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

might have died, but the forces supporting them are still around, and it'd take you forever to get rid of every single one of them.You don't want to

Lachlan tugged his thin

fell as he seemed

you had already expected those elders to die," Joseph

then that he also

had been so easy for me

people in just

Joseph had assumed that he could frame Lachlan for

it now seemed like Lachlan was the one who had been

arrived and

got off the boat and

Lachlan ordered while

leaning closer to Charlotte and whispering something into

he pushed her away before hurrying off and leaping

a few steps forward before she felt

steady herself when she heard a loud pow coming

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

placed his hand against her

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

"Mr.Woodley, that was Jo—"

rushed over to speak, but the man quickly clamped his mouth shut upon receiving

away from Lachlan's arms after a long

boat that

"Yes," Lachlan muttered flatly.

around stiffly to look at him.Her teary eyes were

kill him?" she asked

think so," Lachlan responded as he turned around and

up on her just then.She collapsed and fell onto the

believe Miss Woodley is

Lachlan's underling muttered.

did you get the boat from?" Lachlan

from the Woodley Family's cargo port.I had made sure to check that there were no issues

stared at the river before he spread his lips into

to see the dead

it," the

Lachlan walked over and picked Charlotte up into his

the baby was already done showering and was crawling around the house.It was as if the kid had an endless supply