The conversation naturally kicked off with inquiries about Charlotte's rapport with Liam.

Thomas had long harbored the belief that only by clinging to Liam could they truly cast Chloe into oblivion, a plan he had never abandoned. But Charlotte, privy to his schemes, had never approved.

Charlotte chided, "Liam's got nothing to do with our vendetta. Let's not keep dragging him into this; he won't be our knight in shining armor."

"Is that so?" Thomas hesitated, biting back the tale of his chance encounter with Daniel while catching up with Brendan.

He gave her a serious heads-up, "Leiventale is Beaumont territory. The local big shots all look up to the Beaumonts. Charlotte, you better watch your step." Heeding her reluctance to exploit Liam, Thomas dropped the subject.

He was well-informed about the recent stir in Leiventale; Liam had severed ties with the Beaumonts.

It was a bold move.

With the Perry and Beaumont families interlinked by marriage, and the Beaumonts reigning supreme in Leiventale, they were the obvious partners for the Parker Group to make inroads in the region. Yet Liam refused to collaborate with the Beaumont clan.

This move had subtly undercut Chloe's influence.

Should Liam persist in his refusal to partner with the Beaumonts, even if Chloe managed to marry into the family, she would gain no tangible benefits, let alone have Liam as her pillar of support.

Thomas was beginning to see the merit in Charlotte's perspective.

He also grew to respect Charlotte's capabilities more.

They didn't need to bend over backward to curry favor with Liam.

The Parker Group's expedition to Leiventale was a swift and decisive one, cutting ties with the Beaumonts and promptly securing other suitable partners, showcasing top-tier operational and responsive acumen. Charlotte now understood why Liam's business trips never lasted more than two days.

True talent doesn't require time to prove its worth.

Yet after wrapping up his business, Liam couldn't leave immediately; he had to attend an old family friend's birthday banquet on behalf of the Perry family.

Such occasions often necessitated a personal assistant, but Charlotte knew her place and understood Liam wouldn't take her.

"Mr. Parker, will you be drinking tonight? Shall I prepare some hangover soup and wait for you outside the venue?"

Charlotte was fixing up Liam's shirt cuffs when she heard him grunt a yes in response.

But quickly, he overturned his own decision, "Stay at the hotel; there's no need to come. This isn't your scene."

At his words, Charlotte's fingers froze momentarily before she carried on with her task, unfazed.

Just as she expected, Liam wouldn't allow someone of her status to appear at the banquet.

He would be accompanied by Chloe.

Charlotte stood in the lobby, watching him leave arm-in-arm with Chloe, dressed in haute couture.

"Bye now~" Chloe taunted, glancing back with a provocative wave.

Charlotte brushed off the provocation, her heels clicking as she retreated to her room.

She thought her duties for the day were done, but fresh out of the shower, her phone buzzed with Liam's number.

"I need a white shirt, now," his voice crackled, tinged with irritation.

Charlotte raced to his room, searching high and low, but no white shirt was in sight.

Liam favored black, and white shirts were scarce in his wardrobe.

For this trip, Charlotte had packed him just one.

His aversion to wearing clothes twice didn't help, and buying a new one was out of the question at this hour.

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In a twist of fate, Charlotte's mind darted back to packing days prior, to a shirt she had gifted Liam, which he had discarded.

Unable to part with it, she had slipped it into her bag instead.

Should she?...

Her resolve wavered. He had made his disdain for that shirt clear.

Would he see this as her stubborn attempt to please him?

No matter.

Charlotte steeled herself. A shirt was a shirt, and it was better than failing her duty.

After all, a white shirt is a white shirt, and he might not even notice.

The venerable elder's birthday was at a grand hot spring villa halfway up the mountain, its entrance opening to a tranquil lake.

Charlotte detested that lake and quickened her pace in search of Liam.

"Miss Perry," greeted Henry, ushering her to a secluded pavilion where Liam sat, the stain of red wine stark against his once pristine shirt an affront to his meticulous nature. "What happened?" she inquired.

"Oh, Mr. Parker is quite the catch in the eyes of the bachelorettes here. One lady tried to get close by 'accidentally' spilling wine on him," Henry explained.

Charlotte suppressed a smile. "And Mr. Parker? He didn't lose his temper?"

"The elder took care of it and had the lady escorted out,” Henry said, hinting at Liam's significance to the elder.

Inside, Charlotte presented the shirt.

Hearing her, Liam unexpectedly rose and headed to the changing room.

She followed with the shirt, intending to leave it and exit, but Liam fixed his gaze on it, not reaching to take it.Content © copyrighted by .

Just a heads up: is the only place to read the complete version of this book for free. Don't miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! His brows knotted as he looked at Charlotte, "Is this a game to you?"

Charlotte felt a shiver of apprehension; she hadn't expected him to recognize the shirt.

With feigned confidence, she replied, "It's the only white shirt available."

"Why didn't you bring more?" he pressed.

"You're not a fan of white shirts," she reminded him.

"And if you knew I disliked white, why give me as a gift in the first place?" Liam bore down with his questions.

Caught off-guard, Charlotte blinked rapidly before responding, "I was unaware of your preference back when I presented it to you."

In her early days, she was still figuring things out, from his likes and dislikes to mastering the office coffee machine.

His probing might suggest he found her gift inappropriate, perhaps even laughable.

Releasing a sigh, she murmured an apology, "I'm sorry, I didn't think it through. It won't happen again."

Liam raised his eyebrows in apparent astonishment as if he hadn't expected her to concede.

"Charlotte, that's quite the attitude," he said through gritted teeth.

With a swift motion, Liam shut the door and, in front of her, stripped off the stained shirt.

His bronzed skin came into view, causing Charlotte to flush with embarrassment. She turned to leave but found herself spun back by a firm grip on her shoulder. "Clean it," he commanded, nodding toward the wine mark on his abdomen.

"What should I... use to clean it?" she stammered, thinking to fetch a tissue, only to be pulled back once more.

"Don't you have hands?" he challenged.

"Um?" She was to use her hands?