Chapter10

Daniel didn't force Charlotte, either. He simply shifted closer. Charlotte instantly tensed up, her thoughts spiraling into worst-case scenarios. Thinking Daniel was about to do something inappropriate, she yanked the blanket up around her shoulders and turned to remind him, "I-I'm still pregnant!" Daniel was clearly thrown off. Did she really think he was that thirsty? If he hadn't been drugged that night, he wouldn't have dragged her into his mess. But after seeing her small form under the blanket, he explained, "You were too far away. There was a gap in the middle. It'll get cold." Charlotte's face flushed with embarrassment. That was awkward. Without a word, she shuffled slightly toward the middle of the bed and pressed the blanket flat between them. Her busy life had kept her from getting a proper night's sleep. Now that she had the chance to rest early, she soon drifted off to sleep with the sound of flowing water coming through the window. Lying beside her, Daniel made a mental note about what she'd said—employees being forced to stay late because of his own work habits. He'd have to deal with this gently but firmly, as he was strongly against overtime. Business should serve both the company and the people. He couldn't let Brighton Group's work culture be tainted by performative nonsense. Year-end reviews were coming up anyway. With his thoughts in order, Daniel soon fell asleep, too. The world outside was still, time flowing quietly like the stream outside. As the first light of dawn crept in, Charlotte stirred and slowly opened her eyes. It had been a long while since she had slept so well, and she felt great. Maybe it was because there was a man sleeping beside her—for someone who always had cold hands and feet, it was nice to finally feel warm. Daniel was still asleep, his breathing shallow and steady. Charlotte wriggled her fingers under the blanket to shake out the numbness before turning her head to look out the window. The room had windows on both sides. Daniel's side faced the stream winding in front of the house. Hers faced a gentle stretch of hills that looked like a giant lying peacefully on the ground. Just then, the sun began to rise from behind those hills. Charlotte couldn't find the words to describe the beauty of it. She just lay there, watching as the fiery sun climbed into view, slipping past the frame of the window. The mist cleared away, and sunlight filtered into the room, dancing on dust particles like shimmering fairies. It was the first sunrise she'd ever really watched, and it felt like a sign of a good day ahead. Even with an early morning yoga class, she couldn't help but feel happy. Right then, a soft rustle behind her told her Daniel had woken up. Charlotte hastily shut her eyes and pretended to still be asleep. With her eyes closed, her senses were heightened, and she could hear exactly what he was doing. He went to wash up, then returned to change, leaving his pajamas on the bench at the foot of the bed before leaving the room. After the door closed behind him, she opened her eyes and let out a long, relieved sigh. There was always an air of authority about Daniel that made her want to avoid him. She felt the best way was not to interact with him at all. But fate had other ideas. After getting ready, she went downstairs, only to find him having breakfast at the dining table. Charlotte paused at the top of the stairs, debating whether to take a walk outside or find a quiet corner to hide in. "Mrs. Hoffman," Regina called out. "Your breakfast will be ready soon. Please have a seat at the table." "Oh, okay." Charlotte forced herself to cross the room and sat at the other side of the round table, staying as far from Daniel as she could manage. Fortunately, he didn't look up from his phone, which lay open flat on the table. She shifted her focus to the kitchen, pretending to be deeply fascinated by cabinets. Regina brought out her breakfast. "I made a small portion, Mrs. Hoffman. You'll have a snack after your yoga class. This is folic acid. You need to take it during pregnancy." "Alright," she responded and started eating slowly to kill time. "Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman." Charlotte didn't even need to turn around to know it was Madison, the yoga instructor. "Good morning." Daniel wiped his mouth, stood, and left without another word. Charlotte had never been athletic, and she wasn't a fan of yoga classes, either. She had always struggled with sports, and she couldn't sing to save her life. Now, in oversized activewear, she struggled to keep up with Madison's every move. She had no time to enjoy the peaceful feeling of practicing yoga by the stream and greenery. All her energy went into keeping up and not falling over. It was, in every way, a disaster. Madison was working overtime—demonstrating, adjusting Charlotte's form, and keeping a watchful eye to make sure she didn't pull a muscle or faceplant. However, Charlotte could tell Madison was a gentle and patient teacher. She kept repeating how prenatal yoga helped with fetal development and eased pregnancy discomfort. Charlotte decided to stick to it. "Hmm… She has a nice figure, but she looks..." Then came a voice Charlotte didn't like the sound of at all. "Actually, she looks sweet enough." The way the woman spoke—and the way her eyes swept over Charlotte—made her skin crawl. Charlotte didn't respond. Instead, she gave the woman the same look, sizing her up. The woman looked well-kept, probably in her early 40s. Her shoulder-length hair was tied back neatly, and her features bore a faint resemblance to Errol's. She wore a simple but very expensive-looking suit. Noticing Charlotte's silence, Regina stepped in and introduced them. "Ms. Hoffman, this is Mr. Hoffman's newlywed wife, Charlotte Moore." Trina Hoffman scoffed, "Father really is losing it. How dare someone as lowly as you behave so boldly in front of me? I guess old age is really messing with his head." Regina responded calmly, "I was assigned by Mr. Hoffman himself to take care of Mrs. Hoffman. Mr. Gordon and Mr. Hoffman Senior are fully aware of it." Trina, feeling challenged, gritted out, "What? Do you think I can't put you in your place just because I'm married?" As soon as her words fell, she raised her hand to slap Regina. "Kyla!" Charlotte shouted. Kyla hastily stepped forward, catching Trina's wrist before it could land. After releasing Trina's wrist, Kyla lowered her head and apologized, "I'm sorry, Ms. Hoffman. We were just following Mr. Hoffman's and Mr. Hoffman Senior's orders to protect Mrs. Hoffman." Trina huffed before shooting daggers at Charlotte. Whatever that little stunt was, she clearly wasn't going to forget it anytime soon. Errol had called last night, asking her to come over. When she arrived, she learned she had to take Daniel's wife shopping for some trendy clothes. Charlotte seemed sweet, but she was too plain. She had pale skin, short hair, and a slender frame. The kind of woman men just had to protect. Just like that vixen, Elise Hart. Trina couldn't help but feel smug as soon as she thought about Elise. "Forget it. As your aunt-in-law, I won't hold it against you. My dad asked me to take you shopping for some clothes. Let's go." So, she was Daniel's aunt. Charlotte almost sneered. Trina sure knew how to find an excuse for herself. "I have class later. I don't have time." "You represent the Hoffman family now. At least try not to look like a beggar in public. Don't embarrass us." Charlotte had always understood the importance of looking presentable. Trina wasn't wrong. So, she gave in. "Alright. I'll go change. Then, we can head out." Trina's eyes lit up with satisfaction. "Then, you'd better hurry." Charlotte was turning out to be quite the character. Life hadn't been this interesting since Elise disappeared.