The wedding began, and the bride, resplendent in her elegant, strapless gown, walked down the aisle, her father's arm proudly escorting her. The guests, comprising influential and esteemed individuals, applauded warmly, their diamond jewelry and designer attire glinting in the soft light. As they reached the podium, the priest, with his kind face and wise eyes, greeted them with a gentle smile.Charlie, standing in the crowd, felt a knot in his stomach as he watched the scene unfold. He couldn't believe this day had finally arrived, and he was powerless to stop it. He forced a smile, joining in the applause, but his mind raced with thoughts of betrayal and deceit. Leo, noticing his friend's distress, leaned in and whispered reassurances. "Everything will be okay, don't worry. We'll reveal his dirty secret soon. Let him think he's won for now."The priest began the ceremony, his voice soothing and calm, and soon the couple exchanged their vows, sealing their union with a kiss. As they
"How long have you been thinking about this?" Mrs. Thompson asked, her voice laced with a hint of skepticism.Charlie chuckled softly. "I just thought about it a few days ago, and we've decided on it. Isn't it, Alice?" He turned to Alice, who was looking perplexed.Alice smiled and nodded her head, pretending to know about it. "Yes, we talked about it, and he said he was going to talk to you about it," she lied, trying to support Charlie.Miss Victoria's eyes lit up with excitement. "That will be super interesting!" she exclaimed.But Mr. and Mrs. Thompson shot Charlie a glare, their faces disapproving. "Charlie, what are you saying, this is too prompt?" Mr. Thompson asked, his voice firm.Charlie's grin faltered for a moment before he recovered. "It's all good, Dad. I've got this," he said, his confidence unwavering.The tension in the room was palpable, but Charlie seemed oblivious to it, his excitement about his new plan evident on his face."How did you expect us to get this done
Leo drove down to Charlie's house after the wedding, the soft hum of the engine and the gentle rustle of the wind through the trees the only sounds breaking the silence. Charlie and Alice got down from the car, their footsteps echoing on the driveway as they walked towards the house. As Leo drove off to the garage, they both walked inside, the creak of the door and the soft murmur of the TV in the background filling the air.Charlie took off his suit, the fabric rustling as he removed the jacket and placed it neatly on the chair edge, the creases and folds a testament to the careful precision of his movements. The soft glow of the lamp in the corner cast a warm light on the scene, illuminating the faint smile on Alice's face as she watched him."Did you mean what you said, are we really getting married, or you're just..." Alice asked, her voice trailing off as Charlie cut her off, his eyes locked on hers with a determined glint."I am for real, we are getting married the second time,"
Alice's face turned red with anger, her eyes blazing with fury. "You shouldn't have allowed them, I don't want to see them!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the room. Charlie approached her calmly, his hands held out in a soothing gesture."Remember what the doctor said about you stressing yourself, Alice. You don't want anything to happen to our baby, right?" he asked, his voice gentle but firm. "So just calm down, take a deep breath, and hear them out. It can't hurt to listen, and who knows, maybe they have something important to say."Alice's expression didn't change, her anger and frustration still simmering just below the surface. But Charlie's words seemed to penetrate her defenses, and she took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly."Fine," she said, her voice still firm but slightly softer. "But if they start bothering me, I'm out of here."Charlie nodded, his eyes locked onto hers, his face filled with understanding and support. "I'll be right here beside you,
Mr. Henry finally decided to speak, his voice a gentle interruption, a soothing balm to the raw emotions in the room. He chuckled softly, a warm, comforting sound, to get Alice's attention. "Alice, I know this is deep, and difficult. But we can't literally blame anyone. It hurts so deeply, it has to turn out like this. Your mother has raised Kate with so much love and care, and she's not here today to realize we've been raising someone else's child. So, we are all hurt."His words were a gentle reminder, a soft whisper of reason, a calming presence in the storm of emotions. He spoke with a deep understanding, an empathy that came from experiencing the same pain and hurt. His eyes were filled with compassion. "We are all in this together, Alice. We are all hurt, but we can heal together.”"Why are you saying this to me?" Alice's voice cracked with emotion, her words laced with hurt and betrayal. "You left me in the hospital after finding out that I am your child two weeks ago. You left
Alice was taken aback by the sudden announcement, her eyes widening in surprise as she wondered why her father was rushing into this decision. "When did you decide this?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of skepticism, her brow furrowed in concern.Mr. Henry's face lit up with a warm smile, his eyes shining with a gentle light. "I made up my mind even before I knew about you," he said, his voice filled with a sense of conviction, his words spoken with a quiet confidence.Alice's gaze narrowed slightly, her mind racing with questions. "But why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes searching her father's face for answers.Mr. Henry's expression turned wistful, his eyes clouding over with a hint of sadness. "I thought it was the right thing to do," he said, his voice filled with a deep longing. "We can all start fresh and be happy together. My wife passed away a long time ago, and I've been alone for almost ten years now." His voice cracked slightly, his eyes well
Charlie was engrossed in his work, typing away on his computer, when his phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence of his office. He glanced at the caller ID and rolled his eyes, recognizing the number as his father's. With a sigh, he picked up the phone, bringing it closer to his ear."Hey! Mr Thompson," he said, his tone laced with sarcasm, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.His father's voice came through the line, firm and commanding. "Meet me soon, we have to be somewhere together."Charlie scoffed, his eyes rolling in exasperation. "Dad, I am a bit busy right now. Can you postpone it?" he asked, his tone laced with a hint of frustration.His father's response was firm. "No, Charlie, this can't wait. I need you here now. It's important."Charlie's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What could his father want now? He let out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagging in resignation."Fine, Dad. Where and when?" he asked, his tone laced with reluctance.His father
"I can't believe you would be so reckless, Mr. Thompson," Charlie continued, his voice stern. "You know the president's reputation, and now you've put me in a difficult position. How am I supposed to fix this?"Mr. Thompson looked down, his face red with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Charlie. I really didn't think it would go this far. I'll do anything to help fix it."The room fell silent, the weight of the situation sinking in. Charlie's eyes narrowed, determination etched on his face. "Let the president think whatever he thinks. I am not going to get married to her daughter," Charlie said firmly, his voice laced with determination."I know, Charlie, just calm down. That's why I asked you to come. So we can go to the president together. Maybe you might be able to convince him," Mr. Thompson suggested, his tone soothing.Charlie scoffed, his expression incredulous. "Convince him? You think I can just walk into the president's office and convince him to change his mind? He's not exactly