By the time Hayden finally arrived, Easton had already managed to calm Charlie down.
She was surrounded on all sides–Easton, Connor, and Kenji encircled her protectively, as though shielding a fragile treasure.
Tears streamed endlessly down Charlie’s cheeks as she struggled weakly against them.
‘Don’t stop me,” she cried, her voice trembling. “I can’t be that selfish. If everything comes at the cost of your pain… then it isn’t worth it. I can’t bear to see you hurt because of me again.” Her sobs only deepened, her delicate shoulders shaking violently.
Easton’s heart ached unbearably. He reached out and gently brushed the tears from her face. Connor, wanting nothing more than to take her into his arms, was a step too late–Easton hac lready done it. Forced to hold back, Connor could only grasp her hand tightly. His expression vas filled with pity, as though he wished he could press her into his very bones.
moment earlier, doubts about Debbie had lingered in their minds–whether her rejection was eal or not. But after Charlie’s desperate outburst, all thoughts of Debbie were swept aside. After all, in their eyes, Debbie could never truly leave them. Even if her words at the birthday anquet had been genuine, they were certain that with a bit of cold treatment, she would ventually come crawling back.
And so, their frustration from earlier twisted into an act of revenge–every ounce of affection they ince reserved for Debbie, they now poured onto Charlie.
Silly girl,” Connor said softly, his voice laced with tender sorrow. “Your existence is the only hing that matters to us. If you were gone, how could we go on living? Even if we were ‘free,‘ there vould be no joy in it.”
Kenji’s gaze softened with the same painful devotion. “He’s right. How could you think such hings? If our freedom comes at the price of losing you, not one of us would want it. All we need s for you to stay by our side. Everything else–we’ll take care of it.”
Even though Hayden stayed silent, the concern in his eyes mirrored theirs.
Charlie lowered her head, pretending to wipe her tears, but in her downcast eyes flashed a glimmer of triumph.
As expected. No matter what schemes Debbie devised, no matter what stance she took–all it ook was a few words and tears, and these four men would still come back to her side.
The urge to laugh bubbled inside her, but when she looked up and saw their pained, tender faces, she quickly masked her pride with sorrow.
“Eastori, Connor, Kenji, Hayden… I know you mean well. But just the thought of you returning to Debbie, bound by her whims, forced to endure her scorn–it tears me apart…
Her voice cracked, trembling with despair. “If letting me go is the only way to save you, then… then maybe that’s what I should do. You’re all still so young–I can’t bear to see your lives wasted in misery.”
Her words, full of self–sacrifice despite all she had endured, struck the men’s hearts like knives. “Charlie,” Easton whispered, his eyes fierce with devotion, “no matter what happens, the one we
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love will always be you. Nothing else matters.”
“That’s right,” Connor added, his hand tightening on hers. “Hearing you speak like that–it’s lik stabbing needles into our hearts.”
Kenji bent closer, his voice low and steady. “You only need to live under our protection. Even i one of us marries Debbie, it means nothing. She will never matter to us. She’ll only be ou puppet.”
Easton’s lips curved in a coaxing smile. “And when the time comes, we’ll take the Sinclair famil for you. Wouldn’t you like that?”
The other three, though silent, nodded in unspoken agreement.
On the surface, Charlie’s eyes shimmered with gratitude. But beneath the veil of tears, her hear danced with glee.
So what if Debbie was the Sinclair family’s heiress? She had still lost–to the maid’s daughter.
Conceit flickered across her thoughts, though she carefully kept it hidden.
3ut Hayden, watching closely, caught the faintest twitch of her expression. His brow furrowe slightly. For some reason, he felt something was wrong.
Yet the moment he saw her tears again, his doubt melted away. He shook his head, forcing th unease from his heart, convincing himself it was nothing at all.
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