Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 156029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
This is for her.
We soon arrive at the restaurant, and I can already see four guards at the door. I park the car and take Charlotte’s hand in mine, and then we make our way inside.
Charlotte spots them quickly and waves happily. I can see Edward, Harold, and another man who I’m assuming is William… and then...
The blood drains from my face.
“Who is that woman at the table?” I whisper.
Charlotte smiles and drags me though the restaurant. “That’s Penelope. William’s wife.”
I feel the floor move beneath me. No, it can’t be.
Oh my God.
I’m the man Penelope fucked behind her husband’s back.
23
Spencer
I stand still, my feet frozen to the spot.
The air drains from my lungs.
William glances up and sees me as we approach the table, and his face quickly falls.
He recognises me.
“Charlotte,” I whisper, coming to another stop. “I need to talk to you. Outside… now.”
“This way.” She keeps dragging me to the table.
“You fucking dog.” William sneers as he stands.
Penelope’s eyes widen in horror. “Oh my God,” she whispers the second she sees me.
Charlotte’s face falls in confusion as she looks between us. “William?” she asks.
“What’s wrong?”
“Get the fuck outside, now!” William growls.
My jaw feels like it’s on the floor. What are the chances?
I’m completely speechless. What the fuck do I say to this?
“You know each other?” Edward asks, confused by our interaction.
William glares at me. “Oh, we know each other, all right.”
Charlottes glances between the two of us. “I don’t understand.”
“Last time I saw him he was in my bed, balls deep inside my wife.” William lunges for me, connecting a fist to my jaw which forces me to fly back.
“Oh my God!” Penelope yells when the table goes flying.
I glance over to see Charlotte’s hands are over her mouth as she connects the dots.
Harold holds onto the table to stop himself from falling over and, of course, Edward erupts like a madman. “What the fuck?” he yells.
“No!” Charlotte cries. “That can’t be true.” Her haunted eyes meet mine.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“No!” she whispers. Her face screws up in pain as she realises it’s true.
“Charlotte,” I whisper as she begins to cry hysterically. “I didn’t know she was married. I swear to you.”
Edward grabs me and pushes me towards the door. I see the flash of a camera hit my face.
“That’s not true!” Penelope yells. “You knew exactly who I was married to, and you were after his money. You pursued me for months until you wore me down.”
“What?” I cry. “You fucking liar. I didn’t even know you as Penelope. You told me your name was Stephanie.” I’m hit from the side by William again. The whole restaurant is watching, and the guards suddenly seem to come running from every direction.
Edward drags me towards the door to pull me away from Charlotte.
“Charlotte,” I cry. “She’s lying, I swear to you.”
I struggle to break free, but I still see Charlotte crying hysterically in Harold’s arms.
No!
This can’t be happening!
More cameras flash in the distance.
I grab the doorframe to try and stop them from dragging me away from her. “Charlotte!” I cry. “Charlotte, come here. Listen to me!” I beg.
Charlotte’s haunted eyes hold mine for just a second before she shakes her head and turns her back on me.
I dig my heels in to try and stop them dragging me away from her. “Charlotte!”
“Just leave, Spencer,” she yells into her father’s shoulder. Harold wraps his arms around her, shielding and protecting her from me.
I’m dragged outside and I struggle to break free. All at once, Charlotte is rushed out of the restaurant, the clicks of cameras flashing everywhere until she is put into the back of the Bentley.
“Charlotte!” I scream, and the car speeds off into the distance.
Edward walks up to me, his stare cold and full of hatred. “Are you happy now?”
“I swear to you, Edward, I didn’t know.” His guards hold me by my arms.
Edward punches me in the stomach and the wind is knocked from my lungs. I double over and fall to the ground on the cold, grey pavement.
Blood fills my mouth.
I hear footsteps, cars, and the flashes of more cameras. And then there’s a cacophony of car tyres screaming in the distance. After a short while, I feel myself being lifted from the ground. I look up to see Anthony and Wyatt.
They’ve stayed with me.
The only ones.
I look around to see everyone else has gone.
“Come on, let’s get you home,” Wyatt sighs sadly.
“Charlotte,” I whisper.
“She’s gone mate,” Anthony says with regret.
I stammer in a panic. “We… we have to go get her.”
Wyatt looks at me, his face is sad and full of sympathy. “She doesn’t want to see you, Spence. She told me to keep you away from her.”
I wince and drop my head.
This can’t be happening.
* * *
I stare at the television on the wall of the bar I’m in.