Chapter 38 You Can't Treat Me Like This

Luke wrapped his arms around Charlotte, his tone strong and protective. "Charlotte is my wife. She was unfairly blamed in her last marriage, and even after her divorce, you guys still hassle her. Harper, I'm letting this go because we're family. But if it happens again, I won't be so lenient." Harper couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Luke, she's deceiving you! If you really knew her, you wouldn't be with her. It's better to walk away now." "Stop it!" Luke managed to keep his cool and didn't make a scene. Instead, he decided to call the cops. Not long after, the police showed up and escorted Harper and her son away. Frank, realizing his mistake, thought about how every time he crossed paths with Charlotte, it ended badly. He wished he had learned his lesson earlier. Harper was frantically trying to avoid being taken by the police. "Luke, I'm your sister-in-law. You can't treat me like this!" Annoyed, Luke watched them being taken away. "Please, just get them out of here." Charlotte no longer felt like staying out. Luke asked Denise to take the children home, and he drove Charlotte to a quiet resort he had built years ago. It was quiet now, being the off-season. Luke thought they might stay there for a few days to get away from it all. "I'm sorry, I feel like I've just brought more problems for you." Charlotte looked troubled. Luke wrapped Charlotte in a warm embrace, his voice soothing. "We don't have to talk about it. I know everything that happened, and that's all that matters. Don't worry about what anyone else thinks." Seeing how worn out Charlotte looked, Luke focused on making her feel better. "Let's stay here for a few days. I've arranged for someone to look after the kids, so you can relax." "Okay." Charlotte settled into a corner, and Luke watched her with concern. "Would you like something to eat?" Charlotte shook her head silently. "Just let me know if you get hungry. I'm right here with you." "Okay." In their suite, Luke stayed by Charlotte's side until she fell asleep, then quietly stepped out and made a call. "Send a legal notice to Frank. They won't get away with what they did." The events from earlier had spread online. To shield Charlotte from the news, Luke had to take away her phone. During this time, Sofia called, and Luke answered. With Luke handling everything, Sofia felt a bit more at ease. Frank and Harper had been at the police station for two full days and nights. They would have stayed longer if Harper hadn't collapsed there. After being released from the police station, Frank immediately called Luke to apologize, promising they wouldn't make the same mistakes again. Luke, however, was doubtful. He remembered their past behavior and questioned whether they were truly sorry. "You made these promises before. Do you really think I can trust you now? I gave you a chance before, and you didn't value it." Frank attempted to explain further, but Luke, showing no mercy, ended the call. Frank understood then that they were in deep trouble. Harper, in the hospital and still not fully coherent, kept badmouthing Charlotte. Lorraine, who usually had a good relationship with her mother-in-law, felt upset seeing Harper like this. She was angry at Charlotte. "How can she be so cruel?" Hearing Harper vow not to let Charlotte off the hook, Lorraine held her hand. "Mom, don't worry. We'll get back at her for you." Frank, frustrated with the two women's refusal to see reason, tried to intervene. "Can you both just stop? Do we need more problems?" Lorraine, initially lashing out in anger, quickly softened under Frank's stern look. "I'm just concerned about Mom. She's too old to deal with this kind of stress. It's not right what Charlotte did, attacking an elderly woman." Frank wasn't interested in the ongoing drama. His priority was to find a solution to their problems. Lorraine noticed her husband's worried look. "I can ask my dad for help. His influence could make things much easier for us." "Really?" This idea was a beacon of hope for Frank, especially with Luke's capability to make their life difficult. Lorraine's father's involvement could potentially shift the balance. "I'll call him right now," Lorraine said. Trying to show some affection, Frank gently touched her cheek. "Honey, I love you." "I love you too. We'll face this challenge together." Frank thought to himself that Lorraine's simplicity wasn't always a disadvantage. He felt lucky to have her as his wife, although her sometimes childish behavior was a bit much for him. But now, needing her assistance, he had to treat her well. "I'm really grateful to be married to you." "Everyone makes mistakes, but it's good that we met when we did. If I had met you first instead of Charlotte, I would have never let you go through such hard times." Frank shook his head. "I'm a man, and there's no need to talk about that. I just wish I had met you sooner." Lorraine, her face flushed with a shy blush, snuggled closer into Frank's embrace. Her support had alleviated his current problems, and she felt certain he would cherish her more now. After spending four relaxing days at the resort, Charlotte's spirits had lifted significantly. Luke, seeing her enjoy her meals, felt a sense of relief. "How about we go for a walk today?" Charlotte felt somewhat responsible. "I hope I haven't been a disturbance to your work these days." Her concern for his work, even in these times, touched Luke. He gently kissed her forehead. "You're more important than anything else in the world. Don't worry." Luke had managed to place Frank in a challenging situation without direct involvement. If not for the assistance of his father-in-law, Frank might have faced financial ruin. Despite losing the legal battle and not having a strong position, they managed to prevent further deterioration of the company's situation. Luke had no interest in prolonging the conflict. He was open to a peaceful relationship, provided they remained cautious in the future.