Chapter 5

I looked William straight in the eyes and said, "Do you really think I still care about any of this?"

William didn't answer.

I continued, "My priorities have changed, William. I'm not the same Charlotte I used to be.

"Maybe you can buy my time and take me out to dinner, but do you honestly think I'd enjoy it?

"I've been on my own for years. I fought for everything by myself, because no one was there to guide me, no one was there to protect me, and no one was there to catch me when I fell.

"All I could do was work myself to the bone just to survive."

William's body trembled, and he said, "Lottie, I can be that person for you—"

I shook my head and cut him off. "We're not equals anymore, William. Whatever you do for me, I can't just accept it with a clear conscience. It would only make me feel like I owe you."

William kept shaking his head, refusing to accept what I was saying.

But I was exhausted.

I lowered my voice and said, "Just let me live my life. Please?"

*****

I still ended up being late for my shift.

But my boss didn't hold it against me. He walked up to me and said, "Charlotte, don't worry about clocking in late or leaving early from now on. You'll still get paid for your full scheduled hours."

He added, "That friend of yours, Mr. Carter, is really generous. He connected my wife with a catering contract for a corporate cafeteria, and she's heading over to sign the paperwork today.

"If anything at work ever bothers you, just come to me and I'll take care of it. I mean that."

I smiled and nodded politely, but I didn't say a word back.

All I wanted was to do my job and collect my paycheck.

My shift ended at ten, and when I walked out of the restaurant, a Porsche Cayenne was parked by the curb. William stood beside it.

He spotted me and walked over immediately.

William stopped right in front of me and said, "Lottie."

I had a feeling he wanted to say something, so I waited.

He lowered his voice and said, "I'm sorry. I didn't think things through. I'll try harder to see things from your side from now on, okay?"

His expression was humble, and his tone was almost pleading.

I wanted to tell him that it wasn't necessary, that keeping our distance was for the best.

But before I could get the words out, he spoke again.

"Don't push me away. I'm not going anywhere this time," he said, and the look in his eyes turned serious. "That day, I mistook the real Linley heiress for you and confessed to the wrong person. So let me do this the right way.

"Lottie, I fell for you a long time ago, and I can't imagine my life without you.

"During those three years overseas, I held onto the fact that we'd grown up together. You promised you'd wait for me, and I never once worried that we'd drift apart.

"Things are different now, I know. But the way I feel about you hasn't changed at all. I want to be with you, and I want to spend the rest of my life protecting you.

"Don't worry about where we stand or what people think. I'll change. I'll adjust to your world, and I'll do it gladly.

"And don't worry about my family either. They don't get a say in this. I've never listened to anyone but you, and that's not about to change."

He looked straight into my eyes and said softly, "Lottie, will you be my girlfriend?"

My heart skipped a beat.

I knew this man better than almost anyone, and everything about him right now, his expression, his voice, the way he held himself, told me he meant every single word. That kind of sincerity was hard to ignore, and it moved me deeply.

But I still had my head on straight. No matter how I felt, the truth was simple: we didn't fit.

William was practically royalty. He was the sole heir to the Carter family, and the weight of their expectations and legacy rested entirely on his shoulders. His responsibilities would always be bigger than any feelings he had for me.

If we were together, I would become his weakness, his burden, and his baggage. He'd face endless pressure and ugly rumors, and I refused to be the reason for any of that.

I shook my head and said, "William, let it go. You deserve better than this."