Page 27 of His Kingdom

“You can’t be serious right now, Mom. Melanie slept with my fiancé. The night before my wedding. And you’re taking her side?” I shout through the phone as anger courses through me.

“I’m not taking anyone’s side. I just want you to think about forgiveness. Owen loves you. He’s looking for you now. He’s a good man, Charlotte.”

I can’t believe my ears. “I don’t want to hear what kind of man you think he is. If he’s that good, and you’re that desperate to have him in our family, have Melanie marry him because I won’t be.”

“Charlotte, please. You’re upset…” Mom starts.

“No. I’m beyond upset. I’m furious. I’m humiliated and I’m just done, Mom. I’m not coming home yet. I’ll reach out when I’m ready.” I cut her off and then disconnect the call. I can’t believe she had the nerve to tell me I needed to forgive them.

That’s not happening anytime soon. If ever.

Scrolling through the other messages on my phone, I click on the group chat I have with my two closest friends. Other than my sister, Rachel and Evie have always been there. I should have called them sooner. Or at the very least, sent them a text.

There’s a bunch of missed messages and calls from each of them. I don’t know what to say, so instead of saying anything, I send them the video. The same one I sent my mother.

It only takes a minute before my phone lights up with a video chat request from Rachel.

“What the actual fuck? I’m going to kill them. Both of them. It will be slow. I knew something bad had happened. Wait! Where are you?” She finally stops, and I smile.

Yep, I definitely should have put my pride aside and called my friends sooner.

“Are you okay? Tell me that’s some sick AI video and it’s not real.” Evie’s face pops up on the screen next.

“I’m okay. Humiliated,” I tell them. “And it’s not AI. Unfortunately. I filmed it myself.”

“Oh my god. Charlotte, I’m so sorry. What a shit excuse for a human. Evie, get the shovels ready. We have some holes to dig,” Rachel says.

“Don’t do that. I just want to forget. I want to… I don’t know what I want. But I want to forget that image,” I whisper.

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry,” Evie says. “Where are you? We can come to you. Girls’ slumber party?”

“I’m in Vegas,” I tell them.

“What are you doing in Vegas?”

“Charlotte, I got something for you.” Louie walks back into the room, holding up a swimsuit. I wasn’t expecting him back so soon.

“Who is that?” Rachel whispers.

Louie comes over to the bed and pops his head around. “Friends?” he asks me while eyeing my screen.

“Uh-huh.” I nod.

“Sorry. I didn’t know you were on the phone. I’ll leave this here. When you’re ready, I’ll be in my office.” Louie leans in and kisses my forehead, and I think I melt a little. Then he just walks away, leaving me in his room with the swimsuit on the bed.

“Who is that? Charlotte? What’s happening?” Evie asks.

“Who indeed? And does he have a brother?” Rachel adds.

“Ah, that was… Louie. A friend. He’s letting me stay with him for a few days.”

“Since when do you have a friend named Louie? A hot friend named Louie who kisses your forehead like you’re in some kind of Hallmark Christmas movie?”

“Since I met him here in Vegas. I gotta go. I just wanted to let y’all know I was still alive. I’ll call you back later.”

“We’re coming to find you,” Rachel says before I disconnect the call and power down my phone again.

ChapterFifteen

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