Ever since Liam popped the question to Chloe, Charlotte's been swamped with trouble. It's like she's got no moves left. She's tried everything: she messed up Chloe's face, injured her neck, and even booted her from the Parker clan.

But then Chloe's pregnancy turned the tables.

Charlotte couldn't just sit around and definitely couldn't risk guessing whose blood ran through that baby's veins.

She had to make Chloe pay, and the clock was ticking.

Right before dinner, Charlotte got a message. Liam's aunt, or maybe it was his great-aunt, was throwing a little shindig and wanted her to swing by. Charlotte didn't jump at the invite.

After all, she'd just rocked the boat big time, pulling the Beaumonts into a murder mess without giving a second thought to poor Thomas.

High society is usually all about keeping things hush-hush, but with Charlotte stirring the pot, who knows when she might set off another media frenzy? The society ladies probably only tolerated her because Liam was in her corner, sniping at her in secret instead of out in the open.

But then...

"I'll be there," Charlotte said, catching a quick flash of delight in the eyes of the servant delivering the news.

She couldn't help but smirk inwardly. Just yesterday, Liam made the Parkers kneel in the family shrine for her.

Were these people that dumb, or did they have the guts to test Liam's authority and patience?

The party was set by the lake the very lake where Annie had met her end. Inviting Charlotte there? Their ulterior motives couldn't have been clearer. When Charlotte showed up all dolled up, there was nothing.

No one around, just the biting cold. She waited in the dark, the chill set in, until reality hit her and she started back home.

"Hmph, is that the best they can do?"

"All hoity-toity, but still dying to be part of my Parker family as the lady of the manor!"

"Auntie, isn't this a bit much?"

"Too much? Charlotte's the one who crossed the line! If Liam hadn't stepped in, she'd have dragged Pamela through the mud too! Can you imagine? Poor Pamela's already on her last legs because of Charlotte's antics! Heartless, that's what she is. A night in the cold is the least she deserves!"

Charlotte didn't catch the hushed conversations hidden in the dark, but frankly, she didn't give a damn.

She had timed her return perfectly, only checking her phone once Liam was likely home.

As soon as she powered it on, Liam's call came through.

"Where've you been?" There was worry in Liam's voice. It wasn't just any other day. Despite the tide of opinion turning her way, Charlotte was still the target of too many watchful eyes, each waiting to take their shot. Charlotte was silent for a bit before finally spilling her location.

"You there for what?" he asked.

"Got an invite to a party, but it was a no-show when I got there."

"Charlotte," Liam sighed heavily, anger simmering in his voice, "You gotta know they were playing you..."

"I do," Charlotte jumped in. "I wanted to make sure you knew it too."

She shivered as she spoke, "No matter who I am, I always end up the punching bag, right?"

Despite Liam always taking her side, despite her being right by his side.

It wasn't just about shaming her; it was about stepping on Liam's pride too.

Charlotte didn't lay it all out there, just sniffled a little and asked Liam to come get her.

"Could really go for a hot tea latte, it's wicked cold."

The phone was quiet except for Liam's heavy sigh, and then, a reluctant "Alright."

While waiting for Liam, Charlotte aimlessly kicked at some pebbles on the curb.

Didn't take but a hot minute for a few cars to zip by, one slamming the brakes near her, tires screeching.

"What the hell did you say to Liam?!" a voice yelled from a rolled-down window-some lady from the Parker family, probably.

"Just told it like it is," Charlotte said, not missing a beat.

"You're nothing without Liam!" the woman screamed, totally losing it.

"Riding coattails? Guess we're all guilty, huh? Without the Parkers, you're nothing," Charlotte tossed their own words back at them, then added, "Liam's on his way."

Sure enough, Liam's headlights appeared down the road.

The woman clamped her mouth shut and peeled out, pissed as hell.

Their cars passed each other, a brief pause, some heated exchange, and then they were off again, each in a different direction.

When Liam pulled up, Charlotte couldn't help but ask, "What'd you say to them?"

"Just setting some boundaries," Liam grumbled, clearly not in the mood to talk about it, his eyes still on Charlotte.

"So you'd rather freeze out here than give in?"

Charlotte's laughter was light; she knew he'd totally bought into the whole 'giving in' thing.

But she needed more: "I'm all out of family."

She brushed his cheek with her frosty hand, "And what if you stop caring about me too?"

"You!" Liam knew she was playing him but couldn't help falling for it every time.

He couldn't argue with that.

Liam couldn't offer Charlotte a title, or fairness, and now he couldn't even give her the basic protection she deserved.

Her hands were so cold that Liam, though awkward about it, took them in his and tried to warm them up.

But Charlotte wasn't satisfied with just this bit of warmth. She slid her hands up under his shirt, resting them on his warm belly. The touch of cold and warm made Liam shiver uncontrollably.

Under the dim streetlights, Charlotte playfully moved her hands around on his stomach as she looked up at him.

Men run hotter, so her hands warmed up quickly.

"Stop it," Liam said with a husky voice, swallowing hard. "Let's go back."

"Why?" she asked.

Charlotte gripped his muscular waist, feeling the strength and warmth of his muscles.

Liam wasn't one for wild behavior, even at the most passionate moments, he'd keep it together.

"Can't I touch you?" Charlotte teased with her thumb, feeling his tremble, and stood on tiptoes to touch her forehead to his. "Liam."

She moved her hands up his back, pressing him closer with a little force.

"Give me some strength to keep going."

After a few seconds of silence, Liam hugged her back.

It was like a promise, like a vow.

"I won't let you suffer anymore."

On their way back, Charlotte and Liam didn't speak, but their tightly clasped hands spoke to their urgent connection.

When they got to the house, the paparazzi that had been waiting outside were gone probably dealt with by Liam.

He led her quickly upstairs and into the bedroom.

Once the door closed behind them, Charlotte suddenly regretted it.

"Our... situation..."

"I'm not going to marry Chloe, and you're not going to marry Dylan," Liam said roughly, cutting her off as he kissed her. "Forget about status."

Charlotte let him kiss her, but in a moment of breathlessness, she asked, "What about those women earlier?"

"They won't be in your way again."

Liam was clearly restless; it had been too long since they'd been close, and on the few occasions when they had been, Charlotte had abruptly stopped things. With so much youthful passion and his love right there, who could hold back?

He wanted to blend Charlotte into his very being, but her concerns kept coming, "What if I get pregnant?"

She would never let an accident happen, not wanting a child to be born into such a mess.

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But she was desperate to know what he'd say.

Liam's hands paused on her waist, then resumed as if nothing had happened, his voice even raspier, "We'd keep it."

Keep it?

Charlotte bitterly laughed to herself. If he really wanted a child, why did he pause? Why did he hesitate?

"Would he be your only child?" she asked with a kiss on his neck, a tear rolling down with the motion.

Her voice was a breath, "Would he carry the name Parker?"

Would Liam claim this child? Would the Parker family accept him?

"Yeah," Liam said, quick and sure, his hands not stopping as they worked her clothes off.

Charlotte wiped away a tear, feeling silly for even asking that question.

Can you really take a guy seriously when he's all caught up in the moment?

"I love you," she said, kissing him. "Never regretted it."

The next morning, Liam didn't want to get out of bed.

Charlotte was stuck in his arms, no way out, so she just hung out there with him.

"Hey, lazy bones, don't you have work?" she joked, poking at his abs to pass the time.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance.

She got a smack for calling him 'lazy bones,' and when she tried to smack him back, her wrist got caught. He pinned her down and they ended up kissing for what felt like forever. "Don't call me that," he said after, a bit rough, biting her lip so she had to hum out a little 'ouch.'

It was rare for them to have these quiet, close moments amidst their teasing, and then a servant had to come up and bug Liam.

Liam heard the servant out, his face turning all kinds of unhappy.

"They're gonna see Chloe," he said, standing by the bed, towering over Charlotte.

Charlotte just made a noise, acknowledging.

Everyone thought Chloe's baby was his. Liam had kicked Chloe out and made it clear he didn't want anything to do with the baby.

But the Parker family? They had different ideas - they wanted the baby.

Liam thought Charlotte was upset about it. "What's that 'hmm' for? That baby's not happening," he said like he'd said a million times before. Charlotte never bought it, not even once.Content © copyrighted by .

She faced him, "Why are we even talking about this, Mr. Parker?"

He didn't expect her to call him out like that, and it threw him off for a second.

Then he got mad. "It's not like you're thinking..."

"You don't want the kid," Charlotte said, all cool and matter-of-fact. "If you did, I wouldn't stand in your way."

"But you'd leave because of this child, Charlotte, you're pushing me to give up."

"I'm leaving because I want to leave. You don't want the child because you don't want it. Don't confuse the two."

The truth was, that Liam didn't want a kid with Chloe because she had a bad rep, and he didn't want a kid with her genes. What did that have to do with Charlotte?

From the moment he agreed to engage Chloe, none of the sweet stuff that came after felt real.

The whole cozy mood just vanished when that topic came up. Charlotte shrugged it off and started getting dressed, "I'm going too." Liam was quick to shut that down: "You don't need to be involved."

She knew he was just trying to get back at her. "Come on, I'm practically the kid's aunt here. It'd be weird if I didn't show up, right?" "Charlotte! Drop that title! Drop that role!" Liam suddenly snapped, his anger flaring up.

He was the one who screwed up first, which is why he'd been letting Charlotte and Dylan's partnership slide. But her constant nagging was pushing him to the edge. "I'll give you whatever you want, just quit pushing my buttons," he said, irritated.

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Silence fell.

Liam looked like a lion in mid-roar frozen by a mute button, anger on his face but his eyes cooling down.

"You have me already."

His voice was heavy, and he grabbed his clothes and ducked into the bathroom, almost tripping over himself. Looked like he couldn't get away fast enough.

On any other day, Charlotte might've felt a little victory dance coming on, but today, the weight in her chest wouldn't let her.

They got ready and headed downstairs together, and outside, the place was lined with cars - the Parker family brigade, all set to visit Chloe.

When they saw the two of them coming out together, the looks they got were all over the map, and nobody seemed to know what to say.

They might hate Charlotte, but Liam's the boss - his word goes. So they just watched, some with jaws dropped, as Charlotte walked with confidence to Liam's car, and he even held the door open for her. Some bitter voice hissed, "Gold digger," as eyes turned judgingly to the man nearby, "Dylan, man up! Your pride's on the line! How can you just watch her flaunt herself with Liam right in front of you?" Dylan's face was stormy, his eyes tracking Charlotte as she walked away. He ground out, "Don't talk about her that way."

"You've lost it, man! Both you and Liam are nuts, totally spellbound by that temptress!"

"Is that so?" Dylan looked down, his hands balled into fists, veins popping.

"She's charmed more than my eyes - she's got my heart too."

"And now, she's got some explaining to do to me."

When the Parkers rocked up at the Beaumonts' place, they were all invited in for a cuppa.

Despite Liam ripping into them just the other night, he was treated like royalty.

With Chloe's bun in the oven and Liam still playing the "Who's the daddy?" game, the family had no choice but to butter him up, even though they were probably seething inside.

"Just stay put," Liam told Charlotte before they split up.

Charlotte scoped out the scene and casually agreed.

Liam couldn't hide his annoyance at her nonchalant vibe. "You know you've ruffled the Beaumonts' feathers. They're not gonna let that slide."

"But you're here, aren't you?" Charlotte quipped with a smirk. "What can they possibly do to me?"

Liam wanted to press her to watch her back, but her look of trust made him zip it.

Charlotte bee-lined for Chloe's room, hoping against hope to find Annie's shell bracelet. She knew it was a long shot - if Chloe hadn't trashed the bracelet, she definitely wouldn't have brought it here.

As she went upstairs, a maid tried to stop her.

"You think you're some kind of lady just because you're hanging around with a few rich guys? You're nothing but trash from the slums!" The maid was red-faced and clearly embarrassed.

She didn't want to say these things, but Chloe had ordered her to be harsh with Charlotte.

If she didn't, she'd face a salary cut or even lose her job.

Charlotte caught the maid's embarrassed vibe and figured Chloe was behind the harsh welcome.

She didn't want to make things harder for the maid and went past her, saying, "Just tell Chloe I insisted on going."

Charlotte's search in Chloe's room. Not surprisingly, she found nothing.

Just as she was about to bounce, she clocked two dudes at the doorway.

"Miss Perry, you can't just waltz into our lady's room. What if something goes missing? Who's on the hook then?" one of the dudes said.

Charlotte kept mum.

"How 'bout this," he suggested, "we'll do a quick check. If all's good, cool. But if stuff's missing... well, Miss Perry, you're gonna owe an apology." He gave a nod, and the maid who had been tailing him started to shuffle forward, avoiding Charlotte's gaze.

It was the same maid who'd slung mud at her earlier.

In no time, the maid showed up with an empty box, hollering, "The emerald necklace has vanished! That thing's a family heirloom and worth a fortune!"

The others piled on, bigging up the necklace's worthwhile Charlotte pinched the bridge of her nose, tired of their play-acting.

It was clear they were trying to pin the blame on her, make her the scapegoat. Did they really have to go to all this trouble?