Chapter 3 He's Married Again

Charlotte sat in the airport's waiting area with her two kids. "Mom, why hasn't Sofia come to pick us up yet?" She softly touched her son Andy Hall's head. "Sofia's tied up with work. Let's wait here a bit longer." After her divorce, Charlotte moved overseas. She sold nearly everything to provide for her children. For three years, her life was a mystery to most. Only her close friend, Sofia Etheridge, managed to visit them occasionally. Now that the kids were older, and understanding Charlotte's desire to resume her career, Sofia had assisted her in securing a job as a jewelry designer. This opportunity brought Charlotte back to their home country. "Charlotte!" Sofia exclaimed excitedly from a short distance away. "Sofia!" Lilya Hall sprinted toward her. Sofia bent down to hug her. "You're as lovely as ever, little princess." "I have to be, with a mom as pretty as ours!" Andy, looking wise beyond his years, asked, "When will Lilya grow up?" Charlotte laughed, glancing at her son. "Sometimes, I wish you were as carefree as she is." Andy pulled a suitcase taller than him. Charlotte reached to help, but he insisted, "I'm big enough to help with these things now, Mom." "Just let me know if it gets too heavy," she replied. Sofia chatted non-stop on the way, updating Charlotte on everything, including Frank's new marriage to Lorraine Turner. "I'm over it. Even if he marries someone really important, it's none of my business." Sofia held the steering wheel tightly, sighing. "You two were so happy once. Hard to believe how things turned out." "Life's full of surprises. I'm doing okay now." "True. But why would someone from a wealthy family like Lorraine go for Frank?" Initially, Charlotte appeared unbothered by the news. But on reflection, she still felt disgusted by his actions. "Frank always had a way with women. I just didn't see him remarrying so quickly after our divorce." Sofia said with disdain, "I bet they were together before your divorce. It all happened too quickly." It had been three years since their divorce. Reflecting on it, Charlotte started to think that Frank might have had planned it all along. She asked, "Do they have children?" "Kids? That's impossible, Frank can't have kids, right?" Charlotte was taken aback. "How did you know?" She and Frank had kept it secret, not even his mother knew it. "He's been remarried for three years, but no kids. And didn't you use IVF for your children?" Charlotte had confided in Sofia about the IVF. After the divorce, there were rumors of her infidelity. But with Frank still childless, his secret seemed obvious. "He once said his condition might be treatable." Sofia scoffed. "Sure." They both laughed. By the time they arrived home, it was already late evening. After a quick meal, they went to bed early. The next morning, Sofia hurried Charlotte for her job interview. "I took today off to help. I'll watch the kids." "Alright, I'm coming." Charlotte hadn't been this rushed in years. She quickly did her makeup, changed, grabbed some bread, and left. Charlotte left her home while Andy and Lilya were still sleeping. This made her morning easier, as they usually needed her attention for a while. When she arrived at the company, an employee guided her to meet the boss, Luke Allen. Luke was Sofia's business partner. He needed a jewelry designer, so Sofia suggested Charlotte. Following Luke's assistant, Lawson Mitchell, Charlotte felt a bit nervous. Seeing Luke, she thought he looked familiar. "I'm here for the jewelry designer job. Sofia recommended me." Luke, poised and sophisticated, nodded. "Please, sit. I saw your resume. You designed the Heart of Love, right?" "Yes, that's my work. But I've been focusing on my kids for years. I might need to relearn some things," Charlotte replied modestly. "Finding designers as skilled as you are rare. I'm honored to have you here. Start by getting up to speed with current trends. We have an experienced designer here who can help you." As Charlotte observed Luke, she understood why he seemed familiar; his looks and demeanor were strikingly similar to her son's. In her mind, she marveled, 'What are the odds of such a coincidence?' She said, "Thank you for this chance to learn and grow. I'll do my best and won't disappoint." Luke responded with a calm nod, "Let Lawson give you a tour. We've set up an office for you. Check it out and tell us if you need anything." "Thank you." Charlotte left with Lawson, feeling like the job interview had gone surprisingly smoothly, perhaps thanks to Sofia. Being out of work for years had made her feel out of touch. Luke's amiability was unexpected. He was polite and respectful, unlike the strict bosses she had known before. Lawson soon showed her to her new office. "Ms. Hall, this is your office. Let me know if anything needs changing." Charlotte surveyed the office, finding it equipped with everything a designer might need. Even the pens and papers were her preferred brands. "Everything's been so thoughtfully arranged. Thank you." Lawson offered a small smile. "It's our job to ensure you have a comfortable workspace. If there's nothing else, I'll get back to my duties." "Thank you," Charlotte responded.