Charlotte’s POV:
When I stepped onto campus that morning, I knew something was different. The whispers, the stares, the conversations that abruptly stopped when I approached–my marriage was no longer a secret.
Lily, Jason, and I reunited at our usual spot, but the atmosphere had completely transformed since yesterday. As I approached, I noticed Lily’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“Have you heard?” she asked, fingers fidgeting nervously with her pen. “I’m the new campus beauty now, since you’ve been… well, ‘honorably discharged.“”
“What? You’re the campus beauty?” I couldn’t help but laugh, seeing how uncomfortable she was with this title.
Meanwhile, Jason was surrounded by students who had never given him a second glance. When they finally dispersed, he stormed over to our table, face red with annoyance.
“This is ridiculous!” he exploded, dropping his backpack heavily. “It’s my uncle who’s rich, not me! If these people are so eager to get close to wealth, they should be trying to seduce my uncle instead!”
I immediately reached over and pinched his arm. “Exactly who are you suggesting they seduce?”
Jason’s eyes widened as he realized what he’d said. “I–I didn’t mean it like that…”
“I didn’t think so,” I smirked.
D
Our conversation was interrupted by a sophomore who approached our table with an expression of awe. “Congratulations on your appointment, President Cole.”
“What?” I blinked in confusion.
“Your new position! University President! The email went out this morning.”
After the student left, I sat there dumbfounded, then frantically pulled out my phone. “President? What is he talking about? How does getting into one fight make me the head of the entire school?”
With trembling fingers, I called Alexander. He answered after just one ring.
“I was wondering when you’d call,” he said, his voice irritatingly calm.
“Was this you? The university president thing?”
“I arranged it,” he confirmed without a trace of remorse. “From now on, you have complete authority at the university. If anyone tries to take advantage of you again, you have the final say.”
I nearly dropped my phone. “Darling, I don’t want to deal with university politics!”
“Just enjoy it,” he smoothly replied. “I’ll handle the complicated stuff.”
A wave of both annoyance and adoration washed over me. “I must have done something very right in my past life,” I murmured. “Otherwise, how could I be lucky enough to meet such an incredible husband?”
1/3
Chapter 43
Before I could stop myself, the words tumbled out: ‘I love you.”
Silence on the other end. My heart pounded in the void of his non–response. “Are you still there?‘ I finally asked.
Tm here.” His voice was different now–perhaps softer. Then, with his usual directness: “Since you love me, when are you going to give me two bouncing little tigers?”
Children? My face burned. “Hmph, I don’t love you anymore,” I retorted, quickly changing the subject.
Having children is one thing, but twins? How could a little kitten’s belly fit two little tigers? I wondered to myself.
I heard his deep chuckle. ‘Don’t want children?”
“What kind of husband are you?” I squeaked, aware that Lily and Jason were now openly eavesdropping. ‘One minute you’re saying I’m a child, the next you’re asking me to have your children. You’re such a hypocrite!”
“What time do you finish class?” he asked, clearly amused by my flustered reaction. “This time your husband can come pick you up properly, right?”
I pursed my lips, suddenly struck by inspiration. “No,” I said decisively. “I have a romantic date today.” Before he could respond, I hung up.
Lily and Jason immediately pounced.
“Who are you going on a date with?” they asked in unison.
I tapped my nose. “That’s a secret.”
When the bell for the final class finally rang at 4:30, I rushed out, hastily waving goodbye to my friends. Outside the campus gates, I flagged down a taxi.
“To the nearest flower shop, please,” I instructed the driver.
The flower shop was small but elegant, with buckets of fresh blooms lining the walls. A gentle–looking woman smiled as she greeted me.
‘I’d like twelve red roses, wrapped beautifully,” I told her, trying to appear more confident than I felt.
She looked me over, noting my college sweatshirt and backpack. “Miss, who are these for?” she asked kindly.
“My husband,” I answered, standing a little straighter.
Her eyebrows shot up. “You’re… married?” The surprise in her voice was evident.
With a touch of pride, I held up my left hand, displaying the wedding ring I’d decided to wear this morning. “Yes, I am married.”
Her expression softened, and she began selecting the most perfect roses from her collection.
Thirty minutes later, I sat in another taxi, carefully cradling the beautifully wrapped bouquet. The roses were gorgeous— deep red, with petals just beginning to unfurl, their subtle fragrance filling the entire cab.
2/3
Chapter 43
“Driver, to Kingsley Tech Group, please,” I directed, feeling a flutter of nervous excitement.
The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror. “Going to see your boyfriend, miss?”
“No,” I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m going to see my husband.”
I brought the bouquet closer to my face, inhaling its sweet scent. “Alexander Kingsley,” I whispered, ‘prepare to be loved passionately by your wife.”
The lobby of Kingsley Tech was all glass and chrome, imposing with its sleek modernity. As I walked through the revolving. doors, a bouquet in hand, heads turned. I could hear the whispers-“Whose girlfriend is that?” “So romantic bringing roses!“–but my eyes were fixed on the executive elevator in the distance.
My heart pounded as the elevator carried me up to the fiftieth floor. It was silly, wasn’t it? Being nervous to see my husband? Yet my palms sweated at the thought of how he would react to my gesture.
The elevator doors opened directly onto the executive suite. Through the glass walls of his office, I could see Alexander standing by the window, phone pressed to his ear. Even from this distance, I could tell from the set of his shoulders that he was tense.
I approached quietly, catching fragments of his conversation.
“Who did Charlotte leave with today?” he asked. A pause. “Then who is she going on a date with?”
Another pause, longer this time. His voice hardened. “Who is she seeing? She was excited? Which man?”
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