Reborn to be Truly Loved

"Charlotte, what happened? I heard you fell down the stairs?" Emily's voice carried a saccharine concern as she sat heavily on Charlotte's injured leg.

Charlotte clenched her teeth, suppressing a cry of pain.

"Now that I'm divorced," Emily said, a smug smile curling her lips, "do you really think Eric would still look at you? Using my face to cozy up to him—don't you feel disgusted with yourself?" She tilted her head, her smile as radiant as sunshine piercing through a frozen landscape.

Charlotte clenched her teeth tightly, refusing to let a cry of pain escape her throat.

Emily suddenly slapped her own face.

"Charlotte, don't be angry. If you need to hit me to vent, go ahead. I'll even forgive you as long as you forgive Brian. He didn't mean it..." Emily's voice quivered, her eyes glistening with perfect tears that trailed down her cheeks, fragile and pitiable.

Before Charlotte could react, the door flew open with a loud crash. In strode Eric, his face a mask of icy fury. He scooped Emily into his arms, his gaze cold and piercing as it landed on Charlotte.

"You dared hit Emily?" His voice cut through the room like a whip. "Getting bold, are we, Charlotte? Apologize to Emily now—on your knees."

The realization of Emily's calculated ploy hit Charlotte like a wave. She reached for her phone, typing swiftly: I didn't hit her. It's not true.

Emily let out a delicate sob, burying her face into Eric's chest. "Eric, please don't be angry. I believe Charlotte didn't mean it. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have come back..." Her voice trailed off into heart-wrenching whimpers, further hardening Eric's already stone-cold expression.

Eric yanked Charlotte upright, ignoring her frailty. "You have until the count of three. Kneel, or you'll never set foot in the Lorvis family home again."

Pain shot through her body as she collapsed to the floor, every movement a fresh wave of agony. Yet she lowered her head and knelt, her pride crushed beneath the weight of his command.

Eric scoffed, his derision clear. "You should learn your place."

Emily sniffled, her tears now a steady flow. "Eric, I shouldn't have brought up the past. I only wanted to see Charlotte again. Maybe... I should've stayed abroad forever."

"Enough of that," Eric said, his voice softening as he tightened his hold on Emily. The scene was picture-perfect, a tableau of a man comforting his beloved.

Inside, Charlotte's mind churned. 'Only twenty-nine days left. Soon, this will all be over.'

The system broke its silence, its tone surprisingly gentle. [You don't have to endure this, Host. I can retrieve the security footage from the hospital.]

'No need,' she responded inwardly. 'Eric only believes what he sees, and what he sees isn't me. Just let it be. Twenty-nine days will be over soon.'

After three days of recovery, Charlotte was sent back to the Lorvis residence—not for her own comfort, but because Emily had a craving for her cooking.

As she maneuvered her wheelchair into the kitchen, she was greeted by Brian. "Still playing the good little housekeeper, huh? Don't you have any self-respect?"

Charlotte ignored him, steering her wheelchair away.

But Brian grabbed a fistful of her hair, yanking her backward. Her fragile body collapsed onto the floor, pain flaring in her still-healing leg.

"I'm your brother," Brian sneered. "Show some respect when you see me, you uncivilized brat." He laughed, his voice sharp and grating. "Do yourself a favor and leave while you still can. Or are you too shameless to realize everyone's laughing at you? A pathetic stray clinging to Eric like some desperate mutt."

Emily entered then, her delicate hands tugging lightly at Brian's sleeve. "Brian, don't be so harsh. Charlotte's just trying her best. After all, it's normal to have feelings for someone as wonderful as Eric."

Her tone was sweet, her words laced with feigned modesty. She glanced at Charlotte, her expression both kind and cruel.

"Oh, by the way, I'll be staying at the Lorvis residence for a while. Eric said it'd be more convenient this way since I haven't yet found a place to stay."

Charlotte nodded, gripping the arms of her wheelchair as she struggled back into the seat.

Eric arrived shortly after, his gaze lingering on Charlotte's impassive face. For a fleeting moment, something unspoken stirred within him.

"Emily will be staying here for some time," he announced. "She's particular about her meals, so you'll need to wake up at five every morning to prepare her breakfast."

"Eric, isn't that too much to ask of Charlotte? She's still recovering..." Emily's protest was gentle.

Eric dismissed it with a shake of his head. "Charlotte loves cooking. It's her honor to take care of you."

Charlotte smiled faintly and typed out a single line: It's no trouble at all.