Page 111 of The Rest is History

Page List

Font:

Font Size:

I pinch the bridge of my nose.

‘I promise you, I have never wanted anything less than to walk away from you. I told you that in the—in the stationery cupboard.’ My eyes travel down her body and back to her face. Her eyes are wide, her lips parted, and I can tell she’s remembering, too. ‘Last time you wore that dress, in fact. I told you I have never, ever wanted to walk away from you, and it still stands. I’ve done this for your own?—’

‘My own good, yeah, yeah. I’m aware. I still don’t get it, but I know I don’t stand a chance against your fucked-up rationale.’ She goes to leave, touching my arm lightly as she turns. ‘Thanks for the money, Charlie. It was an extremely generous thing to do. And as you say, it gives me a lot more options to get away from you right now. But I’ll pay you back, even if it takes me a few years. Because I don’t want your charity.’

And she’s gone, vanishing into the sunlit corridor like a ghost.

Top 10 Fuel-Efficient Cars You Can Buy in 2025: Savings, Specs & Smart Picks

2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Review: Power Meets Sustainability in Ford’s Electric Pickup

The Pros and Cons of Aftermarket Exhaust Systems: A Deep Technical Breakdown

Top Performance Upgrades for Your Vehicle: Boost Power, Handling & Efficiency

CHAPTER 40

Elodie

Charlie’s right.

The money changes everything for me.

And even though a large part of me feels uneasy, even a little grubby, for accepting such a large loan from him, I have to take the bigger picture into consideration.

This completely changes the game for my sister. The double stress of having Jake fuck off without making adequate childcare provision and starting Olive at an extortionate private school has taken a massive toll on her. This removes that burden in one fell swoop and gives her a year’s grace to save up for next year’s fees. She’s ecstatic—a different woman. And she never has to know I intend to pay back every penny. I’ll worry about that by myself.

However much Charlie Vaughan has sucked me in and spat me out and stomped on my heart, our sorry tale has ended in him playing fairy godfather to my family, against all odds.

So refusing his extraordinary generosity for reasons pertaining to my own pride is not cool. Because this isn’t about me.

I’d be lying if I, too, didn’t feel a huge weight lifted. The month ahead at school feels interminable, and I’ve been dreading Saturdays even more. By removing my financialobligations towards my niece, Charlie’s given me the gift of freedom. And after his heart, it’s the best thing he could have given me. A very distant second place, but still.

It’s a lot better than being tied down to play his onetime beloved wife every Saturday.

Maybe it’s a sign. A sign that it’s time to move on. To start living for myself again. To find a place of my own and a permanent position teaching the period I love, probably back in London. Even if the thought of returning to city life after my idyllic time here doesn’t excite me as much as it should.

At least Charlie doesn’t have the option of chopping off my head to get rid of me. Though I have the sudden thought that maybe he’s paid through the nose to facilitate my leaving Hampton Court. Now that I’m free of my financial obligations, he must know I’m likely to disappear from his life.

He still seems pretty tortured over the whole thing, though. The way he was looking at me in my denim dress yesterday had my heart beating more quickly. It’s probably just some leftover lust on his part. He was getting alotof action before he dumped me. It’s hard to walk away from that. I hope he’s every bit as sexually frustrated as I am.

And I’m glad my dress had the desired effect.

I’m glad he remembers what it made him do.

I sigh and get out my phone. Time to rally my queens before the weekend. I’ll need all the help I can get on Saturday. I pull up theSlay Queens SlayWhatsApp chat. Lauren added me my second week at the palace. Charlie’s obviously not invited—this is a queen-only chat.