Chapter 1
Charlene Whitmore’s biggest regret in life was falling for her guardian. ||
At ten, Charlotte first met Elias Delaney after losing her parents in a tragic accident. The tall, broad–shouldered man embraced her with a promise: “I’ll always keep you safe, kiddo. Thats a promise.
By fifteen, when mean girls at school covered Charlone in the bathroom. It was Ellas who stormed in his federal badge flashing. “Apologize to her. Now.” His voice left no room for argument as the ballies uwabled their sorries |
was recovering, she
At eighteen. Tlies nearly died during a classified operation. Against medical advice, Charlotte donated part of her liver to save him. While he was re impulsively kissed his lips, not realizing his eyes had fluttered open
of awkward distance afterward
There was no fairy tale moment. Only shock in his eyes and months of
Year passed until Scarlett Yatri–Dias’s college sweetheart–developed kidney failure. When tests showed Charlotte was the only compatible donor. Elias: appeared at her apartment for the first time in months
Name your price.” he said Dadly, standing in her doorway. “Whatever you want, it’s yours, just… help s
Scarlett.“]
Charlotte’s silence spoke volumes. Three days later, Scarlett died during what should have been a transplant surgery.
This didn’t cry at the hospital. He didn’t break down. He simply added when the doctor delivered the news, as though he’d expected it all along,
But at Scarlett’s funeral, Ellas did something unthinkable. He distributed photocopied pages from Charlotte’s teenage diary to everyone in attendance family. friends, colleagues from the University of Michigan–exposing her childhood crush and teenage fantasies about him.]]
Thought you all should know who really killed Scarlett,” he announced to the shocked mourners
On Charlotte’s birthday, she woke to a doth pressed against her face, She later found herself bound in an abandoned warehouse, surrounded by strange men while Elus watched from the shadows.
“Don’t worry,” he called out, voice dripping with contempt. “I wouldn’t touch you if you were the last woman on earth, You’re nothing but trash to me.
As Charlotte was slipping into unconsciousness from the pain, liai dumped ice water over her head. Through swollen eyes, she watched him approach, knife glinting in his hand
“This is for Scarlen,” he whispered, blade descending
Then darkness
When Charlotte opened her eyes again, she was back in her apartment, staring at Ellas in her doobsway, making her to donate a kidney-
She had a second chance
“Charlotte, please.” Ellas’s voice hrnke as he stood in the sterile hospital hallway. This kidney might not man much to you, but scarlett will die without it.” He han his hand through his disheveled hair. “Name your price. Anything, just say yes.“]]
His desperate p
plea mapped Charlotte back to trality:[]
star was reliving this monrad the exact day when she’d related him before, triggering a miglare that ended with her broken body and his knife. Last time, she’d said no because her body had already sacrificed part of her haver for him years earlier. The medical risks had been too great
Hui now, with the clarity of hindsight, Charlotte understood the brutal truth refuse or accept her path led to death either way. At least this way. her debt to the man who’d raised her after her parents died After this, they would be even
she could repay
“111 do it,” she sand.
frady, her vore steadier th
than her hails ||
sentence, clearly caught off guard by her immediate agreement ||
The transplant specialist beside fum frowned deeply. Charlotte, I need to be absolutely clear about this,” he said, switching to his authoritave doctor voler *Donating a second organ after your previous liver donation creates serious complications. The mortality risk is significant. You understand that, right? |
Charlotte nodded. The risks didn’t matter anymore. Death was preferable to remaining in Elias’s orbit ||
After she signed the consent forms without hesitation. Elias visibly relaxed. He’d expected resistance, bargaining, or manipulation–not this calm acceptance
Thank you,” he said, his voice softening slightly. “Like I said, whatever you want in return–it’s yours.-]
Charlotte met his eyes directly. 1 want one thing legal emancipation from the Delaney family. I want my name removed from all family documents. Complete separation.”
Elias’s expression shifted from gratitude to suspicion. “You’re serious?”
He’d dearly expected her to leverage this situation–perhaps demand his hand in marriage or some other emotional ransom. Her request to sever ties completely blindsided him ||
“Dead serious,” Charlotte replied coldly
Elas studied her face, his eyes narrowing, “What’s your angle here, Charlotte? Cutting ties with the family won’t magically create something between us.” he said harshly. Let me be crystal clear: there will never be anything between us. My heart belongs to Scarlett Only Starlett. Not you, Never you –]
Charlotte’s gaze didn’t waver, though something flickered behind her eyes. Tm well aware.”
The memory of her previous humiliation remained raw. This time.
time, Charlotte had no intention of loving Elias. She only wanted to get as far away as possible.]
Elias continued staring sensing something different about her but unable to identify what had changed
Before he could press further, a weak voice called from the hospital room. “Elias?” ||
He immediately rushed inside, Charlotte following at a distance, her expression carefully neutral.]
Scarlett lay in the hospital bed, her once vibrant features now gaunt and pale. She coughed weakly, tears gathering in her eyes. “Stop prossuring her, Ellas. I know she doesn’t like me, and I don’t blame her for not wanting to donate.”
Before she could
continue, Elias grabbed her hand, his face lighting up, “Scarlett, she said yest Charlotte’s going to donate, You’re going to be okay!”
Scarlen fell silent, her gaze darting to Charlotte. Her expression hardened suddenly. “What did she demand in return? Did the ask you to marry her?”
Before as could answer, Scarlett lunged forward with surprising strength and slapped Charlotte hard across the face
you manipulative bitch Scarlett gasped, clutching her chest as monitors hegan beeping. “He’s your guardiant How desperate and pathetic can you be?
She turned to Chus, tears streaming. If you agreed to marry her. I swear I’d rather die right now!”
As Scarlett’s bewathing grew more labored, lias pulled her into his arms, completely ignoring Charlotte’s reddening cheek |
“Haley, calm down.” he murmured. “I love only you. I’ll only ever marry you. That was never on the table.”
Charlone touched her singing face a bitter smule forming as she quietly hacked toward the door. In the hallway, she couldn’t help overhearing their continued
that dangerous for her
the already gave you part of his liver, Scarlet said softly. Taking her kidney too–isn’t i Charlufte paused, feeling a flader of soiling–hope, perhaps–naly to have it immediately exunguished ||
“Scarlett, honry, you know I don’t g That’s all that instten |
give a damn about anyone but you,” he replied matter of furly. Tveryone u
else can live or die–1 just need you to get
better.
Outside the hospital, Charlotte leaned against the cold brick wall, took three deep breaths, and pulled out her phone. She dialed Professor Allen’s number
Professor? It’s Charlotse Whature. That Peace Corps position in Tanzaniay
you mentioned. I’d like to accept it. How soon can I leave?
