CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE – BETRAYING TRUE LOVE?

Days turned into weeks, and the distance between Richard and Charlotte grew, a chasm of doubt and misunderstanding separating them. Richard threw himself into his work, seeking solace in the routine of estate management and business dealings. But even as he immersed himself in the daily tasks, his thoughts never strayed far from Charlotte. He saw her in passing, her eyes filled with a mix of longing and hurt. She tried to reach out to him, to bridge the gap that had formed between them, but Richard found himself pulling away, the doubts still lingering in his mind. One afternoon, as he walked through the gardens, lost in thought, he encountered Lady Lavinia. Her face lit up with a sly smile, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. "Richard, my dear," she said, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "You look so troubled. Is it Charlotte again?" Richard's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. "I don't wish to discuss it, Lady Lavinia. My relationship with Charlotte is my own concern." La