Chapter 171 This Is the End
Frederick was in a meeting when Charlotte called.
"I'm still in a meeting. I'll be back before nine. Cherie will come by later to pick up a document from my study. Can you give it to her?" he said gently.
"Mm," Charlotte replied softly, not wanting to hang up.
Frederick, still in the conference room, said, "I have to go now."
After hanging up, Charlotte thought about asking Cherie to keep what she saw at home a secret.
Twenty minutes later, Cherie called. "Charlotte, my child has a fever. Can you deliver the document from Mr. Hawkins' desk for me?"
Charlotte agreed right away.
Cherie was very grateful.
Charlotte grabbed the document and drove to the office, hoping to wait for Frederick and surprise him.
She smiled at the thought.
Driving her white BMW, she reached Wise Counsel Law Firm in about half an hour.
Most of the office lights were off. Frederick's office was empty, but Lucy was still there. "Mr. Hawkins got a call and left in a hurry about half an hour ago," she said.
Charlotte's expression changed slightly.
Lucy, thinking Frederick had left for Valentine's Day, noticed Charlotte's reaction and observed her carefully.
Charlotte forced a smile. "It's okay."
She went back to her car. The wisest decision right now was to return to the apartment and wait for Frederick to have a quiet Valentine's Day before flying to Torontow.
But she gently stroked the steering wheel, pressed the gas pedal, and headed towards the hospital.
As night fell and rain began, the streets emptied.
Charlotte arrived at the hospital but didn't go upstairs right away. She sat quietly, knowing it would be unpleasant but feeling uneasy if she didn't go.
Finally, she unbuckled her seatbelt.
Katherine was well-known, so Charlotte easily found her room.
The VIP room door was slightly open. She could hear the conversation inside.
Before reaching the door, she heard Katherine's hysterical voice.
As she got closer, it went silent except for a few shallow breaths.
Charlotte saw Katherine hugging Frederick from behind. He looked tense and repressed, a look he only had around Katherine.
Frederick pushed Katherine away forcefully. "Why wouldn't I hate you? If it weren't for you, marriage would still be sacred to me, not a piece of waste paper, a shackle, or a means to bind someone! Katherine, do you think I shouldn't hate you?"
"Don't hate me! Frederick, don't hate me! Can we start over?" Katherine pleaded.
Frederick didn't respond.
Katherine, in a loose hospital gown, threw herself into his arms, burying her head in his chest.
"I know you can't forget me! I know you don't love Charlotte!" Katherine said.
Frederick's body trembled.
Katherine laughed softly. "If you loved her, you wouldn't put the ring on her middle finger! That diamond ring was meant for my ring finger, wasn't it? You'll never marry her!"
Frederick pushed her away again, gritting his teeth. "My parents and Chloe like her. Why wouldn't I marry her?"
A "thud" came from the door. The document in Charlotte's hand had fallen.
Charlotte stood frozen.
She had imagined many unpleasant scenarios, but not this.
Frederick said marriage was a shackle! He said marriage was waste paper! He said marriage was just a means to bind someone!
Was it her who wanted to bind him, or was it Frederick who wanted to bind her? Either way, it was ridiculous and pathetic!
And that diamond ring she cherished, the one she stared at whenever she felt heartache, had such a story behind it. He hadn't put it on her ring finger because he didn't love her, and that spot was reserved for Katherine!
How laughable! She used to laugh at Katherine for being crazy, for being unclear. It turned out, the one who was truly unclear was her!
She hadmade him nourishing soups and foolishly waited for him to come back. She was willing to go to Torontow for two years just for him to handle things with Katherine. She had prepared a Valentine's Day surprise for him, but he said he had meetings and needed to work, while he could come over at Katherine's call.
Why did she think they would cut ties after two years? They were clearly prepared to entangle for a lifetime, and they both seemed to enjoy this relationship! Only her, clearly an outsider, thought she was important!
'Enough, Charlotte. It's enough! This is the end!' she told herself.
Charlotte didn't want to cry; it was too embarrassing and humiliating, but tears still fell uncontrollably.
"Charlotte!" Frederick was startled to see her.
He instinctively knew she had heard everything. He wanted to explain.
Charlotte stopped him. "Don't come over! Frederick, don't come over!"
She picked up the document and handed it to him.
"Cherie's child is sick, and she asked me to deliver the document. You weren't at the office, so I came to check," she said softly.
Frederick took the document, frowning. "Charlotte, it's not what you think!"
Charlotte lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, looking at the diamond ring on her finger.
Her eyes filled with tears, making it hard to see, but she insisted on looking for a long time, constantly telling herself that feeling sorry for a man had no good outcome.
Now she was so humiliated.
Slowly, Charlotte took off the ring and held it up.
Frederick's Adam's apple moved uncontrollably; he realized what she was about to do.
Charlotte stared at him. She remembered not long ago, she had asked him a question, and his response was, "Charlotte, I can't give you what you want."
Later, she had briefly dated Nicholas.
Frederick appeared and started pursuing her.
He had said he wanted more than just sex; he wanted to date her and even marry her. He had given her a diamond ring and took her home, and she had been so surprised.
Now she understood. It was all just his compromise.
Because his parents and sister liked her, and he was satisfied with her body, he was willing to marry her. In his heart, marrying her was never voluntary but a kind of favor to her.
So, he had never said he loved her. Not once.
Charlotte's lips curled into a bitter smile, and she masochistically asked him, "Frederick, do you love me?"
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