From Desk to Altar: The CEO's Irresistible Bargain

"What?! Don't you see how bad off Mr. Parker is?"

Daniel was fed up with this version of Charlotte-she was nothing like the kind-hearted and understanding woman he used to know. "Am I the one who made him this weak?" Charlotte said, "Did I cause the accident?"

Daniel was speechless and awkwardly tried to recover, "But doesn't it hurt you to see him like this?"

"Nope."

Charlotte's face turned ice-cold, "Liam and I are done. That's all."

Daniel turned pale with frustration, but he bit back any further words.

He was so used to seeing Charlotte's affection for Liam that any sign of her not caring got under his skin.

Once the medical staff left, Charlotte walked into the room by herself.

The thick smell of blood filled her nostrils as she approached Liam, whose eyes seemed to light up with every step she took.

She sat down next to his bed and took a good look at the wound on his shoulder.

It was a nasty one, deep down to the bone.

It had been four years, and it was clear Liam had been tormenting this wound often.

"Does it hurt?" she asked.

Liam kept his eyes fixed on her, hungry and pleading, "Yes, it hurts."

Charlotte seemed oblivious to his silent pleas, her finger lightly touching the skin around the wound.

"That's right, it should hurt."

"Liam, you're in pain because you can't make up your mind. You need to remember this."

Her touch made the wound throb even more, but Liam didn't flinch, afraid that she'd pull away.

"Why don't you let them treat it?" she asked.

Liam was too embarrassed to respond, half his face hidden in the covers.

"It's disgusting."

The words that Charlotte blurted out made Liam snap to attention. "What?" He thought he'd misheard her.

Charlotte repeated, "I said, your wound is disgusting."

The scar had been reopened so many times it was now just a grotesque mess.

Charlotte pulled off his blanket and gently ran her fingers over his skin.

The accident had been horrific. She hadn't had it easy, and neither had Liam.

His body was a canvas of tiny cuts and clear scars.

Charlotte's fingers trailed over each one, seemingly confused, and she whispered, "With such bad injuries, after losing the woman you loved, Liam, isn't it enough to confront Chloe?" But Liam fell back to his usual refrain, "Kenneth..."

"I understand," Charlotte said, the silly reason deflating her will to continue the conversation. It's one thing to respect your elders, but quite another to let a murderer walk free because of it. Liam was badly hurt himself, yet he was willing to put up with Chloe just because of Kenneth's say-so.

"You had it coming," she thought, a smirk crossing her face.

All the things she'd been wrestling with, the things she couldn't figure out, it all suddenly clicked into place. "You're not cut out for love."

Standing over Liam, she said, "Everyone wants to be loved. If you can't give it, you deserve to be left behind."

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Liam's face was as white as a sheet, his jaw set tight. "I'll make it up to you."

"What can you possibly make up to me? What do you think I need now?"

The idea made Charlotte chuckle. "Love? That's easy to find. Anyone can give that to me."

Liam's face lost even more color. "You and Vincent..."

"You've got no right to ask me about that," Charlotte cut him off, turning her back as she opened the door to leave. In a low voice, she added, "All you need to do is watch me be happy." "Charlottell"Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

She didn't look back, leaving the hospital room and Liam's calls - behind her.

"Did he agree to treat his wound?" Daniel asked immediately when she appeared. "He probably will."

But really, what does it matter to her?

She wasn't the one hurting.

On the way back from visiting Liam, Charlotte was quiet. Vincent picked up on her mood and, in a sweet gesture, bought cakes for her and Ethan from a bakery they passed by. "That's really thoughtful of you," Charlotte acknowledged.

Honestly, Vincent was gentle and caring, the perfect husband material.

With a hint of sadness, Vincent said, "I've been so thoughtful, yet I can't seem to warm your heart, so no more teasing, okay?"

They had been together abroad for four years, supporting each other every day. If there was any spark between them, it would've ignited by now.

They were more like siblings than spouses.

Reflecting on their relationship, Charlotte said, "When I first met you, I never imagined you'd be the one who'd have my back in the end."

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She had only seen Vincent as an ally with a common goal, never as reliable as Thomas in her eyes.

But here was Vincent, the guy who didn't think twice about scrambling down a cliff after her car wreck, pulling her out of the ocean, risking his own neck in the process.

He made sure she got top-notch care, and fast, and never stepped on her toes, respecting her every choice. Even when she decided to head back here on a whim, Vincent was right there backing her up, no questions asked. He was all in with Ethan too, and held nothing back.

To be honest, Vincent seemed a way better match for Ethan's dad role than Liam.

"Hey, if you ever fall for someone, you gotta tell me straight up," Charlotte told him. "With the way things are between us, it'd be too easy for others to get the wrong idea, and you don't wanna be tripping over words with your sweetheart, right?"

"I guess..." Vincent thought for a moment, then said in a low voice, "I don't think I'll be falling for anyone again."

He was the quiet type. As a kid, he dreamt of a love that was calm and lasting, but the love he'd seen up close was anything but. It was dramatic, and heartbreaking.

His favorite brother had died of a broken heart.

Charlotte, too, was nearly a casualty of love.

He didn't plan on getting tangled up in that kind of drama and sadness.

Charlotte couldn't really argue with that. Her love life was a hot mess; she wasn't about to start giving relationship advice.

When they got home, Ethan was waiting at the door like a little pup, eyes wide with excitement. As soon as he saw the car stop, he came running over, his joy skyrocketing when he saw the small cake in Vincent's hand.

"Dad, you're the best! I love you!" Ethan wrapped his arms around Vincent, giving him three big, smacking kisses. They were a picture of happiness.

Charlotte snapped a photo of this sweet scene and sent it to Liam.

At the same time, Daniel, ever the chatterbox, noticed the guy in the hospital bed was trembling ever so slightly.

"Are you in pain?" Daniel asked, puzzled. "Or is it the bandage that's bothering you?"

"No."

Liam was fixed on the photo in his phone, a bitter taste rising in his throat.

"What would Charlotte do if I insisted she stay with me?"