Chapter 2
"How moving," I said, my tone laced with sarcasm.
I clapped softly—barely audible, but the sound was like tossing a pebble into a calm lake. Instantly, all the noise died down.
All eyes landed on me at once. Surprise, contempt, curiosity, and pity showed on their faces.
James's smile stiffened, frozen in place.
Emily's eyes widened in terror, like a frightened fawn. She instinctively ducked behind James, grabbing onto his sleeve for dear life.
My parents' faces turned ghostly pale, then flushed with uncontrollable anger.
"Charlotte? What are you doing here?" Richard hissed, his voice low and full of reproach.
"Why shouldn't I be here?" I asked calmly, meeting his gaze. "Today's the day I get out of prison. If I don't come home, where else am I supposed to go?"
"Home?" Grace let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "This isn't your home! Who told you to come here? Get out! Don't embarrass us!"
What a hilarious charge.
*****
Ten years ago, Emily drove drunk and hit someone. She dropped to her knees in front of me, begging me to take the fall for her.
She claimed she was an art student, about to head overseas for an important competition, and she couldn't afford a criminal record.
She said I was the rightful heiress to the Sutton family, also James's fiancée. Even if I ended up in jail, the Suttons and Goodwins would pull strings to make sure I didn't suffer and got out early.
"Charlotte, we're family. You have to help me!" she pleaded, her voice trembling.
Back then, I really believed we were family, so I agreed. I dressed in her clothes and confessed to being the driver. I even stupidly tried to comfort her as she cried, promising her that I'd handle everything.
But what did I get in return? My family and my fiancé were all standing on the other side, against me.
*****
"Embarrass you, huh?" I laughed, letting my eyes linger on each of them. "Funny—ten years ago, when you came to me begging for help, you sure didn't say that."
"What are you talking about?" Emily peeked out from behind James, her eyes red and shimmering with tears. "Charlotte, I know you're hurting, but you can't just accuse me out of nowhere... That accident, you were the one who—"
"Me? What exactly are you trying to say?" I pressed in, taking a step closer.
She flinched and shrank back, terrified.
James finally reacted, pulling Emily behind him and standing tall to block me from view. He stared at me, his gaze icy and unfamiliar, like I was some crazy troublemaker.
"Charlotte Sutton," he said, calling me by my full name. "That's enough. Don't cause any more trouble. Out of respect for our past, if you leave now, I'll act like none of this ever happened."
Out of respect for our past? I looked at him and couldn't help but want to laugh.
"James Goodwin, did you forget what you said to me when you came to see me in prison?" I asked.
His brows furrowed slightly, as if he was trying to recall something.
I answered for him, my voice clear. "You said you'd wait for me. You promised that when I got out, you'd marry me."
James's face darkened. "That was then, this is now," he said, his tone icy and detached.