From Desk to Altar: The CEO's Irresistible Bargain

Liam was off the rails, totally losing it.

Daniel couldn't take it, but he didn't make a fuss and just nodded. "As you wish."

Before he took off, Liam shot Serena a long, hard look. She had this smug grin on her face, like she just got away with something, and it was annoying as heck.

"Ugh," Daniel couldn't hide his disgust. "Mr. Parker is just missing Charlotte like crazy, that's why he's letting you walk all over him. But listen up, Serena, you're no Charlotte. Once this little obsession fades, Mr. Parker won't even bother to look your way!"

"Oh, is that so? Tell me, what makes Charlotte and me different?"

Serena was practically rolling her eyes. "What is it? She's selfless and I'm selfish? She's subtle and I'm direct? Or is it that her morals are high and mine are low?"

She could hardly keep from laughing at Daniel's hypocrisy, "Charlotte was too giving, and that's why she got ground down by all of you."

She even felt it was totally unfair to Charlotte.

"Look at how you guys would treat her. If Charlotte somehow came back, she wouldn't be allowed to have a single grievance or demand without being called selfish."

Serena turned to Liam, "You wouldn't even give her the respect she deserved even if she died for you. Liam, I'm actually relieved that Charlotte, the poor thing, is dead. If she were alive to see how holier-than-thou you all are, it would just break her heart."

Liam and Daniel were dumbfounded.

They had never stopped to think what it would be like if Charlotte came back and what her attitude would be.

Now that Serena pointed it out... If Charlotte were really alive, she'd probably be so let down by him, maybe she'd react just like Serena.

Liam was stunned, for the first time truly contemplating the 'what if Charlotte were alive' scenario.

Just thinking about it was enough to depress him.

She'd probably despise him.

Liam walked away with Daniel and Henry in tow, but you could tell that he was wrestling with some pretty intense emotions.

"Really? We're signing up for this? Sure, the project's great, but it means our companies are gonna be super tangled up. If Liam decides to play dirty, he might just use this as an excuse to keep seeing you."

Vincent was puzzled by Serena's move. "We had a deal before you left, remember? You just living happily here is supposed to be the best way to get under his skin."

"I regret that now."

Serena's face went cold, losing her usual aggressive flair. She seemed so serene and restrained, almost like Charlotte. If Liam or Daniel were around, they'd probably do a double-take. "He's got to suffer more."

"Charlotte..." Vincent accidentally said the name, earning a glare from Serena before he quickly corrected himself, "Serena, don't get too caught up. The more you want him to hurt, the more you'll end up wrapped up with him." "I know that."

But she wasn't going to lose herself.

Nothing teaches you to value life quite like death.

The next day, the big reconciliation between the Parker and Blackwood companies hit the news. They were working closely, and the word was out everywhere.

Thanks to Serena's influence, the Parker Group was pouring in most of the startup cash and providing the venue, but they were only getting a tiny share of the profits. This talk made its way into every gossip circle. Lately, Liam had been throwing his weight around, never one to give an inch when it came to profits.

Now, people were digging up dirt, like how Vincent's wife looks a lot like Liam's ex.

Everyone was whispering that Liam was making concessions for a pretty face.

It would've been okay if she was just someone ordinary, but she was Vincent's wife.

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What could've been a sweet story was now the butt of jokes.

Liam was getting slammed with all sorts of labels-'lusting after a married woman,' 'lowly late love,' 'self-deluded and morally corrupt.' It was a PR nightmare.

But he didn't seem to care. Despite the hit to his image, he showed up the next day with presents.

"Mr. Parker's in quite the mood, huh? Bad press doesn't seem to dampen your spirits." Serena glanced at the stuff in his hands-mostly toys and kids' treats.

He was there to see Ethan.

Unbothered, Liam set down the gifts and started looking around for Ethan.

"Where's Ethan?"

"He doesn't want to see you."

After that short chat, the living room went quiet.

Serena expected Liam to leave, not being the type to take a hit to his dignity well.

But to her surprise, he just sat down on the couch.

Out of curiosity, Serena asked, "You do realize I'm the one who spread those stories, right?"

"Yep."

"How can you just sit there so chill when you're facing me? Vincent told me you've got a bit of a temper."

"So, what should I be doing instead?" Liam finally looked up at her. He seemed to be trying to keep their contact to a minimum, just a brief glance and his eyes were off, fleeting like the breeze.

He chuckled at himself, "If Charlotte were still here, she'd probably be getting even with me in the same way."

Then another sigh, "You knew I wasn't going to lay a finger on you before you started messing with me, didn't you?"

Just a heads up: FindNovel.net is the only place to read the complete version of this book for free. Don't miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! "Would you mind not talking down to me? I'm not Charlotte."

"I know that." Liam turned away, "I know."

He was hoping to catch up with Ethan, but Serena wasn't having any of it, so he just wandered around the house all day by himself.

Ethan was avoiding him, tucked away in his room. But kids can't stand being cooped up for long. By evening, he had enough and came storming out, shoving Liam in a huff.

Upstairs, they were pulling at each other, murmuring about something. Serena just looked on from downstairs, staying out of it.

She saw how Liam pulled Ethan close, trying to calm him down.

After a while, Ethan chilled out, and they walked into the room together, hand in hand.

When they came back out, Ethan was all smiles with Liam.

Serena watched it all with a frosty gaze. It wasn't until Liam walked into the living room with Ethan that she spoke up coldly, "That kid Benjamin, without Chloe to care for him, how's he managing?" "I wouldn't know," Liam said with a cold edge, "he's not gonna starve, that's for sure."

"That's your kid, you know."

"I don't see it that way."

Serena scoffed, "Just like that, you don't 'see it that way', and you've screwed up that child's life. Liam, it was your mistake, but the kid's paying for it."

All his talk about 'not seeing it that way' was just for show, probably to make Charlotte think he was faithful.

But really, it was he who screwed up first. It's not like the kid made him hook up with Chloe.

"If Charlotte had your kid, I bet they'd end up the same way."

That assumption from Serena really got under Liam's skin.

He snapped at her, "What gives you the right to say that?!"