His exit left Chloe a subject for mockery-her humiliation complete.

Liam had not just struck her; he had discarded her, his actions speaking volumes in the sight of all.

His message was loud and clear without uttering a single word: he wanted nothing to do with her.

"Liam doesn't seem too fond of his fiancée, does he? Even at the engagement party yesterday, he looked rather displeased the entire time." "Such is the way of arranged matches-rarely do they bloom with true affection."

"And who would've thought Chloe could be so spiteful, facing rejection from her husband and then turning to pick fights with her own sisters!"

The murmurs burst around her like fireworks, and Chloe felt her world collapse.

From that moment on, she was nothing but a joke to the Parkers.

And the architect of her misery? Charlotte, of course.

Chloe seethed, her rage almost palpable.

As soon as they were out of the public eye, Charlotte insisted on getting down to walk on her own.

"Can you handle it?" Dylan's worry tinged his words. "You looked ready to collapse just then."

"Spare me the theatrics," Charlotte retorted, extricating herself with a cool detachment. "Liam's lost in his feelings, missing the obvious. What's clouding your vision?" Dylan's laughter emerged, tinged with disbelief, "Did you actually push Chloe into the water? Seeing you so weak earlier, I was almost convinced she was spinning tales." "It's simple," Charlotte stated firmly. "She's come at me more than once, and I believe in reciprocating the gesture."

"You're quite the... tit for tat type, aren't you?" Dylan observed, half amused by her candor.

Dylan's eyes narrowed into a warm smile. "I must admit, I'm quite taken with you, Charlotte-every part of you, inside and out."

He trailed leisurely behind her, "Keeping your company is no easy task. Liam's had it out for me recently, but still, I said 'yes' when you came to me. Ever wonder why?" Charlotte sidestepped his narrative, "You're not one for charity, so cut the act. I know there's an angle for you in this."

"There's a benefit indeed, yet it's far less than what I'm after," Dylan paused abruptly, his voice earnest as he addressed Charlotte's retreating figure. "I want all the world's benefits to be mine."

"Dream on," Charlotte tossed back without so much as a glance over her shoulder. "Last I checked, dreaming isn't a crime."

She dismissed Dylan's words; from the moment she decided to collaborate with him, she knew she was embarking on a challenging path.

Underneath Dylan's seemingly gentle and harmless exterior, Charlotte understood that he was far more dangerous. She was on guard with him, perhaps even more so than with the detached and ruthless Liam.

Back in the safety of the courtyard, Charlotte picked up some clothes and made her way to the bathroom for a shower.

As she was halfway through, the distinct sound of the lock clicking resonated within the small space. Her instincts on high alert, she watched the door intently. It wasn't until the familiar stoic face of the man appeared that she allowed herself a moment of relief, though her voice remained frosty as she addressed him.

"I'm taking a shower, Mr. Parker. Isn't it a bit rude to barge in like this?"

"Charlotte." Liam ignored her tone, his brow creased as he approached, eyeing her intently.

He had always been a dominant presence, but this predatory gaze was new and unsettling.

Charlotte felt a wave of discomfort, "Stop looking at me like that; I'm not your prey."

"I am your prey." Liam retracted his gaze, speaking softly.

Charlotte couldn't shake the feeling that there was an unusual softness in him just then.

"Using me today too, aren't you?" He posed the question, the word 'using' coming out surprisingly gently from him as if coated in velvet.

"Flashing that ring at the party, making sure Chloe sees it-what's your game?"

Was she staking a claim, sending a message to Chloe that he belonged to her?

Or maybe showing off how he'd bend over backward for her?

In the white noise of the falling water, Charlotte took a beat before she tossed back her answer, "It's because Dylan isn't the type to spring for such an extravagant ring.

She draped a towel around herself, her tone casual but cutting, "Being looked down upon today means trouble tomorrow. Dylan doesn't give me the security I need."

"And you thought to ask me for it?" Liam's brow furrowed deeply. "You know I'd oblige, so why waste time with him?"

Charlotte moved past him, her bare feet on the cool floor, her fingertips trailing mist.

She reached up, touching Liam's face, "But without him, I wouldn't even be able to see you."

"With your engagement to Chloe, we're kept at arm's length-everyone's watching. My only play to bridge this gap was a bit of cunning."

"Liam, you've never been one to seek me out, so when I take the leap towards you, don't turn me away with indifference."

With those words, she nudged Liam's chest, "Okay, time to leave."

The abrupt dismissal pricked at Liam's pride, "You're still holding a grudge because I didn't..."

"Mr. Parker, my boyfriend is out there," Charlotte interjected, halting his protest and steering clear of revisiting earlier events.

After all, the tables had turned-she was only repaying Chloe in kind, a fact Liam was all too conscious of.

In moments like these, the more she evaded, the deeper Liam's guilt would gnaw at him.

Feeling the droplets on her skin vanish into the air, a coldness enveloped Charlotte, a stark reminder of her transformation.

Time and circumstance had changed her; she had learned to wield emotions like weapons.

"He was around in the morning, too, and you didn't seem to care about his presence then." Liam's voice grew heavier as he lifted her, towel and all, and set her down on the washstand, positioning her as he had in the morning. Charlotte, puzzled, caught sight of the ring being retrieved from his pocket, her expression one of slight astonishment, "You brought the ring back?"

"It was always yours," Liam stated, reaching for her hand to slip the ring onto her finger.

"I don't want it anymore," Charlotte dodged slightly.

Liam's movement halted, and then he reached out again, firmly grasping her hand.

"The ring is yours, it will always be yours, and no one will trouble you over it again."

He thought Charlotte was afraid of being pushed into the water again.

"Did you just carry her back?" Charlotte suddenly asked.

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"No," Liam glanced at her expression, noticing her discomfort, and felt his mood lighten somewhat, "What about you?"

Charlotte shook her head too, "After avoiding those people, I walked on my own."

As she spoke, she noticed the tension draining from Liam.Content © copyrighted by .

"You don't like me being in contact with Dylan."

Charlotte thought he would dismiss such a trivial question, but Liam lightly nodded in acknowledgment.

A soft "Yeah," was all he said.

A smile flickered across Charlotte's face. "Fine, I'll keep my distance from him."

A quietude settled between them then.

With gentle compliance, Charlotte allowed the ring to find its place on her finger.

The ring, is precious beyond measure, yet devoid of the precious sentiment it should embody.

Liam, not one to indulge in sensitivity, had shown his care for Charlotte in his own way by bringing back the ring and placing it back on her finger.

The confines of the bathroom, charged with an unspoken tension, were no place for him to stay. The ring now back where it belonged, he made his exit.

Once dressed and her hair dried, Charlotte emerged, only to be greeted by a cacophony the moment her door swung open.

As she drew nearer, it became clear that Chloe was at the center of the turmoil, tears streaming down her face.

She had been brought back by the servants, drenched and in a state of disarray.

At that moment, she was clinging to Liam's sleeve, weeping and babbling about something.

The instant Charlotte stepped into view, Chloe's weeping ceased, her eyes now daggers aimed at Charlotte.

"Charlotte!" The word was a grenade of indignation from Chloe, "Such a sly trickster you are!"

Without waiting for her to speak, Liam's stern voice cut through, "Enough, Chloe! Apologize now!"