Charlotte quietly checked out the four rooms in front of her, Dylan offering her the pick of the litter. "Pick any room you like, that's where we'll crash."

"We're not gonna live together," Charlotte said, her voice cold.

Out of Chloe's sight, Charlotte kept her guard up, staying distant with Dylan.

But Dylan was still the picture of patience and gentleness.

"You know the deal with my situation, Charlotte. I can't go against Kenneth's orders," he said softly.

"Then let someone who dares to defy."

"You mean... Liam?" Dylan glanced at an excited Chloe picking out rooms, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "He's Kenneth's biggest fan." "I'll take this one!"

Chloe's excited shout cut through Charlotte and Dylan's conversation.

Charlotte glanced over and casually pointed to the room next to hers, "Then Dylan and I will bunk here."

"What are you guys talking about?"

Just as she finished speaking, a man walked in from outside. His black trench coat was dotted with rain, wrapping him in a mist that made him look like a sharp, icy blade. "Liam!" Chloe ran down to him as he entered, cheerfully wrapping her arms around his arm.

"Grandpa says we're all living together now. I picked out the room with the best sunlight, so you'll get to see the first rays of the morning every day!"

Liam barely seemed to hear Chloe's excited chatter. With a look of disgust, he yanked his arm away, his gaze fixed on Charlotte and Dylan standing together.

Chloe's heart skipped a beat at the sight. Liam was engaged to her, but his eyes still searched only for Charlotte-even with another guy right by her side! She was so jealous, she wished she could snatch Liam's eyes and glue them onto herself!

Why was he always looking at Charlotte? Why not her?

"Liam, Charlotte, and Dylan picked the room right next to ours," Chloe said, a hint of mischief in her voice. "That room gets good light too. Imagine them cuddled up in the morning sunshine, must be a cozy picture."

Chloe's words lit a fire under Liam in an instant.

"You guys are shacking up together?!" He glared at Dylan, "Dylan, I can't let this slide a second time."

He could stomach Charlotte playing games to get back at him, but if Dylan dared to cross a line, he wouldn't let it go.

Dylan's smile faded, "Liam, Charlotte, and I are getting engaged in a few days. It makes sense for us to live together, and I don't see why you'd object."

"You don't need to know," Liam said, his eyes icy with barely controlled anger.

Dylan took a step back, feeling the weight of Liam's fury, "It's what Grandpa wants..."

"He's a goner," Liam said with a scoff that could have been seen as disrespectful. "From here on out, you listen to me."

"Liam, come on!" Dylan's face turned serious. "I'm your big brother! Charlotte is gonna be your sister-in-law. What gives you the right to stop us from living together?" Hearing 'sister-in-law' again made Liam lose it completely. He stepped forward, his fist flying towards Dylan.

"Liam, stop!"

Charlotte jumped in, pulling Dylan behind her, ready to take the hit herself.

The punch whistled through the air, just missing Charlotte's face and stirring strands of her hair.

"Look, man, your girl's right there behind you. You should be thinking about setting up a house with her, not getting in the middle of me and Charlotte." "Charlotte."

Liam was practically seething, his eyes bloodshot with fury.

Charlotte getting cozy with Dylan was like a punch to his gut and a kick to his pride.

It was as if Charlotte was ripping out his heart, piece by piece, and trampling it.

"I've said it before, you don't have to lift a finger. Just stay put, and I'll sort everything out," he muttered, almost wishing he could just grab Charlotte and lock her away from all this mess. Liam totally got the game Chloe was playing and had enough dirt to bury her.

He would do anything for her, make Chloe pay, make her life a misery if that's what she wanted.

But why was she in such a rush?

Why couldn't she understand the duty he felt, the respect he needed to show?

He lost his parents young and was raised by Kenneth's hand. Why couldn't she give him just a little space to breathe?

And why did she have to go cozying up to some other guy so quickly, especially when that guy was his own cousin?

When she was all happy calling herself 'sister-in-law', did she even think about how much that messed him up inside?

"Charlotte," Liam said, easing his fist into an open hand, trying to cover her face, to shield himself from her scornful eyes. "You're clueless."

She smacked his hand away with a snap and retreated to stand by Dylan's side.

"Liam, turn around and think."

Think about the woman he wanted to marry, the choices he was making!

"And you're telling me I'm clueless?"

"Charlotte!"

Liam couldn't stand it anymore and grabbed her wrist, heading for the nearest room.

"Get off me!" Charlotte struggled as Dylan tried to step in and break Liam's grip, only to be stopped dead by a chilling glare.

"Liam, come on!" Chloe piped up, annoyed and feeling wronged. "It's our engagement day, and you're making a scene with her..." "Shut up!"

Chloe quickly shut up, too scared to utter another word.

Liam was giving off some seriously scary vibes.

Once inside the room, Charlotte didn't show any fear. She just massaged the wrist that Liam had gripped too hard, casting a casual glance over the room's decor. "Nice digs. Chloe picked a good one," Charlotte noted, realizing this was the room Chloe had chosen.

Liam ignored her comment, gripping her chin to make her look at him: "Are my words just going in one ear and out the other?"

"What, the revenge pep talk?" Charlotte quipped, dodging his grip with a twist of her head, slipping free. "Yeah, what about it?"

She stared at Liam's stormy face and couldn't help but run her hand over it.

While Liam was caught off guard, Charlotte whispered, "I get what you're saying, but I'm not sold."

Liam froze up for a second.

Charlotte kept it light, "Hey Liam, I'm just not convinced."

She didn't go into it any further, just held his gaze with her clear, unwavering eyes.

Liam felt a sting, like touching a hot stove, and hastily averted his eyes.

"Do you really have to punish me like this?" he asked.

"Nah," Charlotte said, fixing his wrinkled shirt, "it's not about punishment. We don't do that to each other."

After smoothing out his shirt, she gave it a couple of pats, looked up with a satisfied smile, and met Liam's gaze. "Stay out of Chloe's room, don't get all lovey-dovey with her, and I'll back off from Dylan."

"Liam, I'm not punishing you. I'm just pushing you to admit you're wrong." holds this content.

She laid it out there, no sugarcoating.

Clear as day, her agenda was out in the open.

Didn't even seem to care what Liam thought, just pushed him into a corner.

That kind of straight talk got Liam all kinds of mad, but he just bit back his anger and spat out an 'okay'.