Chapter 77

• Charlotte frowned, leaning in closer, feeling oddly vulnerable under his intent gaze. “I didn’t want it either,” she admitted, her heart racing as she battled with emotions swirling inside her. “But Esther insisted, and I—”
• “I know,” he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation. “It’s like she’s playing a game, and we’ve been too hesitant to tell her we’re not interested in playing along.”
• “It’s not just a game for us anymore, though,” Charlotte said, her voice trembling slightly. “She doesn’t understand what it was like—what we had. I’m done talking about it.”