Chapter 5: Visiting Home

Charlotte was taken aback by his sudden act of intimacy, her cheeks flushing slightly. She quickly changed the subject, "Clio told me you were getting things ready to visit my family?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks. You didn't have to go to all that trouble, though."

"We're family, no need for thanks. But your hand... I’m really worried Mr. and Mrs. Harris might scold me."

Charlotte couldn't help but laugh at how he referred to her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Harris—it sounded so formal and out of place.

"What's so funny?" Alexander asked, playfully tapping her nose with a grin.

Charlotte was genuinely surprised. On TV, in interviews, or even while planning his wedding with Sophia, he was always so serious, never smiling. She never thought such a stern person could smile so charmingly, and that person was Alexander. If she told others, no one would believe it!

"Is your dad not home?" This big villa can't be just for him.

"He went to the office for some work. I already called him; he'll be back soon." Alexander gently blew on her wound, his expression tender.

Charlotte awkwardly pulled her hand back. The thick ointment had cooled her wound, easing the pain and making it feel quite comfortable.

"My clothes are dirty, I need to change."

"Put on the red one. We just got married, it should be festive. I'll wait outside." Alexander didn't seem bothered by her embarrassment and turned to leave after speaking.

When Charlotte came out after changing, she saw Alexander leaning casually against the door, smoking. His long fingers holding the cigarette looked especially pleasing to the eye, his finely chiseled profile so attractive that she couldn't help but take a few more glances, unwilling to waste such a beautiful sight.

Noticing her gaze lingering, Alexander turned and saw her staring at him, her eyes vacant as if lost in thought.

Annoyed, he asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Charlotte snapped back to reality, her eyes meeting his. "I just realized that a guy can look so handsome while smoking."

Alexander didn't call out her lie, simply saying, "Let's go."

As they got into the car, Charlotte was immediately drawn to the newspaper on the seat. Just as she expected, news of her marriage to Alexander had made the headlines last night. The bold headline read, "Cinderella Marries Into Wealth, Alexander Abandons Fiancée for Another Woman."

"Mrs. Harris, could you give that back to me?" The driver, Jeremy, was startled. He thought he had lost it. How did it end up here again?

Anna, it must have been her. My god, what do I do? Jeremy broke out in a cold sweat.

"Jeremy, drive."

"Yes." With Alexander's command, Jeremy had no choice but to comply.

Alexander leaned closer to Charlotte, both of them reading the paper together, much to Jeremy's discomfort.

"This photo is well taken," Alexander commented, his eyes fixed on the headline image of the handsome couple. Suddenly, he remembered they hadn't taken any wedding photos.

"It seems my makeup was a bit heavy. I look kind of lifeless," Charlotte remarked, staring at the image.

Alexander glanced at it briefly, "People say marriage is the grave of love. What's wrong with looking lifeless?"

"Then why did you say it looked good?" Charlotte shot him a look.

"I meant here," he pointed to her chest, indicating her cleavage.

"Jerk." Charlotte's ears turned red again, her pink face making him want to bite her.

Charlotte blushed easily. Thinking about her passion last night, Alexander felt a stir in his lower abdomen. If it weren't for others being around, he might have taken her right there, even though she had called out another man's name.

He didn't mind, just as she ignored his affair with Sophia. She was smart, enduring Anna's bullying without making a scene, and despite being labeled the other woman, she bore the pressure with a smile.

He liked smart, beautiful women, so he didn't mind playing with her. What did it matter if she had feelings for another man?

He was her first lover, an undeniable fact. He wanted this marriage, her body, but not her heart.

Having feelings for someone else was better. At least, when they divorced, it would be clean and swift.

"If we didn't register our marriage, would you still help me?" Charlotte suddenly asked.

Alexander opened the window and tossed the newspaper out, giving her a cool glance, "No."

A sudden wave of irritation washed over him. She was already his; why did she care about registering the marriage? Did she naively think that not registering meant they weren't married? Or that the other man wouldn't reject her if they didn't register? Or did she want to marry that man instead?

Ridiculous!

He suddenly became curious about the man in her heart. A Wilson from Phoenix City. Who could it be?

"I understand," Charlotte replied calmly.

Fine, registering the marriage wouldn't change anything after the wedding anyway.

But now, her main concern was explaining the marriage to her parents. The Wilson family was so well-known that news would spread quickly, not just in River City but nationwide, especially with the fast-paced media.

"Since you investigated my background, you should know I'm only the Harris family's adopted daughter. Will you still help me?"

"You're adopted?" Alexander genuinely didn't know.

"You didn't know?" She was surprised.

"No," he answered truthfully.

"Now that you know, will you still help me?"

"I need a wife, and you need my financial and physical support for the Harris family's business. We're just using each other. I don't care about that," Alexander said, his tone indifferent.

"Thank you." Charlotte smiled confidently, "I'll make sure you're satisfied."

River City and Phoenix City were only half an hour apart. When they arrived, Henry was already waiting.

"Mr. Wilson, sorry for the trouble," Charlotte apologized, feeling a bit guilty.

Henry shook his head, "It's the Wilson family troubling you."

"You wait here. My parents are probably not in a good mood. I'll go check first." Charlotte knew her parents well. They were probably furious with her.

"Okay."

Their car wasn't far from the Harris house, so they could see everything clearly. They thought they were in for a show.

After ringing the doorbell several times with no response, Charlotte resorted to shouting. Soon, her parents appeared. She quickly grabbed a thumb-thick wooden stick from the corner and knelt down, looking contrite.

The Wilson father and son frowned simultaneously. What was this?

"Dad, Mom, I was wrong. I was wrong. Please, hit me..."

The door opened, and Robert and Nova Ramirez, dressed in black, stepped out. Charlotte looked up at them, her eyes red, tears streaming down as she saw they looked older, worn out by her actions. The guilt and disappointment weighed heavily on her heart.

Charlotte bowed her head low, tears flowing continuously.

She knew she had let her parents down. She had failed them, the ones who had raised her as their own.

"Charlotte, look at what you've done! You've let us down!" Nova grabbed the stick from her and hit her hard, tears of pain streaming down her face.

The physical pain was nothing compared to the guilt. Charlotte's tears fell like rain, letting the stick land on her without resistance.

"Stop it." A large figure suddenly covered her, taking the blows.

Charlotte looked up to see it was Alexander.

Nova glared at him coldly, "Move!"

"If you need to hit someone, hit me. I forced Charlotte to marry me." Alexander held Charlotte tightly.

"You're no good either. Already engaged and still looking for another woman. Move, or I'll hit you too!" Nova was furious, wanting to kill him.

"It's my fault, not Alexander's..."

"You chose to be a homewrecker. What did I teach you? You could have any man, but you chose him. You've let us down, Charlotte. You've forgotten your parents, you..." Nova's anger grew, tears falling.

"Mom, I was wrong. I know I was wrong. Please don't be mad," Charlotte pleaded.

"Leave. We never raised you!"

Charlotte cried harder. She knew she was wrong, but she had to do it!

"Mom, please forgive us. I'll take good care of Charlotte," Alexander promised, helping Charlotte up, his expression dark.

"You're not my son-in-law. Can I trust you? The Harris family may be poor, but we don't sell our daughters!" Nova turned to Charlotte, heartbroken.

"Mom, I know I was wrong. I won't do it again."

"Again? Do you know what you've done? How will you face people? How will your future children face people?" Nova threw the stick and walked away.

"There's nothing more to say. Come in," Robert told Henry, following his wife inside.

Henry and Robert knew each other from work. This new relationship made things awkward. Henry never expected it to turn out like this, especially from obedient, gentle Charlotte.

After the scolding, the Wilson father and son finally entered the Harris house. Charlotte noticed a red mark on Alexander's neck and asked, "Are you hurt?"

"No." His back actually hurt from the blows, but he didn't show it.

She seemed unaffected, which impressed him.

"There's a medicine box upstairs," Nova said, glaring at her, both angry and concerned.

"Got it," Charlotte replied, head down, tears welling up again.

Doubt crept into her mind. Had she made a mistake?