"What are you two up to?"

Liam instantly felt Charlotte's hand jerk away from his face, quickly like she was guilty of something.

"Charlotte!" He blurted out, irritated and a bit flustered.

Charlotte flashed him an apologetic smile, hoping to calm the waters, but it backfired, sending him off in a huff.

As he passed by Dylan, Liam gave him a solid bump on the shoulder-a move so childish it was hard to believe he'd actually done it.

"Jeez, touchy much?" Dylan grumbled, but his gaze held a hint of hurt when he faced Charlotte. "Hey, Charlotte, even if we're just partners, it bugs me to see you close with him." "Come on, you know that's nonsense," Charlotte replied, her voice tinged with frost.

"Yeah, I get it," Dylan conceded. "Still, can't you spare a thought for how I feel?"

"Back in Leiventale, when you pulled me out of Malcolm's clutches, you were all about how you were rooting for me and Liam to be happy together."

"That was before when I'd only seen you from afar," Dylan said quietly, almost in a whisper, as he hung his head.

Charlotte caught every word, though.

Her face hardened, "Dylan, let's get one thing straight-we're in this for the deal, nothing more. Cross me and our deal's off. After that, you're on your own."

"Understood," Dylan said, his eyes following Charlotte as she left. He exhaled deeply, shaking his head with a half-laugh, "Guess being late to the party means you're just not in the running, right?"

Halfway through dinner, Liam and Dylan got called away by Kenneth.

No need to guess it was a sure bet Pamela had gone crying to Kenneth.

"I've got just this one sister, raised her myself. I never wanted her to suffer, kept her from marrying off all her life. But who knew, keeping her in the Parker family would turn out to hurt her!" Right when they walked in, Kenneth started coughing and launched into a lecture.

He didn't even look at Liam, but he had some good words for Dylan, "Dylan's got his head on straight. Doesn't play favorites with his girlfriend, gives the older folks the respect they're due."

Dylan just stood there, head down, not saying a word.

After praising Dylan, Kenneth turned to Liam with a change in tone, "Not like you! Do you have even a shred of respect for Pamela in your heart?"

Liam snorted, "Pamela's got the nerve to bug you with this stuff even when you're sick. Guess getting old muddled her brain. Might be time to consider a nice, quiet nursing home." "Liam!" Kenneth, livid, threw down his cup.

Liam shot back coolly, "Aren't you supposed to be avoiding stress with your condition? Anyone messing with your rest, I'm not letting them off easy."

"But that's Pamela we're talking about, my little sister!"

Ignoring Kenneth's growl, Liam pressed on, "Aren't you supposed to be sick? Still have the energy for this drama? You sound more hale and hearty than someone in perfect health to me." "You!" Kenneth panted heavily, visibly riled up by Liam's attitude, his breathing becoming labored.

It took him a good moment to catch his breath before he said weakly, "Pamela, bless her, she's simple-minded. Must've been Robert filling her head with nonsense to make such a mess. Just let Charlotte sort out her no-good father, so he doesn't drag our family name through the mud!"

"I'll handle it."

Kenneth was all worked up, "Who said it's your turn? Remember, Dylan's still in the room! He's the one dating Charlotte. He should be the one to handle this if anyone."

Liam shrugged it off, standing tall, "Aren't we all family here? Why get so hung up on who does what? Charlotte's been on her feet all day. Let's drop it and tell Pamela to let it go."

"A whole day? Please! She just put on a little show before you got back, fishing for your pity!"

"Grandpa," Liam's voice chilled over, "You're missing the point just like Pamela."

Charlotte really was on her feet the whole day. The security cameras caught every second.

Kenneth blew up, "You little punk! Who gave you the right to backtalk your elders!"

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Liam didn't budge an inch, "I'm not allowed to speak up to my elders? Then what about the businesses you've got hanging on to my company's coattails, raking in profits? Should I just ignore those too?" Kenneth spluttered, "You! Are you threatening me?"

"Grandpa, you're sick." Liam stepped forward, coolly tucking the blanket around Kenneth, "People who are ill shouldn't get worked up like this."

Perhaps it was the chilly air he carried with him or his unbending stance, but Kenneth was left gasping for air, wordless for real this time. "Take it easy."

With that, Liam turned and strode out without a second glance.

Watching Liam's retreating figure, Kenneth couldn't settle down for the longest time.

After a bit, he grumbled, "Can't handle a girl, Dylan? What good are you?"

Dylan rushed to say sorry, "My bad, Grandpa, Charlotte, and I aren't exactly tight..."

"Tight? Who needs tight? She's supposed to be your girl, living just next door. If you played your cards right, she'd already be all over you!" Disgust flickered in Kenneth's eyes, "And it wouldn't have come to her throwing all her flirty tricks at your brother!"

"OK, I get it now." Dylan's fists were clenched, frustration boiling inside him.

Charlotte finished her meal and took a plate of fruit to sit on the porch, watching the rain.

Liam came over alone, umbrella in hand, his tall and fit silhouette flickering in and out of the night shadows.

His black umbrella hid his face, and from where Charlotte sat, she could only catch a glimpse of his tanned skin through his white shirt.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

She was still looking when he crossed the steps and stopped in front of her.

"What are you looking at?" Liam closed his umbrella, looking down at her from his height.

From this angle, he seemed like a king in command of everything.

But Charlotte wouldn't have it; she wanted him on her level, "I didn't get to see your face just now."

She stayed seated, reached out a hand, and laid it on his waist, then slowly let her fingers wander upward. "Why the white shirt? I thought black was more your thing?" Liam furrowed his brow but didn't answer.

Charlotte's hand deftly slipped under the hem of his shirt, coming to rest on the warm skin of his stomach. "How come the rain's cold, but you're still so warm?" "Only the dead are cold," Liam shot back, his tone cool.

He wasn't sure what Charlotte was up to with her bold moves, but he didn't push her hand away.

"My hands are cold, though." She'd watched the rain for so long that the chill and the breeze seemed to have whisked away most of her warmth.

Charlotte pushed the boundaries, sliding both hands under his shirt, using him as a personal hand warmer while she gently caressed his skin.

The cool touch of her hands against his warm belly and lower back made Liam shiver uncontrollably.

Charlotte paused and looked up at him, "Too cold for you?"

"What do you think?" Liam reached to grab her hands. "Let's go inside."

"No, I want to watch the rain."

Charlotte drew back her hands, her voice tinged with disappointment, "You go back. I'm good here."

"What's the disappointment about?" Liam stood still.

She wrapped herself tighter in the chair, like some high-class cat, lost in the sight of the falling rain. "It's only really great when all the things you love are right there with you."