Chapter 7

Elizabeth had hired someone to follow Charlotte and gather incriminating information on her. She was determined to do whatever it took to remove Charlotte from Chase's life. Despite her efforts over the past few days to capture his attention, nothing had worked, but she was sure this plan would. She sat on her bed, thinking deeply about how to win Chase back, when suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"Get out! I didn't send for anyone, she said angrily, assuming it was a maid.

"It's Chase," she heard him say, and her eyes lit up.

"Come in," she said, smiling. "You came to see me."

"How are you enjoying your stay here, Elizabeth?" Chase asked, his hands in his pockets as he looked around.

It's great. I should come here more often, you know," she said, walking toward him seductively. "We haven't done anything fun since I got here. How about we looking at your garden together, like in old times? She said, placing her head on his shoulder.

"Did you do anything to Charlotte?" he asked, pulling her away.

"What?" she replied, taken aback.

Her shoulders hurt. Apparently, she fell against a fridge, but it hurts too much for it to have been an accidental fall. Did you do anything? He asked, his tone serious.

"Chase!? She exclaimed. "How could you disrespect me like that? What did that wh*re say to you?"

"You will not disrespect my wife in my house! Chase said, taking a deep breath. "This is the last time something like this will happen. You should leave; you have overstayed your welcome, he said, and walked out.

*****

As she prepared for work, Charlotte felt uneasy. She didn't think she could face Chase after their kiss. She wrapped her hair into a cute bun, her back still aching a little. She heard a knock on the door as Penelope walked in.

"Mr. Chase awaits you in the car, ma'am," Penelope said, bowing.

"In a minute," Charlotte replied.

Charlotte walked out to the car, her legs shaking. "Hello, Mr. Benjamin, she said nervously, looking down to avoid eye contact.

"How is your back?" he asked.

"It hurts less now," she said, still looking down. He noticed how shy she was and leaned closer to her.

"What? Last night... he began to say, but suddenly Elizabeth ran out with a file in her hand.

"Chase!" she screamed, running over to them. "I think you’ll want to see this," she said with a mischievous smile as she handed him the file.

"I thought you were leaving," he said, grabbing it from her. "What is this?"

"Just look at it, please."

Chase opened it and stared at it for a while. He turned to look at Elizabeth. Charlotte came closer to see what it was, and her mouth opened in shock. It was pictures of Mia and James having sexual intercourse.

"Where did you get this?" she asked, surprised that Elizabeth had such things. She looked at Chase and wondered what thoughts were going through his mind, hoping he didn't think it was her. Chase just stared at the pictures without saying anything, while Elizabeth stood there with a maniacal smile, waiting for Chase's outburst.

"Get out," Chase said softly. Charlotte looked at him with tears in her eyes, wondering if he would let her explain.

"Get out!!" he yelled again, this time angrily.

His sudden outburst caused her to tremble in fear. She turned around and started walking away.

"Mia, come back here!!" he yelled.

"Get out," he yelled again.

She turned and realized Chase had been talking to Elizabeth all along. She had a surprised look on her face.

"When I get back, I don't want to see you here," he said, walking over to Charlotte. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the car.

A few minutes after driving in silence, Chase spoke. "I know we are not really married, but you broke the contract. Under no circumstances, during the time we are married should you be with another man. And even if you do, don't get caught. You let Elizabeth get pictures of you with your lover. You have disrespected me and the contract," he said angrily.

"That isn't me, Chase, I promise."

"Fuck that!! You still lie to me when I have evidence?? Isn't this you?" he asked, waving the pictures in front of her.

"Eyes front, David," Chase said as he noticed the driver staring through the mirror.

Charlotte grabbed the picture from him. "It's not me, Chase... Mr. Benjamin, I promise. I don't know how Ms. Michaelson got this, but it's my sister!"

Chase stopped and looked at her. His heart raced, and he breathed heavily from yelling.

"You have a sister?" he asked, lowering his voice.

"Yes, Mr. Benjamin, I have a twin. Her name is..." she paused to think if she should tell him that she's Charlotte and the girl in the picture was Mia, and that she stood in for her sister, but she knew her parents would kill her. "Charlotte, that's her name," Charlotte lied. "And she's the woman in the picture, I swear." Chase grabbed the picture from Charlotte. He noticed the girl in the picture didn't have scars like Charlotte did.

Charlotte looked at him, trying to see if he believed her.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you," he said in a low tone.

"What?" Charlotte asked.

"I said I'm sorry," he repeated, still in a low tone. But this time she heard him.

"What?" she asked mockingly.

 I apologize, Miss Thompson. Don't push it," he said in a serious tone.

She quickly sank back into her chair, not wanting to offend him anymore.

She picked up her phone, contemplating calling Mia to warn her to watch her back, but she didn't know if Mia would pick up. Her parents might even blame her for Mia's behavior when she had nothing to do with it.

*****

Elizabeth paced around her room, wondering why Chase wasn't mad at Charlotte. Suddenly, she received a call.

"What? Any news? She asked breathlessly.

The man in the picture, ma'am, used to be in a romantic relationship with Mrs. Thompson before she got married to Mr. Chase, the man said from the other end of the call. Finally, a smile crossed Elizabeth's face.

"Ex?"

"Yes, ma'am."

So she's secretly seeing her ex and coming over here to act innocent. Thank you, don't stop digging. I want everything I can get.