From Desk to Altar: The CEO's Irresistible Bargain

"Easy there!"

Daniel might not be thrilled with Charlotte's current attitude, but he hadn't lost his head.

Charlotte's mix of hate and love for Liam was leaning heavily towards the former, and her chilly vibe made it clear that if Liam pushed her too hard to stick around, it could blow up in his face. "The two of you need to take a softer approach to fix things."

"I'm at a loss," Liam admitted, gazing at his phone where a picture of his child was displayed. "She's not going to forgive me."

Daniel wasn't sure how to mend such a battered relationship either.

Charlotte's cold, unforgiving stance hadn't changed.

"Follow your heart," Daniel sighed. "Just do what you think is right."

Chewing on that thought, Liam pocketed his phone and slowly closed his eyes.

Charlotte had figured Liam's injuries were severe enough to keep him from hassling her.

But unexpectedly, just a night later, there was Liam at her front door, holding flowers and gifts.

"What's the deal, Mr. Parker?" Charlotte leaned on the door, arms folded, eyeing the flowers. "Who are they for?"

"You," Liam managed to say, looking pale and weak.

He placed the flowers on the table, voice low, "Your call."

"Really? I can do what I want?" Charlotte's interest was piqued, noting the departure from his usual controlling behavior.

She grabbed the bouquet and tossed it out the door, watching the delicate pink petals scatter as they hit the ground. "And that's okay?"

"It's okay," Liam looked away, his face showing no sign of emotion. "It's all in your hands."

"Everything?" Charlotte's curiosity grew.

"Everything," Liam affirmed, his eyes serious. "Me included."

Charlotte paused, then showed a look of disgust, "I don't have the slightest interest in dealing with you. Spit it out, what do you want?"

"I..." Liam hesitated, a pleading look in his eyes. "The weather's nice tomorrow. How about a picnic with Ethan?"

He hurried to add, fearing she'd say no, "Vincent will come, too."

Charlotte almost laughed. "Why can't it just be the three of us? Why do you need to tag along?"

The phrase 'the three of us' hit Liam hard.

But this was Charlotte.

No matter what she said or did to him, he'd just take it quietly.

"I just want to spend more time with you."

"Years gone, and Mr. Parker's picked up some smooth talk."

"It's not smooth talk. I'm being honest," Liam said, still not looking at her. "I just want a chance to make things right."

"Things have gone wrong, and it's too late to fix them," Charlotte said in a cool, detached voice.

"I'll never forgive your so-called kindness."

"I've dealt with Chloe..."

"That was after I had to force your hand! If I hadn't come along, you would've been content to keep Chloe and her kid comfortable for life. And me? What about my happiness?" Charlotte closed in on him with slow, deliberate steps. "Am I supposed to just smooth things over for her? Pay the price for my stupid belief in love?"

"No, you've got it all wrong," Liam said, his eyes shut tight, a pained look on his face. "I..."

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He couldn't even find the words to explain.

After all, Chloe really did have a secure life over these four years, thanks to the child.

"Mommy! Look what I got!"

Ethan interrupted them, running down the stairs with his toy car. Charlotte quickly stepped back from Liam, and Liam tried to smooth over his expression to something more fatherly. "Mommy..." Ethan paused when he saw Liam, his brows knitting together, and without any niceties, he told Liam off. "I don't like you. Can you just go?"

"He's got your bossy attitude," Liam reflected internally, thinking of his own stubbornness that came from being in power for so long. Ethan seemed to have picked it up just by genetics. "But Vincent's been a good dad, so at least Ethan's polite," Charlotte said, her words cutting through Liam like a knife, leaving him speechless and hurting. "Mommy," Ethan said, frowning as he tugged on Charlotte's hand, wanting to get as far away from Liam as possible. "Don't hang out with him, he's really bad!"

Liam forced a wry smile. "Hey, Ethan, I'm not a bad guy. Remember how we used to get along?"

"But you teach bad kids! And your wife is bad too!"

Ethan hadn't forgotten how he was bullied at the Parkers' and how the real troublemakers barely got scolded.

"You only look out for your own kid, not caring if I'm happy," Ethan said, glaring at Liam with suspicion. "Don't come near me! Or I'll call Dad to come and protect us!" At that moment, Liam's emotions got the better of him.

Ethan was his son, yet he was calling Vincent 'Dad' with such warmth.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"I'm not the bad guy here." Liam could only repeat that line weakly. "Ethan, I just... I just messed up for a bit, please don't be mad at me."

Even though Ethan was a smart kid, he couldn't quite get what Liam was trying to say; all he knew was that Liam gave him the creeps, and he liked him even less for it. "Mom, can you call Dad to come and keep us safe?"

"Don't worry, honey," Charlotte tried to comfort him,

Just a heads up: is the only place to read the complete version of this book for free. Don't miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! However, for some reason, in Ethan's eyes, she always seemed like the one who needed looking after.

Maybe that's what Vincent had drilled into him. Charlotte wasn't that book-smart, so she left the schooling and the heavy lifting to the pros and Vincent. She didn't interfere much. After a few soothing words and getting Ethan back upstairs, Charlotte came back to deal with Liam.

"He gives me the same look you do."

It was a look full of coldness, caution, and dislike.

Liam couldn't handle the realization, "Charlotte, I know you hate me, but the kid's innocent. You can't let him..."

"You're the one who hurt his mom." Charlotte didn't budge an inch. "He deserves to know the kind of stuff you've pulled."

"But, he doesn't know about you and me." she added.

And, you know.

"Liam, Ethan doesn't like you because of the things you've done, not because of anything I've said."

Ethan used to be all warm and fuzzy around Liam, but after being pushed away over and over...

"It's the same way you turned your back on me, and now you've shown Ethan that same cold shoulder." Here's the thing Liam didn't get, though.

Ethan isn't like Charlotte.

He's got a zero-tolerance policy for what feels like a stab in the back.

"You've made your bed, now lie in it."

Charlotte's words hit Liam like a ton of bricks.

He felt like he was perched all alone on a pillar, with a dead-end in every direction.

The one person who could pull him out of this mess was on the other side, not lifting a finger to help.