Silence.


    It was a sensitive topic. If anyone else had brought it up, Liam would have immediately flown into a rage.


    But the words came from Charlotte.


    "You''re quite honest," Liam''s voice was a bit hoarse. "Aren''t you afraid that after knowing your schemes, I''ll kick you out?" "Why?" Charlotte shot back, "I haven''t lied to you, I''veid all my cards on the table, how can you be so cruel to me?"


    Liam let out a scornful chuckle. "You really do delight in backing me into a corner, again and again."


    "And what about Dn?" he added. "Aren''t you even a little bit worried that he might win, take everything I''ve got, and kick me out?"


    "Are you?"


    "Hardly." Dn was convinced Liam''s sess stemmed from Keh''s favoritism, funneling the lion''s share of the family''s resources his way. Truth was, Liam was the architect of not just his own ascent, but that of the entire Parker n. Even Keh''s renown could be traced back to him.


    A smile yed on Charlotte''s lips. "Then neither am I."


    Liam could feel her trust wrapping around him, and it made him go a little soft inside.


    But he was still ticked off, "You''ve got a zillion reasons to be with me, but working with Dn? That''s got to be the worst idea ever."


    "Charlotte, steer clear of him."


    "Is this your way of breaking us up?" Charlotte inquired.


    Liam''s anger shot through the roof when he heard the words ''breaking up'', "What are you to him, using that term?"


    "Well then, what should I call it?" Charlotte batted hershes, still in a yful mood. "Terminating our partnership?"


    She couldn''t help butugh at her own quip. "Not a chance."


    "Why?" Liam looked troubled, clearly not happy.


    In the past, he would have long sinceshed out at Charlotte, cautioning her to know her ce.


    Seeing the change in him, Charlotte turned serious. "Once Dn and I go our separate ways, you''ll have countless means to keep me close. I''ll be yours once more, won''t I?"All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    "Is that not what you want?"


    "I want to be the only one in your eyes," Charlotte said, totally into him as she caressed his face. "I''m crazy about your eyes, how deep and devoted they are. I want them to only reflect me."


    "And right now," she said, standing on her tiptoes and nting a gentle kiss on his eyelid, "you can only see me, your heart can only fit me."


    "Charlotte," Liam''s voice roughened, he tried to lean in for a kiss, but Charlotte pressed her fingers against his lips, stopping him right there. "Sneaking into your sister-inw''s room in the middle of the night? That''s crossing a line, Mr. Parker. You should get back to your own room." Liam froze up, his breathing slow and heavy.


    "Charlotte!" he red, frustration seeping through every word. "Do you have any clue what you''re doing here?!"


    "Sure," Charlotte replied.


    Since the moment she witnessed her mother''s demise, since she rushed back to get back at Chloe, only to be blocked by Liam, who forbade her fromying a finger on Chloe, she knew exactly what her next move should be. "And you? Do you realize what you''re doing?"


    Liam inhaled deeply, not with words, but with action, bending down to kiss her again.


    Charlotte subtly shifted, and his lips found her neck instead.


    "I''ll take that as a yes." A smile curved her mouth as she lowered hershes.


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    Liam''s desire was in to see.


    Beyond that one kiss on her neck, Liam got no further. Charlotte gently but firmly coaxed him out the door.


    She''d expected some measure of displeasure from hime morning. To her surprise, Liam was nowhere to be seen when she came down for breakfast. Instead, she found Daniel seated at the dining table. As Liam''s childhood friend, Daniel''s presence in the Parker family was hardly unusual.


    "Morning." Charlotte approached with a greeting but made no move to join him, instead heading for the side table.


    Daniel swallowed his mouthful of porridge and waved at her, "I''m here to pick up Mr. Parker for work. His driver''s off today. Miss. Perry, care to ride with us?"


    Charlotte replied with a polite smile. "I''m no longer in Mr. Parker''s employ. I tendered my resignation."


    "Resignation?" Daniel''s brows shot up. "But why? You made a fine assistant. Mr. Parker had such faith in you - I heard he was even nning to have Henry mentor you personally in a few months'' time."


    "The life of an assistant is hardly one of ease andfort. Why toil away, when being the Mrs. Parker is so much simpler?" Charlotte smiled as she answered.


    "Huh?" Taken aback by her response, Daniel stared nkly for a good while beforeing back to himself and resuming his meal.


    "I think I''ll take a turn about the garden. Enjoy your breakfast." With a courteous nod, Charlotte made her graceful exit.


    "Uh, sure." Daniel ate his cake, but it seemed to lose all vor.


    When Liam finally made his way downstairs, Daniel couldn''t wait to tattle. "Did you hear what Charlotte said? She had the gall to im that being Mrs. Parker was leagues easier than working as your assistant. Even if she meant it in jest, that''s going too far!" And anyway, even if she aspired to be Mrs. Parker, surely she didn''t mean as Dn''s!


    Mr. Parker is genuinely sincere here, and yet she''s ying with his emotions!


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    "Mr. Parker, we can''t just stand by while she runs wild. Should I cook up a little n to pry her away from Dn?"


    As soon as the question left his mouth, Daniel saw Liam''s frame go taut. His hands balled into fists, then rxed, then curled tight once more, as if wrestling with some inner quandary.


    A long moment passed before Liam replied, his voice quiet. "That won''t be necessary."


    "It won''t?!" Daniel scarcely believed his ears, butprehension dawned swiftly, his doubts shifting to Liam himself. "Mr. Parker....don''t tell me you''re actually enjoying this state of affairs?" Liam remainedposed, gracefully slicing a piece of steak.


    Putting aside the matter of Dn and Charlotte''s rtionship, he truly was quite content with the current situation.


    Or perhaps more urately...he reveled in this new Charlotte, at once bold, ardent, sincere, and fearless.


    The Charlotte of old had been ever silent, averting her eyes from the love he bore her, second-guessing his every kindness.


    He far preferred the woman she was now.


    As for Dn, he posed no real obstacle. Once Keh regained his health, Liam would see to it Chloe met with her just punishment. Charlotte''s thirst for vengeance ked, her ties with Dn woulde unbound of their own ord. "Mind your own business," Liam said with a warning nce at Daniel. "Don''t start ying games without me knowing."


    Daniel shrugged off the caution with a carefree attitude, "Sure, sure, I hear you. I''ve got better things to do than meddle in your love life."


    After finishing breakfast, Daniel left. His visit was mainly for amusement, and offering Liam a ride to work was just a pretext.


    Liam, having finished his meal and not finding Charlotte around, didn''t seem too concerned.


    Standing up to leave, he left a casual note hanging in the air, "Come to eat, it''s going to get cold."