SWNOVELS Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Maple Estates sat perched on a hill, revealing the mountains rolling in the distance. From her room, Charlotte could see the snaking roads wrapping around the base of the mountains. This place was steeped in family history. Her mom and grandma had lived here, and this was where she’d grown up.
Suddenly, a knock echoed at her door. Charlotte swung down from her perch at the bay window to answer. It was Gordon, draped in a white robe, dabbing at his wet hair.
“I’m heading downtown. Fancy a drink?” Gordon asked.
“No thanks.” Charlotte replied with a headshake. She didn’t dig the nightlife like Gordon did. For that reason, she wasn’t keen on tagging along.
Gordon shrugged, maybe figuring Charlotte was too straitlaced. The thought of bringing a rule- follower to spoiling his fun didn’t sit right with him. Charlotte’s rejection was all it took for him to make a hasty exit.
All alone on the second floor, Charlotte let out an amused smile. Just then, the still of midnight was disrupted. Her phone started buzzing. A sudden call cut off her peaceful sleep. Muttering, she crawled back under the quilt. But the phone just kept vibrating.
Eventually, her arm emerged from the covers, grabbing the phone. “Hello?”
“I’m at the gate…” The man’s attractive voice came through the phone, suddenly wiping out all traces of sleepiness from her,
She jumped out of bed: “Wait, what gate?”
“Maple Estates.” Anxiety rushed in, replacing her confusion. Her heart beat like a drum.
“What do you think you’re doing? It’s the middle of the night,” she said, doing her best to sound civil. Regardless, the guy on the other line wasn’t phased. It turned out to be Zachary. “Come out, or I’m going in,” he declared.
“Are you out of your mind?” Charlotte’s mind was spinning. She was convinced Zachary had lost his marbles. Zachary had always been unpredictable and daring. So Charlotte wasn’t entirely shocked by his midnight visit. Grabbing her coat, Charlotte headed out.
Zachary leaned against a car alone, a cigarette lighting up his lonely face. Anger welled up inside Charlotte as soon as she laid eyes on him.
“What on earth are you doing here at this hour? I have to sleep!”
Zachary discarded his cigarette and handed her a phone. Charlotte squinted at it. “What’s this?”
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Chapter 19
“Take a look.”
“Are you mad? You came all the way here to show me a phone?” Impatiently, she grabbed it. Her face fell on one look–it was a photo of Gordon.
“You’ve been with that guy for three years, huh?” Zachary’s voice was frosty, hinting at cold sarcasm. The photo showed Gordon at a nightclub, surrounded by scantily–clad women–it wasn’t a good look.
But Charlotte fired back, “No matter how he is, he’s better than you.”
Zachary visibly tensed. But before he could say anything, she cut him off. “Sure, any guy might be a little dishonest in a nightclub, but at least it’s all consensual. What about you?” She was thinking, of course, about how Zachary once took advantage of her when she was asleep.
Zachary’s expression remained stone cold. Instead of arguing, he reached into his car and pulled out a document.
“And what’s this, huh?” She refused to take over the document. “Look, I already know who Gordon is. You mind your own business, okay?” Yet, in spite of her words, she was rocked by Zachary’s audacity to show her Gordon’s dirty laundry.
But Zachary wasn’t listening–he pressed the document into her hands. With a rough voice, he said, “It’s a divorce paper between you and Gordon. Sign it.”
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