Chapter 45: Ever Yours

Charlotte's POV 

I had meant what I'd said, every word of it. Of course I loved Stephen. I loved him with the entirety of my soul. But he had betrayed my trust by leaving without even saying a word. I could forgive him for leaving. I believed that he wanted to do what was best for me. I understood that. But the way he left was so like the way others had abandoned me in my life that I was finding it difficult to overlook. 

So I was going to see Neil again, and why not? I was single, he was single. Neil actually could give me a family if it worked out. And although I knew that Scarlet didn't particularly trust him, I was willing to give him a chance. After all, it wasn't Neil who had betrayed me in the first place. 

"Charlotte, I'm so sorry for last night," Scarlett began as she poured us both coffee, "I hope you believe me when I tell you that I was only trying to help."