Chapter 11 A Mature Andy

Sofia said, "I really didn't know about this earlier, or I wouldn't have let you work there." Charlotte shook her head reassuringly. "It's okay. This could've happened anywhere. I can't hide from him forever, right?" "You're right. If he ever bothers you, just tell me." "He wouldn't dare." Charlotte was confident as she knew something about Frank. Yet, the thought of seeing him daily was still unsettling. Meanwhile, Andy had finished his bath and was gesturing toward Lilya's bathroom. "Is she still in there?" "Girls often take longer to bathe, so my big boy will need to wait a bit longer." Charlotte smiled as she dried Andy's hair. "I'll help put Lilya to bed later. You must be tired after a whole day of work, Mommy." "I'm not too tired. But it's sweet of you to help with your sister tonight." Andy rubbed his sleepy eyes. "Compared to you, my day hasn't been hard at all." After putting the children to bed, Charlotte told Sofia about what had happened that night. Sofia thought for a moment. "I have a few contracts with him. They're not major, but cancelling them would hurt him financially. I'll talk to the project manager and end our collaboration with Frank tomorrow." Charlotte was taken aback by Sofia's seriousness. She had expected her to say something else, but Sofia was willing to lose profits just to get back at Frank. Charlotte was more practical. "These situations are common in our world. It's inevitable that we'll have to interact and work with him again. Let's not take it this far." But Sofia couldn't bear the thought of Frank, his deceitful demeanor making her want to cut all ties with him. Charlotte shifted the conversation. "Spending time with Luke recently, I've noticed he's a lot like Andy." Luke's mannerisms and even his personality closely resembled Andy, and his features looked very much like her children's. This led Charlotte to speculate if Luke could be their father. It was a sensitive topic, and she wasn't sure how to approach it. Sofia hadn't considered this before, but after Charlotte pointed it out, she looked at Andy and noticed some resemblance. "We'll find the right time to ask Luke in the future. It's not the right moment now, or perhaps we could arrange for him to meet the kids someday." Once the possibility entered her mind, Charlotte couldn't shake off her growing anxiety. 'What if the children are his? How would I cope? And if it turns out to be true, how would I deal with the scandal erupting again? I can't go through that nightmare once more.' She was so distressed during that period that she avoided her phone, not wanting to confront the relentless criticism and judgments. Her pregnancy only heightened her emotional vulnerability. The daily onslaught of online accusations, calling her unfaithful, was devastating. Nobody could understand how she got through those days. Even after relocating abroad, the painful messages and calls, some from Frank's friends castigating her, continued to haunt her. Sofia was the only one who seemed to grasp her plight. "Let's set these worries aside for now. We're managing well on our own. Andy and Lilya are content, even without a father, right?" Sofia concurred, "We'll just take things as they come." Early the next morning, while Sofia was getting ready for work, Luke's car appeared at their doorstep. Recognizing the car, she went up to knock on the window. "You're early. Did you come just to pick up your staff?" Luke was known for his honesty. "Yes, I brought her home last night. Thinking it might be hard for Charlotte to get to work this morning, I decided to swing by." "That's thoughtful of you. But I've always wondered, you're such a great guy, why don't you have a partner yet?" Luke briefly pursed his lips. "I prefer to keep my personal life uncomplicated." In his position, many tried to curry favor with him. Often, when he returned to his hotel room while traveling, he found women sent there for him. He had always turned them away. Rumors about his personal life didn't bother him. He would rather stay single than be with someone he didn't genuinely care for. He was serious about relationships. Sofia showed her supportive nature. "If you ever develop real feelings for Charlotte, let me know. I'll back you up." Luke was familiar with Sofia's straightforward nature from their past collaborations. "If that day ever comes, I'll definitely need your assistance." Sofia pondered Luke's words. 'Is it really as I guessed? If that's the case, it's wonderful. No need to worry about any uncle-nephew relationship. Luke is a rare find, scandal-free for years, which is more than can be said for Frank.' She playfully winked at Luke. "I have a good feeling about you. In that case, I won't be driving her. Be careful on the road." Charlotte, who had just finished saying goodbye to the kids, was unaware of their conversation. "You two were talking for a while. Was it about work?" "It's a secret." Sofia smiled mischievously. Luke laughed lightly at her comment. "Let's head out." Once they were in the car, Luke turned to Charlotte. "Did you know Frank from before?" Their reaction upon seeing each other didn't seem like that of strangers. Luke suspected there was some history there. Charlotte's moment of silence conveyed the weight of her past entanglements with Frank. She was reluctant to dredge up old memories but recognized the need for transparency. "Yes, I was once married to him." Luke's expression showed surprise. "So, the kids..." Charlotte was straightforward. "They're not his. We used donor sperm for IVF because Frank is infertile." Understanding dawned on Luke. "That makes sense now. You're the one who divorced him. It's really low of him to be aware of the truth and yet spread rumors of an affair." Charlotte sighed, "Exactly. Because of this whole mess, my father hasn't let me return home. If it weren't for Sofia securing this job for me, I'd probably still be stuck overseas."