Love's Change of Heart

The night breeze was especially chilly by the riverside that day, and the water flow in the river seemed to become more intense as time ticked by.

Joseph still had his grip on Charlotte as they stood by the port.

Charlotte's eyes were red and her voice was hoarse from all the crying.

"Uncle Joseph..."

"I won't hurt you, Charlotte.You'll be able to go home safely as long as they let me go,"

Joseph whispered in a hushed voice.She continued to sob as she spoke, "But...things weren't like this in the past...Why don't you come home? Grandpa Philip and Dad won't blame you for anything.You should snap out of this."

Joseph wasn't in his best state then, but the smile on his face was still gentle and soft.

"You're still young, Charlotte.Perhaps one day, when you grow up, you'll realize I never had a place in the Woodley Family.I'm sure there are times when even you resented me, right?" he asked.

"Well, that's because you made Zoe lose her child, and that was why I "

Exactly.What's done is done, and we can’t change the past.I know what I'm doing isn't exactly right, but the Woodleys are the ones who forced me to be where I am now.Of course, I’d prefer to lead a safe and simple life, but did anyone give me a chance to do that? Did that Grandpa Philip of yours give me that chance? Did your father give me that chance? And the woman you mentioned just now...Do you think she'd ever forgive me?" he asked.

Charlotte parted her lips to say something, but not a word came out in the end.

As the skies turned dark, lamps began to light up along the riverside, illuminating the pathway along the river.

Lachlan was standing a distance away from them.He had one hand stuck in his pocket, wearing a blank, emotionless look on his face.

"I don't have the time to hang around here.How long is the boat going to take?"

Joseph shouted to the other man.

"Two minutes," Lachlan replied after glancing at his watch.

"I can't believe you've joined forces with them.I'm honored,"

Joseph uttered with a mocking smile.

Lachlan gazed at Joseph with the same stoic look on his face.

"You shouldn't get too cocky just yet.Both you and I know who supported you in returning to Jamesdon to cause this entire scene."

"Yeah.So? Honestly speaking, I'm pretty curious.Putting Aidan aside, I'm surprised you managed to hold yourself back from doing anything to that person.Are you seriously trying to make up for Old Mr.Woodley's mistakes?" Joseph asked.

none of your business." Joseph let out

the forces supporting them

brief silence later, Lachlan tugged his thin

fell as

expected those elders to die," Joseph

he also realized something

finally know why it had been so easy for me

to get rid of all those people in just

assumed that he could frame Lachlan

who had been using him to kill others all

and was stopped

the boat and walked

ordered while staring at

away before leaning closer to Charlotte and whispering

off and leaping into the boat

forward before she

had a chance to steady herself when she

next second, an explosion filled the air! Charlotte was in

her back

fixed on the fire that was spreading on the surface of the river, and his brows were knitted as he

"Mr.Woodley, that was Jo—"

rushed over to speak, but the man

pulled away from Lachlan's arms after a long while.She looked dumbfounded as she

that

"Yes," Lachlan muttered flatly.

at him.Her teary eyes

him?" she asked in

think so," Lachlan responded as he turned around

gave up on her just then.She collapsed and fell onto the ground, and Lachlan halted his footsteps

believe Miss Woodley is just in

Lachlan's underling muttered.

you get the boat from?" Lachlan

had made sure to check that there were no issues with the

at the river before he spread his lips into

the area.I need to see the dead man's

it," the

and picked Charlotte up

already done showering and was crawling