Chapter 7
Henry shouted, his voice echoing angrily through the room, "Charlotte.
"All because of some fake video online, you went and accused me of sleeping with your stepmom? I used to think you were just spoiled, but I never imagined you could be this cruel.
"Vivian's right. Only twisted people think everyone else is twisted."
Charlotte thought she had stopped hoping for anything, but it still stung so much.
Henry came home every night to look after his five-year-old brother, who was born prematurely. Charlotte never thought much of it.
She was a mess, up until four or five in the morning, while he just slept soundly through the night and showed up the next day, fresh as ever, acting as if nothing happened and ready to patch things up.
"Charlotte, I was out of line yesterday," Henry said, his tone softening. "Sorry, I've been kind of cold to you lately. How about we go to a resort for a few days, to make it up to you? Please, don't be mad at me, okay?"
Charlotte was sure this was real. Vivian wasn't with them, and the whole ride was filled with laughter and easy conversation, like everything was just like the good old days.
But as soon as they reached the resort and saw Vivian running toward them, Charlotte felt her heart drop to the floor.
"Seriously, Henry," Vivian said. "I just casually complained that Richard is always stuck in meetings and I'm bored out of my mind here at the resort, and you actually skipped the board meeting to rush over and keep me company?"
She went on and on, then suddenly acted like she just noticed Charlotte standing behind them, her expression turning surprised as Charlotte's face fell.
Vivian said, "Oh—
"You even brought Charlotte with you. Classic Little Henry, always so considerate."
Vivian laughed, gave Henry's cheek a playful squeeze, then straightened his collar as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
It was like she had done it a million times already.
Henry fidgeted a bit, but he was so accustomed to her antics that he didn't pull away or even bother to correct Vivian for being so familiar with him right in front of his fiancée.
Charlotte managed a smile, but it was icy; her lips felt almost lifeless.
All that happiness from before? Just a mirage.
There was never any apology. He just wanted to be with Vivian, and Charlotte actually fell for his lame excuse, foolishly believing he genuinely wanted to make it up to her.
Henry kept saying he was there for Charlotte, but for five days straight, he couldn't take his eyes off Vivian. He barely said a word to Charlotte the whole time.
Whenever Vivian went swimming, Henry would be right there by the pool, handing her water and towels like her personal attendant.
When Vivian was sunbathing, Henry would stand over her with an umbrella for shade, and even brought sunscreen to carefully apply it all over her; he didn't even skip her toes.
After a while, Charlotte just stopped going out altogether. Staying cooped up in her room was way better than having to watch their sickening displays of affection.
But Henry practically forced Charlotte out to play beach volleyball, saying it was for bonding. When they got there, Charlotte realized Vivian had just wanted to play on a whim, and Henry brought her along just to make up the numbers.
The sun was scorching, but Charlotte felt dead inside. Caught off guard, Charlotte took a volleyball deliberately spiked by Vivian to the forehead. Blood slid down her cheek, but Henry barely spared her a glance before immediately rushing over to check on Vivian.
"Vivian, are you okay? Did that scare you?" Henry asked, his voice full of concern.
"Henry, I'm really scared Charlotte will lash out at me again if she gets angry. Maybe we should stop doing this, so she doesn't misunderstand," Vivian said.
Henry lightly stroked Vivian's back, speaking to her in a gentle, comforting tone.
"Relax. With me here, she can't touch you," Henry said.
His voice turned icy at the end, and the look he gave Charlotte was laced with an unmistakable warning.
"Really? But I'm still worried," Vivian said, her voice sweet and needy. "Why don't you carry me back so I can rest?"
Vivian gave Henry's hand a playful shake, then glanced past him at Charlotte, her eyes brimming with smug triumph and challenge.
But this time, seeing Charlotte with blood running down her face, Henry was visibly torn.
"Hang on, let me check on Charlotte," Henry said.
Vivian's face changed in a heartbeat. She grabbed a beach shovel and tore it across her own cheek, blood pouring down as she collapsed and begged like crazy.
Vivian said, "Charlotte, look. I've ruined my face. I'm no threat to you anymore. Please, just let me off.
"I deserve this. I forgot Henry's your fiancé. I was shameless, pathetic, and even dared to hope he'd carry me back.
"I won't do it again. I've already paid for it; I lost my baby because of your beating. Please, don't burn me with a curling iron, force me to eat cigarette butts, swallow needles, make me drink your pee, or beat me. I'm begging you."