From Desk to Altar: The CEO's Irresistible Bargain

"Chloe fell and it messed with her pregnancy because of you. She's the apple of the Parker family's eye, and I'm not just gonna stand by and let this slide!" Pamela's snooty talk made Charlotte instinctively scowl.

"What are you planning to do?" Charlotte asked.

Pamela replied, "Nothing too hard. You've upset Chloe, so now you owe it to her to pray for that baby."

Before Charlotte could argue, Pamela cut in, "Don't think about ducking out. Kenneth gave the order!"

"Wasn't Kenneth in the hospital yesterday? He's still got the energy to deal with these little family dramas?" Charlotte challenged.

"Always quick with a comeback, aren't you!" Pamela, unable to win the argument, waved her hand to her bodyguards to grab Charlotte, clearly intending to drag her away.

Just then, the four bodyguards Liam had assigned to Charlotte stepped up and swiftly moved to her rescue.

"Lady, Mr. Parker said Miss Perry is to take it easy in the yard," the head bodyguard said, shielding Charlotte as the rest circled around her protectively.

"Defying Kenneth's orders? Really?" Pamela was not pleased.

"Mr. Parker's orders were clear - Miss Perry stays in the yard."

These guys were handpicked by Liam, and they were as cool and arrogant as he was.

As the standoff went on, Pamela, seething, let out a sarcastic laugh. "Liam's really got guts. He's picking a woman over his own grandparents!"

She started to walk away, and just when Charlotte thought she was giving up, Pamela whirled around with a fierce look, "If Liam has something to say, he can take it up with Kenneth himself. But I'm taking the girl today!" "Let's go! Do it!"

The sudden order stunned Charlotte for a second. By the time she snapped out of it, she was surrounded.

The four bodyguards jumped into action, fists flying, and the scene turned into a brawl.

But Liam's crew was on another level and quickly had the upper hand.

Out of nowhere, Pamela surged forward and collapsed, clutching the legs of two bodyguards!

She was dead set on taking Charlotte, no matter what.

Chaos erupted again, and as the bodyguards were busy with Pamela, Charlotte's cover slipped, and she was taken.

The guys handling her weren't gentle, and by the time they got to the shrine, Charlotte's arms were red and turning purple.

"Kneel down!"

Pamela came up behind, smacked Charlotte's knees with her cane, and down Charlotte went, kneeling from the pain.

"Pray for the kid right here, stay kneeling for a full day!"

A whole day could very well be the end of her!

Charlotte bit down on her teeth. She'd been through the wringer her whole life, used to getting pushed around and always ready to hit back twice as hard.

She glanced at the cane next to her, knowing full well she could make the old lady kneel beside her in a heartbeat.

But she didn't make a move.

Charlotte's got Liam in her corner, so even if she ticks off Pamela, she's not going to catch any flak for it.

But that's a problem for another day. With a bunch of tough-looking bodyguards hanging around outside, if Charlotte were to actually hit Pamela, she'd be in deep trouble. So, she's biting her tongue.

Those four bodyguards Liam's got won't be easy to shake off, but they won't be able to stop everything. Once they're free, they'll be straight on the phone to Liam. Charlotte's just got to wait it out for Liam to show up and save her.

There she is, kneeling on the rock-hard floor, so mad she's practically grinding her teeth to dust.

"You think you can just waltz into the Parker family and act all high and mighty?"

Pamela scoffed at her. "I've been around the block a few times - I can see right through your little act with Dylan. You're actually after Liam!"

"Liam's just a kid, all caught up in how you look. He's made a mess of things, going against his family like this. Do you think he's into you? Come on, someone like Liam would never end up with a gambler's daughter!" "Get your head straight about who you are! Keep your head down and I might let things slide, but if you step out of line, don't say I didn't warn you!"

Charlotte couldn't keep her cool anymore, "I oughta tell the nursing home to keep a tighter leash on the crazies."

"You what? How dare you talk to me like that?"

Smack! Pamela's hand cracked across Charlotte's cheek, spinning her head around.

Charlotte wiped the blood away from her mouth and stood tall, not letting Pamela get to her, "You're going to regret this. Liam's going to make sure of it." Pamela was fuming at how stubborn Charlotte was, throwing insult after insult at her.

The noise had pulled in a crowd from the Parker family, all of them buzzing around, whispering, and chuckling like it was some kind of show.

Charlotte had been kneeling there so long that her legs were beyond feeling sore and tingly.

"You really think Liam's going to swoop in and save you?" Pamela taunted. "This is sacred ground. Even if he did show up, what's he going to do? Act up in front of the whole family? Disrespect his elder in this place?" Before, Pamela would never have been so openly against Liam.

But with Kenneth in the hospital, she's got no backup in the family. The thought of moving back in is just wishful thinking.

She's decided to go broke and get rid of Charlotte once and for all.

The Parker family isn't going to be brought down by one bad egg!

"Charlotte, you're just a worm who should stay in the dirt. You've got no business dreaming about a life that isn't yours."

It's been four hours since Charlotte was dragged here. Four hours is plenty of time for Liam to get anywhere.

But he hadn't come.

What did that mean?

Looks like Liam figured making a scene at the shrine would be too much, so he's bailed on Charlotte!

Pamela was grinning from ear to ear. "This is the Parker family's place, our Parker family, not some playground for you, Charlotte."

But then, right after she said that there's this ruckus outside.

"Prayers are better with more voices."

Liam's voice, low and pissed off, gets louder as he comes closer, filling everyone's ears with his rage.

The Parkers who were watching suddenly looked like they wanted to run, but the bodyguards in black weren't having any of it. They kept everyone pinned down and pushed them into the shrine like they were corralling sheep. Charlotte had been on her knees so long she couldn't even feel them anymore, and her whole body ached so much she could barely move.

When Liam walked in, the tears she had been holding back just started falling.

"Liam," she whispered, all choked up.

That was all it took. Liam's anger, which had been simmering, exploded.

"My grandpa's sick, and I'm sure you're worried Pamela," he said as he walked right up to her, and she couldn't help but flinch under his cold stare.

"Liam, I watched you grow up..."

"If you've known me since I was little, then you should know what I can't stand," he dropped that line, and then with a wave of his hand, everyone was forced to the ground. "Kneel down and pray for Kenneth!"