Chapter 31 Want to Be With Her

Sofia appeared relaxed and casual to many, but she was actually quite savvy with investments. She had become successful at a young age. Charlotte could really benefit from Sofia's help if she decided to go for it. Once Charlotte finished talking, Luke gave Sofia an approving thumbs-up. Initially, Luke thought Sofia was just joking about being his wingman. But now, he realized she was truly excellent at it. It was hard for Sofia to persuade Charlotte to leave her house, but she did it because she believed it was best for her. Sofia's trust in Luke was the main reason. If Luke hadn't been trustworthy, she wouldn't have encouraged her close friend to move out. Charlotte didn't immediately respond to Luke. She looked at her children and asked, "Do you guys want to move somewhere else?" Lilya, with her big eyes that could melt hearts, asked, "Are we going to Dad's place?" "Yeah, I think it's important to ask you two." Andy, aware of the struggles Charlotte had faced raising them, agreed quickly, hoping to make things easier for her. Luke was feeling thrilled. He had been thinking about proposing to Charlotte for a while now. Even though he had talked about marriage with her just now, he wanted to make the proposal a special surprise. Lilya leaped into Luke's arms, exclaiming, "Yay! Andy and I are finally going to have a dad!" Luke hugged them both tightly. "I promise to take great care of you and become the best dad I can." Lilya beamed and kissed his cheek. "Having a dad is the best!" When the weekend came, Luke helped them move. As they were getting ready to leave, Sofia said with a touch of sadness, "You'll miss me when you're gone, right? I'll be upset if you don't!" Charlotte felt a little sad too. "Then why were you rushing me out all this time? Now you're acting like you'll miss me?" "I've always missed you," Sofia said firmly, "but I let you go for your happiness." She then turned to Luke with a serious tone, "If you ever mistreat Charlotte, I'll make you regret it. She's been through too much already. I don't want her to suffer more because of you." Luke assured her, "Why would I ever mistreat Charlotte? Meeting her has been the best thing in my life." Sofia urged them to get going, "Enough of the sweet talk. You should head back. You'll be busy for a while with all this." When Charlotte first moved in, she had brought only a few things, mostly clothes and toys for the kids. Now, she was leaving with many items Sofia had given her since she arrived. Charlotte had thought a car would be enough for her belongings, but she didn't know Sofia had secretly bought her a lot of dresses over the past two months. Ultimately, they needed a moving company to transport all their belongings. As they drove, Luke held Charlotte's hand tightly on the steering wheel. "I've taken care of everything. I've even arranged for a maid from my parents' home to help out. This way, someone will always be there for the kids, and you can have some peace of mind." Charlotte thought of Carol, her nanny. "Carol's really reliable, and the kids love her. I'd like her to continue caring for them." Luke agreed, "That's great. It's better not to change their nanny now. They're just getting used to everything new." Luke respected Charlotte's greater experience with parenting. He had been asking Lawson for advice on how to manage things at home with the children. Thanks to the tips he got from various people, Luke was becoming better at handling the kids. Lawson was initially shocked to hear about Luke's new relationship, but seeing Luke so content and in love, he was deeply touched. Luke's jewelry company, which he started in college, had grown significantly with Lawson by his side as his assistant since the early days. Starting the company was initially just a personal venture for Luke, but it quickly expanded. In just a few years, it became a renowned luxury brand. Andrew's quiet support had been crucial for Luke. Without it, managing everything would have been much harder. As they reached the upscale downtown mansion, Sofia was struck by the lavish lifestyle of the wealthy. While Sofia's home was nice, it didn't quite match the grandeur of this place. "We're here," Luke announced as they arrived. At the entrance of the mansion, a group of servants was waiting. Denise, one of the servants, came forward to open the car door for Charlotte, greeting her with, "Madam, welcome home." Charlotte was a bit surprised to be called 'Madam', but she didn't correct Denise. Considering her upcoming marriage to Luke, it seemed unnecessary to make a fuss about formalities. Luke noticed Charlotte's surprise but saw she didn't object, which made him feel relieved. He casually handed the car keys to the butler. "Please take the stuff from the car and put them where they belong." "Certainly, sir," the butler responded. Lilya and Andy, never having lived in such a luxurious place, were full of curiosity. They started exploring as soon as they got out of the car. Charlotte called out to them, reminding them to be cautious, "Let's not wander too far, we're still new to this place." Andy looked back and replied, "Okay, Mom!" The Smith family lived nearby, and it happened to be the weekend. Lorna Smith, observing from the second floor of her mansion, noticed Luke bringing Charlotte and the kids home. She felt a surge of tension. Internally, she fumed, 'How does that bitch just waltz in here like that? I've tried so hard, and Luke never even looked my way!' In a fit of anger, Lorna started smashing objects around her, unable to come to terms with the fact that Luke was now with Charlotte. Living so close to Luke, Lorna had hoped to capture his heart, but she never imagined Charlotte would effortlessly sweep him off his feet. A maid, looking anxious, tried to intervene, pleading with Lorna, "Please, try to calm down. If you keep this up, we'll all be in trouble." Lorna, in her rage, snapped back, "Stay out of my way! I'll do as I please!"