"I really thought Kenneth was just faking sick to force me and Chloe to get engaged, but now, he..."

Liam sounded so tired and sad.

"Charlotte, Kenneth is really bad off, medicine's no use."

"He really just wants to see my kid."

"After Chloe has the baby, I'll make things right with you, alright?"

Then there was just silence.

On the other end of the call, Charlotte just stood there on the sidewalk, the cold wind cutting through her.

All these bad choices, and it's always her life on the line.

And Liam's asking her to wait again.

"I get how much you care about your granddad, and you're always doing the right thing."

Charlotte's words came out empty and lifeless.

"You do what you gotta do. I won't stop you."

"Charlotte..."

She just hung up.

She was done with Liam's coldness.

It was always her taking the hits, might as well get used to it.

Back home, Thomas and Vincent looked pissed.

"What's Liam's take?"

"Just let it out," Charlotte said, acting unfazed, "while I can still make him think twice."

"Charlotte..." Vincent was worried, "Maybe wait a bit longer?"

He wanted to clear his brother's name, but Liam was putting up walls. They could go all out and still might not get the truth out.

"I'm done waiting."

She'd given it her all and kept hitting walls.

Was she not trying hard enough?

Maybe.

But she was determined to see some results today.

She was about to leave when her phone buzzed. It was Dylan.

"Charlotte, you gonna blow the whistle on Chloe?"

"That's the plan," Charlotte said with a seemingly light tone, but it was anything but light.

She was speaking from a place of total despair.

Dylan sounded more worried: "Charlotte, hold off on doing that for now, please... for me."

"Who's really the father of Chloe's baby?" Charlotte blurted out.

Something had always bugged her. That night, Liam said he was innocent, but Chloe insisted they'd been together.

Knowing Liam, after being drugged, he'd be furious, not jump into bed with the person who caused it.

Liam didn't have a scratch on him, but Chloe? She was a mess of marks.

So, who was with Chloe?

Who was the real father?

And Dylan, why the heck didn't he give Chloe the plan B pill?

After what felt like an eternity, Dylan's voice cracked, "The kid's mine."

"Wow."

Charlotte couldn't help but smirk at the irony.

Kenneth's holding on for dear life, Liam's bending over backward for this baby, and Chloe's walking around like she's won the lottery.

But the punchline? It's Dylan's baby.

"Please, don't tell Liam."

She promised she wouldn't.

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If the truth came out now, it'd probably send Kenneth to his grave.

Not that she owed him any kindness - the man barely tolerated her.

But why give Liam the easy way out?

No, let him fall head over heels for a child that's not his. That revelation would cut deeper later on.

"So they all get what they want," Charlotte mused.

But what about her?

What's her prize?

Betrayal, pure and simple.

Everyone's in Chloe's corner.

She stopped listening to Dylan's excuses and looked at Thomas and Vincent.

They were so close to getting even, and now this. They looked like they'd been through the wringer, and it hit Charlotte hard.

I'm going public," she declared, her voice steady but her words merciless.

"I'm ready to face the consequences."

"Charlotte!" Thomas was on edge. "We still have a chance!"

"I'm out of chances," she said, resignation in her voice.

She needed to see results, to feel that her efforts weren't in vain.

"This is my last stand."

Thomas tried to protest, but Vincent stopped him with a shake of his head.

"Uncle, let her be. If she doesn't do this, she'll never find peace."

Vincent reassured her, "I'll look out for you." He handed her the banner he had prepared, a silent show of support.

Chloe's recent mudslinging against Charlotte hadn't quite settled down, and Charlotte had stepped into the spotlight at just the right time to make a big impact. She had thrown caution to the wind, dead set on getting what she deserved. "Charlotte," Vincent had said, his eyes brimming with tears as he had taken in the sight of her stubborn resolve. It hadn't been long ago that she was a girl who second-guessed every move, but now, she was like a superhero, impervious to the world's slings and arrows.

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He admired her for her transformation but also felt for the tough journey she had had.

"When this is all over, I'll whisk you away to an island. A place where you can take time to heal," he had promised.

Charlotte had offered a strained smile in return. "Okay."

She had taken up the banner and stepped forward, without looking back, ready to face the storm she had stirred up. holds this content.

But her journey was cut short when Liam had stepped in her way.

"I asked you to wait for me."

Beneath Liam's composed surface, anger had simmered. "Charlotte, do you really have to tear her down? Do you want to leave Kenneth restless in his final days?"

"What do I care?" Charlotte had retorted, laughter hiding her pain. "Liam, we're talking about two lives. Chloe took my sister and my mother from me! And you expect me to wait? Wait for what? For her to come after me next?" "That's never going to happen!"

"Sure, you say that now. But all you do is ask me to hold back, to wait. Until when? Until I'm no longer a threat?"

Charlotte's tears had broken free. "I'm fighting for justice for my sister and mother, while you're just worried about your grandfather. I understand your reasons, Liam. But you need to understand mine. We're each fighting our own battles." "You're out of your league!" Liam had shouted.

"Then try and stop me!" Charlotte had challenged.

"Charlotte!"

"Liam, you've let me down. Not just once."

Charlotte had wiped away her tears and managed to smile. "We have no future, and you've lost any right to tell me what to do."

She had held the banner tighter. "I want Chloe to pay, and I'll stop at nothing."

"You could try stopping me," Charlotte had whispered, her voice heavy with resolve. "But I'm willing to lay down my life."

"Charlotte!" Liam was caught between bitterness and anger. "Kenneth just wants to see his grandchild born. I'm in control here. I know you're hurting, and I promise, if it won't affect the baby, you can handle Chloe your way, alright?" "No."

At that moment, Charlotte had felt like all her steadfastness had been a farce.

Looking at Liam, she had admitted, "I regret it, Liam. I wish I never fell for you."