SWNOVELS Chapter 2
Chapter 2 The Faceoff Between Zachary And Charlotte
Packing up her stuff, Charlotte was ready to leave behind the lavish room she had called home for the last couple of years. The room, a symbol of pure luxury, meticulously maintained and outfitted by Zachary, was now a painful reminder of the shocking truth she had uncovered.
Startled by the sight of a pregnant Charlotte wrestling with her suitcase, the housekeeper, Cora Watson, hurried to her side with a worried look on her face. “Mrs. Sullivan, this is not something you should be doing. You’re in the late stages of your pregnancy, you need to be careful. Mr. Sullivan would be worried about the baby!”
Surveying the empty first floor, a sense of bitterness churned within Charlotte. ‘Oh yes, Zachary is concerned about our unborn child, so much so that he’s ready to trade its life,’ she thought sarcastically, blinking back her tears. Managing to clear her throat, she replied with a husky voice, “Tell Zachary that I’ve drafted the divorce papers and sent them over email. Also, I won’t be having the surgery.”
With that, she trudged past Cora, dragging the suitcase behind her, and stepping out. The oppressive heat had given way to a raging storm that made her shiver in the cold. As she stood drenched in front of the mansion, she looked up at the sky, gathering the strength to continue. Without taking one last look at what was once her home, she began her journey.
*****
Suddenly, a car splashed to a halt, throwing a shower of water from a puddle onto Charlotte. Stepping out of it was Jeff Cooper, one of Zachary’s assistants. He walked towards Charlotte and respectfully acknowledged, “Mrs. Sullivan.”
Charlotte walked right past him, dismissing his presence. Jeff however, stopped her in her tracks. “Mr. Sullivan has instructed me to escort you to the hospital,” he announced, gently relieving her of the suitcase and opening the car door.
It was Zachary’s car, a low-key black limo worth millions. While countless women vied for an opportunity to ride this ride, to Charlotte, it felt more like a funeral car, riding her towards inescapable doom.
“I’m not going,” she declared. But Jeff curtly replied, “There’s been an issue at the hospital. They’ve had to move the procedure up. Mr. Sullivan wants me to get you there ASAP. Mrs. Sullivan, please understand I’m just following orders.”
While he sounded professional, his words were implying a hidden threat. Charlotte gave a bitter smile. She knew that in her current condition, she was no match for a man like Jeff.
On their way to the hospital, Charlotte watched the storm rage outside her window. “If I refused to go along with this, would she die?” she asked, receiving a confirming nod. Softly, she murmured, “Maybe that’s what she deserves.”
She felt her heart ache at the thought. Risking her life, and the life of her unborn baby, for another woman was the decision Zachary had taken without her consent. Jeff stayed silent at her comment.
As they crossed a bridge, Charlotte, recovering her calm, wondered aloud, “Who is this woman?” The answer, “Annie Lopez,” made her blood run cold. The shock painted a desolate image in her mind, and she was lost in silent anguish.
Suddenly, a flicker of rebellion sparked in her eyes. In a swift move, she lunged for the steering wheel, causing Jeff to shout in surprise. Deaf to his protests, she took control and drove the car over the bridge’s railing into the turbulent river below.
Instantly submerged in icy water and gasping for breath, Charlotte felt a severe pain in her belly. She thought, ‘Does our baby sense the impending danger?’ As she sunk further into the depths, the crushing reality of her situation set in.
In no time, the bridge was buzzing with people reacting to the plunge. Amidst the chaotic scene, cars from the police and the Sullivan family rushed to the spot, only to be held up by the jammed traffic at the bridge’s end.