Chapter 14 Villa Gift: Forgiveness Granted

Luke's voice was like a refreshing summer breeze, making everything seem brighter. Charlotte felt incredibly safe whenever he was around. Frank was in a state of shock. He couldn't believe Charlotte had played such a hardball tactic against him. Desperately, he looked at Luke. "I know I messed up before. Please, let's not end our deal, okay?" But Luke stood firm. "Not happening." Charlotte, hidden behind Luke, couldn't help but feel satisfied seeing Frank's expression change. 'Hopefully, he'll back off after this. Why does he always have to blame others?' "Luke, I realize my mistake. I'll give her the villa. Can't we just keep our deal this time?" Luke looked back at Charlotte for her reaction. She shook her head. "It doesn't matter anymore. The real problem is he doesn't trust me. I'll find a way to get that house back myself. You don't need to worry about me." Luke had reservations about Charlotte's further interactions with Frank, yet he opted to give Frank a second chance. "I'll keep our contract. You've promised the house to her, so finalize the paperwork fast. If her name isn't on the title by the end of the day, our agreement is null, and you don't need to contact me again." Frank quickly agreed, "I'll take care of it right away, thanks." "Now you can go. And stay away from her from now on." As Frank was leaving, he glared at Charlotte with malice. Though his words were flattering, his thoughts were sinister, scheming ways to make her disappear. "Okay, Luke. I won't repeat this mistake." Lorraine was livid when Frank suddenly left her earlier. His return home, after handling the house transfer, was met with a storm of her anger. She felt humiliated and confronted him. "The media caught you leaving today. You've made me look bad. Do you get that?" Frank, eager to calm her, responded with gentle and patient words. He knew he needed to treat Lorraine carefully, as she still had value to him. Lorraine's anger was evident. "What was so important that you just left me?" "It was a work emergency, and I couldn't explain in time. I'm sorry, baby. I didn't consider how you felt. It won't happen again." Despite Frank's apologies, Lorraine ignored him and locked herself in her room. Frank was furious with Charlotte, blaming her for his troubles. 'Since she showed up, everything's been going wrong. I need to find a way to get rid of her.' For now, though, he focused on appeasing Lorraine. Kneeling sincerely outside her bedroom, he hoped to win her forgiveness with his sweet words. After an hour of sincere apologies, Lorraine finally opened the door. "I wouldn't have opened the door if you hadn't kept me awake. You've admitted your fault, so make sure there's no next time." "I won't let it happen again, baby, I promise." Then Lorraine finally let him in. "Come inside." Frank, having narrowly saved his contract, was now grappling with issues in Sofia's projects. These problems seemed minor compared to his current ordeal. He was yet to realize that this was just the beginning. He had put his best team on the project, all while lamenting the loss of a prized property. On the other side, Charlotte was thrilled to receive the property deed. She showed it to Luke. "He actually transferred the property to me!" "He wouldn't dare go against my word." He was conscious of the considerable loss his demand had caused Frank, potentially leading to others questioning Frank's credibility and his eventual downfall. Luke felt guilty for Charlotte. "Sorry, I didn't expect he'd try to hurt you again." Charlotte, however, wasn't bothered. Accustomed to rumors and misunderstandings, she had learned that often explanations were ignored. She had adopted a stance of indifference. 'Let them believe what they want, as long as I'm true to myself.' Full of excitement, Charlotte hurried home to show Sofia her newly acquired property deed. Sofia's face lit up with joy. "Is that so? Looks like that guy finally did something decent." Charlotte's eyes shone with gratitude. "If it weren't for Luke, things wouldn't have been this easy. I owe him thanks for this." She fondly recalled how Luke had stood up for her, making her feel as if the entire world had become a brighter place. In that moment, she found Luke remarkably attractive. "So, what's your plan for the house now?" "I plan to sell the villa. There's no point in holding onto it." Charlotte didn't want to linger in a place that harbored so many painful memories. Moreover, the villa was in a sought-after area, promising a lucrative sale in the booming real estate market. She was still mulling over the right price. Selling it would enable her to buy the villa next to Sofia's, allowing them to remain neighbors. "That's a great plan," Sofia agreed. "Let's celebrate your victory with a shopping trip!" Charlotte looked outside, a bit unsure. "Right now? Isn't it a bit late?" Sofia playfully ribbed her. "Oh, the famous 'pregnancy brain' in action. It's just 7 o'clock in the evening, the malls are still open." She scooped up Lilya in her arms. "Little princess, want to join me on an adventure?" Lilya beamed. "I'd love to go out with a beautiful lady like you!" Charlotte watched them and realized Sofia had likely been taking the kids out for fun quite often. The evidence was in the growing collection of princess dresses in Lilya's closet and the two new computers in Andy's study. Since Charlotte and her children returned, Sofia had been showering them with numerous gifts. Each time Charlotte brought it up, Sofia would verbally agree to tone it down, only to indulge the kids with more items later. Charlotte found her friend's extravagant generosity both endearing and a bit overwhelming. She knew even a large house could only hold so much. She thought for a moment before saying, "It's a good idea to go out. Luke gave me such a pricey necklace; I ought to give him something back." Sofia grinned at her. "Alright, let's head out then."