“What are you looking at?” Michael walked over and asked.

“Nothing. Let’s go.”

Charlotte furrowed her brows, feeling heavy-hearted. I’m disappointed in you, Hector.

Back then, you said it was your parents who wanted to cancel our marriage and that whatever happened between you and Luna was a moment of drunken stupor.

So, what about now?

Just the day before yesterday, you swore to protect me. But look at you, cheating with Helena now.

You’re nothing but a scumbag!

“What’s wrong, Charlotte?” Michael asked, noticing how absent-minded she appeared. “Don’t worry about Luna. She’s always been a nutcase. I even told you back then not to hang around with someone as wicked as her.”

The woman let out a sigh and turned to him. “You’re the only one among all my friends who haven’t changed, Michael,” she lamented.

Yup. Hector, Helena, and Luna—they’re all different now.

You’re the only one who’s as pure-hearted and kind as before, Michael.

“But of course,” Michael remarked as he ruffled her hair gently. “You haven’t eaten much just now, have you? Let’s go grab a bite.”

“It’s fine. Let’s find a nice, quiet place to sit down.” Charlotte felt physically and mentally drained.

“Okay. Let’s go get some fresh air at the beach.”

The man drove them to the seaside and wound down the window. Then, while gazing into the night sky full of stars, he opened up to Charlotte.



He had been traveling the world on his own for the past four years, admiring every view and recreating them in his sketchbook.

Four years of living a simple and stain-free life felt like just one day to Michael.

Charlotte, on the other hand, had long turned into a white sheet full of blemishes.

On top of her many dark pasts and ugly rumors, the woman was now being oppressed by others; she couldn’t live freely.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to tell Michael anything.

She refused to be selfish and use him as a shield.

It simply wasn’t fair to him.

“Charlotte, I feel like you have a lot on your mind that you’re not willing to talk to me about,” Michael said as he held her hand. “I don’t care what you’ve been through. All I want is to be your shelter and take care of you.”

Charlotte’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing the man’s confession. But instead of giving in, she hugged him and put on a relaxed expression. “Why would you need to be my shelter? I’m doing pretty well on my own now.”

“Charlotte...”

“I think we’ve done enough for the day. Let’s go home.”

She would have wanted to live happily ever after with Michael—if it weren’t for Zachary and the three children. Unfortunately, there were no ifs in this world.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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