Chapter 41

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“After all, if you stay in the social world for a long time, you will hear rumors about this and that.”

From what Helena had heard since, Charlotte didn’t seem to have a very good reputation among the ladies. She (Charlotte) was overtly trying to make friends with people of high status or wealth, and after becoming acquainted, she tried to get to know the gentlemen.

‘It’s hard to say no to Countess Brierton’s earnest request.’

‘Because that kind of approach is difficult.’

‘No matter how much she wants to build a connection, how did that woman approach me like that?’

It was obvious that Charlotte approached people only for the purpose of connections without the least consideration for the other person.

Helena muttered to herself involuntarily.

“Still, I’m a little surprised.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I first met the Countess of Brierton, she seemed rather timid.” 

Even though Ines and Charlotte were friends, Ines had a much higher status. It was embarrassing to compare Baron Jason with the Count of Brierton.

But Ines of that time seemed to follow Charlotte’s words. 

“But she proceeded with the divorce like that.… ”

“Is that so? The Countess of Brierton I saw was not like that at all.”

Edward got a curious expression and stroked his chin. Ines was unwavering in the courtroom, and she was as cold and serene as a frozen lake. There was no sign of being scared.

And Enoch’s eyes as he looked at Ines.

Just then, Helena opened her mouth.

“Come to think of it, it’s been quite some time since I’ve seen the Duke of Sussex. Shall we have dinner together after a long time?”

A faint mischievousness appeared over Helena’s eyes.

“I have a story to tell.”

“If it’s a story to tell….ah.”

Edward’s eyes seemed to widen a little, and then his eyes twinkled.

“Yes, there is going to be an ‘event’ soon.” 

“Maybe the Duke of Sussex would be quite interested?”

The couple looked into each other’s eyes and smiled. 

It was a secret and playful smile, like a child with a fun toy in front of him.

***

It was dark in the room with the curtains down and not a single light came in.

In the middle, Charlotte was sitting with her little body crouched on the bed.

Her red hair, which had always been carefully trimmed and lustrous, was scattered messily.

There were dark shadows under her eyes, and her skin was also dry.

Not to mention, Charlotte couldn’t sleep last night.

“How could you do this to me?”

She mumbled in a dying voice.

Numerous envelopes were scattered in front of her, torn in a mess.

As soon as the affair article was published in Elton Magazine, there were a flood of letters canceling invitations to tea parties and parties that had been previously received.

Charlotte grabbed the letters with both hands.

“I can’t do this.”

In her grasp, the letters were crumpled at will.

“I, I…… ! How can I show up in the social world? Arghh!”

Charlotte, unable to overcome her wrath, screamed and pushed the envelopes out of the bed. Envelopes fluttered white into the dark room.

Abusive language poured out from between dry and chapped lips.

“How much trouble did I really have to enter the central social circle!”

It wasn’t Charlotte to be exact, but Ines, who had worked hard to become a member of the central social circle. To put it bluntly, Charlotte’s entry into the central social circle was a miracle in itself.

Already in Charlotte’s mind, she was more of a tragic heroine.

Charlotte, who had been breathing hard for a while, suddenly lifted her head. 

“Ines, I must meet Ines.”

In the end, only Ines could solve this problem.

Charlotte sharpened her teeth.

“It’s Ines who messed things up, so she is responsible for this!”

It was because Charlotte herself had had an affair with the husband of her best friend, though, from the beginning. In the mind of Charlotte, she herself was, of course, the victim, and Ines was established as a perpetrator.

Charlotte bit her nails with an irritated look on her face. 

“Yeah, once I see her…Let’s explain that she misunderstood and that it hurts so much to be misunderstood by her.”

For a moment, Charlotte’s eyes lit up.

“I’m a victim, Ryan seduced the innocent me, so I couldn’t help it! That’s how I will say it!”

Charlotte got up and jumped out of her seat.

“After that, she will ask Elton for a correction and it’ll be alright! Everything will go back to its place!”

In fact, if you thought about it a little, you could see that the idea itself was nonsense.

Ines witnessed her divorced ex-husband and her friend lying naked in bed, how could that be a misunderstanding?

But Charlotte was already completely blown away by a sense of crisis that she might be kicked out of the social world.

Furthermore.

“Who would be that girl’s friend if it wasn’t me?”

There was such confidence.

Ines, whom Charlotte knew, was naive and stupid. Her early loss of her parents made her vulnerable to loneliness, and she valued her once-established relationship with her.

Ines relied on her best friend, Charlotte, wholeheartedly and openly, badly swayed by Charlotte’s every word.

What kind of wind was blowing, but Ines was pretending to draw her line resolutely…… .

For a moment, Charlotte pulled her lips together and thought. 

When Ines caught her with Ryan, Ines slapped her without hesitation. In a frightening mood, Charlotte shook her head to shake off her thoughts.

“It must have been because she was angry. After all, I am the only friend of Ines!” 

Trying to think positively, Charlotte hurriedly turned around.

Her footsteps running into the bathroom behind her were urgent.

***

Charlotte, who went to the townhouse of Brierton with her swollen heart.

“The Lord did not allow Lady Jason to enter.”

She was blocked by the guards guarding the entrance to the townhouse. Feeling absurd, Charlotte raised her shrill voice.

“What’s wrong with everyone? I’m Charlotte, Charlotte Jason! Ines’ best friend!”

“….”

“….”

But the guards only looked at Charlotte with disgusted eyes.

Charlotte glared at the guards with a fierce gaze.

“Can’t you get out of the way now?” 

“I can’t.”

“As Ines said before, open the door whenever I come!”

“That’s the way it used to be. The Lord has now withdrawn her order.”

“What, what?!”

At the shock that hit her head, Charlotte opened her eyes wide.

‘How could Ines do this to me?!’

Unable to overcome her resentment, Charlotte clenched her fists tightly.

She gave her strength so strongly that her bones stood out white on the back of her hand.

It was like that while she was arguing with the guards.

“What the hell is this?”

A cold voice rang out.

The main character of that voice was Mary.

She oversaw the housekeeping of the Brierton townhouse, and Ines’ closest maid.

Of course she knew Charlotte too.

Charlotte was delighted to see her.

“Mary!”

Charlotte swiftly walked over to the closed door.

Mary’s face was reflected through the white-painted vine door.

Charlotte, who almost stretched her head over the door, soon bent her eyes and smiled broadly. 

“Mary, you know who I am, right? It’s Charlotte!”

“…”

‘’I don’t know what’s wrong with the guards all of a sudden. Hurry up and open this door, will you?”

“…”

But something was strange.

Mary was usually rather businesslike when dealing with Charlotte, but at least she was careful not to be rude. But now Mary was just staring at her with a cold stare. 

‘What’s wrong with her?’ 

Feeling anxious, Charlotte narrowed her brows and asked again.

“What’s wrong with you? I’m here to see Ines”

“In the Lord’s schedule today, I didn’t see the appointment with Lady Jason.”

“Are you telling me to make an appointment with Ines before visiting?”

Charlotte snorted. However, Mary just nodded her head.

“You’re right, Lady Jason.”

“What?!”

“Please please today, and make a formal appointment next time.”

Without raising an eyebrow, Mary suggested to Charlotte.

“If you come to visit us so recklessly, the Lord will definitely be offended.”

“You you…… !”

Charlotte pointed at Mary.

Nonetheless, Mary had only what she had to say.

“Also, the Lord has a prior arrangement today.”

“A prior arrangement? Where is she going?”

“Well, there’s no reason for me to tell you that, is there?”

Mary shook her head with a grin. Charlotte’s ripped voice soared into the sky without realizing it.

“I came here to see Ines in person, but you said she left with her prior arrangement?” 

And at that moment.

Mary felt something snap in her head.