It has been ten years since the death of Charlotte's mother and since then she has had to deal with an absentee father and an abusive step mother. On one occasion her best friend Nicole convinces her to go out for a couple of drinks with her. What she hadn't expected was to meet the tall brooding man, Jacob Kinsley. One thing leads to another and they end up sleeping together, for Jacob the night meant nothing and Charlotte agrees entirely. But fate has other plans for the two when she learns that Jacob is in fact her sister's boyfriend. Things only seem to take a turn for the worse when Charlotte finds out that she is pregnant. Her father sees it as the perfect opportunity to secure a deal with Kingsley corp, in order to save his failing business. Although Jacob wants nothing to do with her, he still wants to remain a part of his child's life and so he reluctantly agrees. What starts as a marriage of convenience takes a messy turn as the two grow closer. And when Jacob gets into an accident and is forced to stay bedridden for months how long can the two deny the attraction that is clear between them? And in the end who will Jacob choose, the sweet and kind Charlotte or her sister he made a promise to?
Chapter 1 Dreams
Charlotte
I can never tell you how my dreams are set to begin but for me the endings are always the same. It ends with me panting and screaming at the top of my lungs and while my mother lay in a pool of her own blood.
Her beady eyes staring back at me as my dad whispers back that it was my fault that she was dead and telling me that I killed her.
..
I was pulled out of my dream when I heard the sound of loud knocking on my door. "Wake up Char. No one has time for you to sleep in." I heard my sister yell from the other side.
I mentally cursed myself as I slowly pulled my eyes and I sighed as I looked around my closet sized room and turned to my alarm clock as I noticed that it was only 6 in the morning. I stood up slowly from my old mattress before making my way over to open up the door to see Ashley standing on the other side as she stared at me with a deep frown on her features. I looked at her with a raised eyebrow as I questioned what she was doing there.
"Can I help you?" I asked as I took in the sight of her silky night gown and had fuzzy slippers. There were times like these when I envied her and the level of attention and care that our parents gave her. It reminded me of the fact that they were never going to give it to me.
"Why are you still here? breakfast isn't going to cook itself." she said to me in a hissing and as I looked at her in confusion.
"What do you mean? Don't you have a chef for that. Oh, mighty princess." I asked sarcastically with a raised eyebrow. I watched as she shrugged her shoulders before a smirk made its way onto her feature. "Well I gave him as well as the maids the day off. I thought they deserved it and so you are going to be doing the cooking. "she said and I knew that it would have sounded shocking to some people but my sister had done much worse.
"Now get up and make breakfast before mum and Andrew wake up. You know how much she hates her late breakfast. "she said as i tried my best to block her out of my thoughts. It was too early for me to go through this.
"Okay how about you take a step back and I will get back to you in a minute. "I said to her and the gullible flop that she was, I watched as she took several steps back. I immediately slammed the door in her face as I raised my hand to lock it.
I heard her let out a high-pitched scream and I chuckled at the sight of her despair. "I am going to tell mum you did that and don't even think that she will let you get away with this." I heard her call out from the other side of the door. I only rolled my eyes at her in response as I decided to start getting ready for the day.
It was nothing new to have her throwing a tantrum at my door as Ashley did that often just to upset me. She knew that dad would be angry if I were to get to work late. He valued his reputation more than anything and since I was his assistant it meant that I had to get in there before him.
I decided that I would go and make breakfast first before I would come back and start getting ready for work. It would ensure I got ready in time without getting in trouble. I changed into my old sweat pants and loose t-shirt and decided to make my way up the stairs.
My room was located on the ground floor and it had been a closet before my mum died. After my dad married Nicole, Ashley's mum he had moved me into the room as he thought that she was more deserving of my old one. I didn't mind much as It meant that I could stay as far away from them and all them as I possibly could.
I made my way into the kitchen as I realized that I wouldn't have any time to shower today. I decided to make some pancakes and hash browns which were my dad's favorite as I got to work while humming a tune under my breath.
I was actually a lover of cooking , although I was aware that they did this to undermine me, I didn't care. It was a form of escape for me and I rushed to finish plaiting up the food before I arranged them around the table and I knew that they would come down at exactly 7:40 and it was 7:35 now. I waited patiently and soon enough I heard my parent's door open before they began making their way inside the kitchen. I tried to make myself invisible as they sat down on the table and began to eat their meal.
I hummed a tune as I tried to distract myself and it was only when they had started eating that I came to sit at the table and join them. I waited for them as I heard Ashley come in. She was late as usual and she sat next to dad. "Good morning sweetie." I heard him say and I felt a pang in my chest at the loving glance that he gave her but I ignored it.
I heard a shriek and ,poked up to see Ashley with a look of disgust on her face. "Why is the food cold?" She muttered. I found myself confused as to why she would ask that. "You came late, that is why. "I said to her simply.
"Well you should have warmed it. Now I can't eat this garbage. Daddy told her to make me something else. "She squealed and I turned towards my dad to see if he would argue worth her or at least defend me but as always he took her side. "You should make her another. " He said to me and I knew that he was well aware of the fact that it would make me late.
Just as I was leaving the room I heard him say, "You know I would do anything for you." And I felt my heart sink and I realized he would never say those words to me.
Chapter 1 Dreams
03/06/2023
Chapter 2 Mother's Love
03/06/2023
Chapter 3 An Offer From a Gentleman
03/06/2023
Chapter 4 An Escape
03/06/2023
Chapter 5 Jacob
03/06/2023
Chapter 6 A Night to Remember
03/06/2023
Chapter 7 Ricky
03/06/2023
Chapter 8 Bad Memories
03/06/2023
Chapter 9 Secrets
03/06/2023
Chapter 10 Threats
03/06/2023
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