Chapter 7 The Blind Fool

Charlotte had been out in the cold so long she forgot to call a cab.

Seeing her, Alex pulled up and rolled down his window. "Need a ride home, Charlotte?"

She was about to say yes when James showed up, his voice icy. "No way, she's not leaving yet!"

"James, my business is none of your concern," Charlotte snapped, glaring at him. She was getting more irritated by the second.

Why couldn't James just leave her alone? Wasn't he the one who wanted a divorce to marry Daisy?

Alex got out of the car and stood in front of Charlotte, staring James down. "Sir, Charlotte's life is her own. She can decide whether to stay or go."

Charlotte stayed quiet, watching James, while Alex kept a close eye on him.

James let out a bitter laugh, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Charlotte, after all these years, I never knew you were so fickle. Didn't you always say you loved me? You left without a word six years ago, and now you're fine with moving on?"

James's eyes were cold and unyielding as he stared at her.

Charlotte found his words ridiculous and replied coolly, "People change, and we have nothing to do with each other anymore. Who I choose to like is my business."

She could see her words made James even angrier.

She lowered her head, not wanting to deal with him anymore. The past was too painful to remember.

Just then, a taxi slowly approached, like a savior. She quickly flagged it down and climbed in, eager to leave.

Alex's expression darkened as he watched her go. He turned to James, the tension between them palpable.

"Charlotte doesn't want to talk to you. Stay away from her," Alex said coldly.

James sneered, managing to look down on Alex despite their similar height.

"My issues with her are none of your business. If anyone needs to disappear, it's you," James retorted.

Alex's face grew darker, his eyebrows raised slightly. "You sure are confident, but if you hurt Charlotte, you'll pay."

James looked Alex up and down, his tone boastful. "Who do you think you are? My problems with my ex-wife are not your concern. You'd be wise to walk away."

Alex's eyes flashed with surprise. So, this was Charlotte's ex-husband?

A faint, ambiguous smile appeared on his lips. "So, you're the blind fool." With that, Alex got back into his car and drove away.

James fumed over Alex's words, kicking a stone in anger. He then called Dean, "Charlotte's back, and there's a man with her. I want his info by tomorrow."

Back home, Charlotte couldn't calm down, her heart still pounding.James's face and his words kept replaying in her mind.

Charlotte closed her eyes, feeling like someone had pushed her.

When she opened them, Andy and Noah were looking at her with concern.

"Mom, you've been distracted since you got back. Did something happen at work? Or did someone bother you?" Andy asked.

Charlotte shook her head, trying to force a smile to reassure them, though it felt brittle and unconvincing. She decided to let it go and started coaxing Andy and Noah to get ready for bed. "I'm fine. I just ran into someone who bothers me, and it brought me down. I'm not in the mood to play tonight. Let's hit the hay early, alright?"

Andy and Noah exchanged a glance and nodded obediently, heading to their room together.

Once they were asleep, Charlotte sat on the couch, still feeling uneasy. She took out some wine and drank a few glasses, memories from six years ago flooding back. Scenes with James seemed etched into her mind, and she deeply regretted her stubbornness back then. The pain of feeling unloved haunted her like a relentless nightmare, leaving her heart in a constant ache.

The only solace was that Noah and Andy were asleep, allowing her to let loose a bit.

In the bedroom, Andy and Noah exchanged a look, neither able to sleep knowing Charlotte was upset. They had sensed her unusual mood ever since she came back. Considering her mention of someone, they realized it could only refer to one person: their father, James.

Andy spoke first to Noah, "Do you think Mom saw Dad today?"

Noah sneered, his tone flat. "Who else could make Mom this upset?"

Andy clenched his small fists, filled with anger. "We have to punish him for making Mom sad."

Noah didn't respond, but it was clear he agreed. In their hearts, Charlotte was the most important person, and no one could hurt her.

For a moment, Noah thought of Emma's face, and the idea of "an eye for an eye" crossed his mind. Knowing how much James valued Emma, Noah realized that hurting her would undoubtedly cause him pain. However, this thought only lasted a moment before Noah shook his head, dismissing it. James was the one who had done wrong, but Emma was innocent.

Noah and Andy began to think of ways to get back at James for Charlotte, eventually falling asleep.

The next morning, when Andy and Noah woke up, they found that Charlotte's mood had improved. She cheerfully called them over for breakfast, acting as if nothing had happened. Sensing Charlotte in a better mood, Andy and Noah felt relieved.

"Mom, your breakfast is the best," Andy said.

Even though she knew they were just trying to cheer her up, Charlotte was still very happy. "Eat as much as you like," she said.

As they spoke, the doorbell rang. Andy ran to open the door, and Ava walked in with good news. "Charlotte, I've arranged for the kids to attend Dream Wings Kindergarten, the best education available. They can start anytime."

Charlotte's eyes lit up instantly as she smiled at Andy and Noah. "That's great! I'll take you to school later. How do you feel about that?"