Shane's smile was appealing which was completely different from his usual visage.
Charlotte liked his smile very much, but he didn't laugh often. It's rare for his lips to curve upwards. She looked at him unblinkingly, not wanting to miss a second of his smile, until it faded. "What are you laughing at?" Only then did she avert her gaze.
"You went out for a breather without taking your phone and instead of going to your friends, you chose to camp out in a coffee shop?" "It's not camping if it was in a coffee shop," she argued. As soon as she realized what she said, she broke out in laughter.
Shane bent and kissed her between her brows. "You're not an orphan anymore. You have me." Now I had him.
Charlotte's heart quavered and she leaned into his arms. She always felt that she would not get over the hurdle in her heart, but she seemed to be able to get over it easily.
It appeared to be in the past.
Rick's residence.
Anne put her suitcase down and took in her surroundings. "Rick, you should redecorate your house." Before she left, the interior was European-styled, now it becgothic. The wallpaper was jet black and it looked very reclusive. Anne knew Rick didn't prefer this style because it felt particularly repressive. What's going on? "Well, I think this style isn't bad," Rick said. "You can head on upstairs." "Rick, aren't you going to ask me?" "Am I still your brother?" Rick smiled. "You can tell Charlotte about this. All I can do is to provide accommodations and money for you. Anything else doesn't concern me." Anne bit her lip and grabbed Rick's arm. "You're angry at me, aren't you?" Rick didn't break free. Instead, he patted her head. "I'm your brother. I won't be angry with you no matter what. But you don't have to telleverything in your life. Nothing good will cout of it." Nothing good would cout of it? Anne didn't understand what he meant, but Braden already had his arms around her. He bowed his head and said, "Anne, we can talk about this later. Now respect your brother's wishes and respect yourself." He knew Anne didn't understand why Rick refused to ask her, but she would never tell him the truth.
Once Rick had asked, it was very likely she would reply, "It's none of your business." Anne had always been insolent.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtRick returned to his study, turned on his computer, and saw the photos of him, Anne, and Charlotte together on the desk. When he gave Charlotte up, he knew that this day would come. His sister didn't acknowledge him, and she had nothing to say to him after returning home.
But he still made up his mind.
He wasn't sad about this decision, rather if it was right or wrong. He didn't have the slightest bit of confidence in himself.
He knew that Charlotte was willing to be tied to his side for the rest of her life in matrimony. She was kind and docile, so he had thought of tethering her this way.
But when she pushed Kendall to him without hesitating, he knew that it was useless.
A series of beeps alerted him to an incoming call.
A notification appeared on his phone.
Rick accepted it and Kendall's innocent face appeared. "Rick!" Somewhere behind that angelic face hid a malicious disposition. Rick couldn't help but touch the screen. "Kendall, when are you coming back?" "I want to attend Anne's wedding too, but I don't know if I can get there on time." Kendall frowned wistfully. "Stop frowning. It doesn't look good on you." "Then I won't frown anymore. By the way, it's really fun here." After dating him, Kendall becmore amenable and lovely, just like when she was a child. It wasn't that Rick didn't like her present self, but the fact that she could do that to Sheryl and hypnotize Christopher, he just couldn't let it go.
He didn't expose her, and didn't want to reveal what had happened. He wanted to see how far she would take it. Rick heard Caleb's voice over the phone, as if reprimanding Kendall for loafing all day. Kendall snorted, took her phone to the other side of the room, and crouched in the corner.
Rick's heart wavered for no reason. He sighed and asked, "Your relationship with Caleb is worsening?" "Yeah, I don't know what's up with him." Kendall pouted unhappily.
Kendall didn't know, but Rick understood it very well. He had no way to provide more resources to the Steven family, so they were getting increasingly indifferent towards her. Although Kendall seemed imposing, she was just a pawn sacrificed by the families.
At that time, she was held in high regard when they were trying to gain a firm foothold in Brine. Now that they had succeeded, she was cast aside.
"Will you move in with me?" Rick asked.
"Is that okay?" Kendall raised her head and her eyes were bright.
Rick smiled. "Of course you can. But Kendall, I have a question for you." "What is it?" "Where do you stand between the Steven family and me?" Kendall was stunned. She lowered her head and refused to answer the question. After all, if she believed in Rick wholly, as long as conflict arose between her and Charlotte, she always felt that Rick would choose Charlotte over her.
But the Steven Family were increasingly standoffish to her.
"Rick, if Charlotte and I..." Kendall didn't finish her sentence.
"You know the answer," Rick responded ambiguously.
"After all, I'm related to the Steven Family by blood," Kendall whispered.
Rick had anticipated this answer. His eyes fell on the desk. "Kendall, if I told you that leaving the Steven family was the only way to protect you, were you willing to believeand stand on my side?" "Why?" Her voice was hoarse.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Kendall was not stupid. Of course she had known that she was just a pawn between Rick and the Steven G. Family, but she did not expect Rick to be displeased with the Jane family. Rick smiled. What's with that question? "Kendall, do you choose to believe in me, or choose to stay by the Steven family?" After a long time.
Kendall whispered, "Rick, can you cand pickup? Helpmove?" "All right." Rick ended the video call with Kendall.
In the end, he still failed to hold himself back. Was this really to save her? He didn't know, maybe this step would plunge him into the abyss.
Just as Rick was lost in thought, his cell phone rang. Annoyed, he answered, "Hello?" "It's me." Avery's voice sounded from the other side.
"What's wrong? I'm going to pick up Kendall." "Hey, you really care about this girl. Aren't you afraid that I'll be jealous?" Avery sneered.
"She's not evil. If she is willing to accept the sanctions of the law, I'm willing to wait for her to be released from prison "Rick's fingers tapped on the desk, his eyes fell on the chatbox with Kendall. Her profile picture was an image of herself. It was pretty, but not as good-looking as her actual face. Avery shrugged and said, "Charlotte doesn't care anymore. It's you who can't get out." "People should pay the price for what they have done."
"What about you?" Avery was m amused. "If Kendall has to pay for what she has done, the sshould be said for you. Now I'm standing on the moral high ground asking, what about you?" Rick fell silent. "On the other hand." Avery leaned back languidly against his chair. "If it was Charlotte in Kendall's place, you would do anything to help her." Humans were really two-faced.
Avery thought.
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