy cotton sheets, Edward lifted his gaze. For a moment, the calculating executive disappeared, replaced by a flicker of the same raw intensity that had consumed them hours earlier."Good morning," he murmured, his voice a low, gravelly rasp that sent a sudden shiver straight down her spine. Charlotte pushed herself up against the headboard, instinctively clutc

The next morning, the Morrison Gallery was already bustling with activity.Charlotte stood in front of a massive contemporary canvas in the main exhibition hall, a clipboard in her hand. But her eyes weren't focused on the brushstrokes. Her mind was entirely consumed by the heavy, suffocating tension that had thickened the air in Edward's mansion the night before. “When you are behind these doors, in my suite... you are mine.”His voice echoed in her head, rough, gravelly, and entirely possessive. She had signed a business contract to save her family's legacy and exact revenge on Andrew, but nothing about the way Edward looked at her felt like business. It felt dangerous. It felt entirely too real. "Earth to Mrs. Stewart."Charlotte blinked, startled out of her thoughts as Nancy Hayes stepped into her line of sight, waving a manicured hand in front of her face. "You've been staring at that painting for ten minutes," Nancy noted, her sharp eyes missing nothing as she handed Charlott

The vibration of Charlotte’s phone cut through the quiet hum of the Stewart mansion. She glanced at the caller ID, her hand freezing over her morning coffee. It was her father. Jacob Morrison hadn't called her once since she walked out of the Vanguard Lounge on Edward Stewart’s arm. Taking a steadying breath, she answered. "Dad?""Charlotte," Jacob’s voice came through the speaker, sounding heavy and exhausted. "I know this is unexpected. But I’d like you to come home for dinner tonight."Charlotte frowned, leaning against the marble kitchen island. "Dad, I haven't been back to the house since... well, you know exactly why I haven't been back.""I know," Jacob sighed. "But Sienna is remorseful. She left Andrew. And she wants to apologize to you, face-to-face. Please, Charlotte. I just want my family in one room again without a war."Charlotte closed her eyes. A part of her wanted to hang up. But another part—the part that had spent her entire life protecting her younger sister—felt

The gray morning light crept through the heavy silk drapes of the mansion's master suite, casting long, pale shadows across the massive bed. Charlotte lay perfectly still, her head resting against the plush pillows. Beside her, Edward was still asleep. In the quiet calm of the morning, the harsh, ruthless lines of his face were softened. He looked almost peaceful. But Charlotte’s heart was beating a frantic, restless rhythm against her ribs. “Long before you knew me.”The words echoed in the silence of the room. He hadn't denied watching her. He hadn't denied being the shadow lurking in the background of her life for three years. He had only refused to tell her why. Charlotte quietly slipped out from under the heavy duvet. She looked back at Edward, her mind racing. Confronting a man who had built an empire on calculated silence was useless. If she was going to uncover the truth, she couldn't rely on him to hand it to her. She needed evidence. Hours later, the Morrison Gallery w