Charlotte

Saturday morning I slept late, not waking until almost 10. It felt amazing to catch up on sleep. Ethan would be coming at lunch and we'd go over to his parents estate. I'd told him that I could get Adam to drive me but he said he wanted to, so I agreed. And even though it was more driving time for him it was more time with just the two of us. I got ready for the day, I don't know why living in a mansion makes me feel like I need to dress up more. I would usually wear lounge pants all day if I wasn't going anywhere or just a pair of jeans on the weekend with a simple top. Here I feel I need to dress whatever part I play and tend to wear slacks and a nice top. I'm sure it is partly due to the fact that I'm always meeting with some wedding vendor or another. Today I think it is more to do with the fact I'm going to Ethan's family's estate for the first time.

Since I woke so late I went to the kitchen and grabbed yogurt and granola to tide me over until lunch. After I ate, I spent some time with Mom. Just before lunch a household staff member came to let me know that Ethan had arrived and was in the blue room. I thanked her and told Mom I'd see her in the dining room.

As I made my way to the blue room, I heard voices coming from it. One was Ethan and the other was a woman, but I didn't recognize her voice. Ethan didn't have a sister, did he? I was pretty sure he only had a brother. As I made my way closer I could make out the words and paused at what was said.

"I don't know who the father is, it's either you or Michael." Mystery woman said.

"It's more likely to be Michael isn't it, considering we only did it once." Ethan said. I tried not to get angry at this statement. Obviously it's not like I expected Ethan to never have had sex in the last decade. It just wasn't something I wanted to hear him discuss with someone else.

"Believe it or not Michael and I didn't do it more than a couple of times either. It's not like I was trying to cheat on you while we were engaged." Mystery woman must be Charlotte. And Charlotte must be pregnant. And Ethan could be the father?!? Not cool, how would I feel if my step sister had my husband's child. Not happy, that's for sure. My stomach started feeling nauseous so I stopped thinking that way, after all, he might not be the father…

"No, but you obviously did. I'm not sure why you're telling me this. Shouldn't you wait until you know?"

"That's the problem, I need you to come in for a swab for them to see if you're the father." Charlotte said.

"Just let me know when and where. Are you getting Michael tested at the same time?"

"No, he doesn't know yet because if he's the father I don't want him to know I even doubted, so if you're not then he is and I don't have to make him worried."

"And if I am? What then?"

"I don't know. Let's not worry until we get the results back, after all as you said it's more likely he is the father." Charlotte said. "I have an appointment Wednesday morning, can you make it?"

"Yes, I'll be there, just message me the address and be sure we have a private room. I don't want people seeing us together, I don't want Sera to have to deal with rumors like those."

"Are you really concerned with that by-blow. It's not like you're even capable of love." Charlotte said. I guess this is my cue to enter and I took the last few steps to the door as Ethan started talking.

"Don't talk that way about her..."

"Hey hon, I was told you were here." I said as I came in and leaned in to kiss him passionately, I wanted Charlotte to see that he was capable of love. I was grateful he returned the kiss with equal enthusiasm. I heard a cough and broke the kiss to turn to see who was there as if I didn't know. Once I saw her, I tried to look authentically surprised. I plastered a smile on my face and said, "You must be Charlotte, it's so nice to meet you. I was surprised to learn I had a sister and a brother after all these years. I'm Sera, your half sister." I extended my hand to take hers.

"Nice to meet you as well." She said taking my hand. After she let go, I stepped closer to Ethan. He wrapped his arm around my waist.

"I hear congratulations are in order." I started and she looked surprised, maybe she thought I'd overheard she was pregnant. "When do I get to meet your lucky husband?"

Charlotte relaxed a bit, "He'll be here for dinner tonight."

I looked at Ethan, "We're still having dinner with your family tonight, right?"

Ethan looked into my eyes and nodded. I loved the fireworks that still went off in my body every time he looked at me like that. I really wanted to fast forward a week and be getting married right now. But instead I turned to Charlotte and said, "Maybe I can meet him when we get back tonight, if you're still here."

"We will be staying so if not tonight then tomorrow or later. We're staying until the wedding next week."

My heart dropped. Great another person in this house that didn't like me. I know that everything she said was nice but her tone of voice and the looks of arrogance she was throwing me told me that she felt just as negatively as Miranda toward me, if not more so. I could be glad that I would be at work every day and busy planning each evening. Then I'd be gone from this house and the negativity thrown at me by the family, well except my dad. At least staff was decent, but definitely neutral toward me.