From Desk to Altar: The CEO's Irresistible Bargain
Chapter 50: Are you feeling guilty, perhaps?

Flushed with embarrassment, Charlotte tucked her hands behind her back as if they might hide her fluster.

With a scowl that could slice through the tension, Liam reached for her hidden hands.

"They're absolutely filthy," he grumbled.

His grasp was firm as he guided her hands back and forth over the stain, the heat of his skin and the solidity of his muscles beneath her touch sending her mind into a tailspin, leaving her momentarily paralyzed. His strength was undeniable, her skin reddening under the pressure of his vigorous attempts to transfer the stubborn wine stain onto her palms.

"I..." Charlotte's breath felt hot, "Mr. Parker, now my hands are dirty."

He was spotless, but what about her?

"What's the rush?" Liam's voice was a calm contrast to the urgency of the moment as he picked up the soiled shirt, meticulously wiping her hands clean.

Their proximity was intimate, their breaths intertwining, adding layers to the already thick atmosphere.

Charlotte couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze, focusing instead on the stains disappearing from her fingers as he attended to her with the precision of someone handling a priceless artifact.

A sudden thought pierced the moment...

Had he been throwing a tantrum just now?

Was it because she had said there would be no more gifts?

Before she could piece together her thoughts, her hands were released, and looking up, she was met with Liam's irritated expression as he jerked his hand away.

"Leave. This isn't a place for you."

The air turned icy in an instant, any hint of ambiguity gone like a snuffed candle.

Charlotte's fanciful musings dissipated just as quickly.

"Alright." Clutching the stained shirt she had been left with, she made her exit, her steps quick and resolute.

It seemed her old habit of daydreaming was a tough one to shake off.

Why would he be upset about not receiving more presents from her?

"Mr. Parker." Henry approached with a query, "Should I arrange someone to escort Miss Perry?"

"No need," Liam said, ruffling his hair in frustration.

Such pretentious gatherings, rotten at the core, were no place for someone like her.

Charlotte retraced her steps; the party was winding down, and guests mingled in small groups, their laughter and chatter filling the space.

She tried to remain inconspicuous, but on a narrow path, she encountered a woman staggering under the influence of too much wine.

The woman's face was flushed, and she wobbled towards Charlotte.

Charlotte stepped aside to avoid her, but the woman, as if guided by drunken instinct, stumbled directly towards her, collapsing into Charlotte's arms!

"Oh my!" The shock seemed to sober the woman up as she clambered off Charlotte, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "What is that awful smell?"

Looking down at Charlotte, disdain painted her features. "Who are you? Such shabby attire. Doesn't the Smith household provide uniforms for the help? Why aren't you wearing one?"

"I'm not one of the servants here; I have urgent matters to attend to. Please excuse me," Charlotte said, brushing off the incident and the woman's rudeness as she got up to leave.

The woman didn't stop her, only muttering under her breath about Charlotte's shabbiness and insinuating she was there to steal things.

Charlotte brushed off the incident with a nonchalant grace. To her, the daughters of high society had always floated above the rest, casting disdain on anyone rooted in the mire of the common world. Wandering past the secluded lake once more, a white bird emerged at the heart of the water, spiraling in the sky.

Charlotte was mesmerized by the sparkling dance of light on the water's surface.

Although she bore no fondness for the lake and was well aware that hornbills were not white, the whimsical thought crossed her mind.

Could that bird be Annie?

Could it be that, with wings, Annie would never drown in those depths?

Minutes later, a reprimanding tone filtered from the direction of the gate. Charlotte's trance broke, and she noticed the gates had been closed at some unknown moment, with two security guards interrogating a woman.

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The dim lakeside offered Charlotte shelter behind a tree, where she eavesdropped for a moment.

"That's strange. Charlotte should have been here by now. Did we let her slip by without noticing?"

"Everything is accounted for. She can't escape. Just wait."

A shiver shot through Charlotte's spine at these words.

Indeed, if she hadn't been entranced by the bird, she would have already arrived.

Were these men here for her? But why?

Charlotte's thoughts raced.

The woman she had encountered earlier was staggering drunkenly, yet had collided with her despite Charlotte's attempt to sidestep... She had been set up!

Charlotte frantically began to check her belongings.

Dressed in a simple tracksuit and denim jeans, her many pockets could harbor anything... Her fingertips brushed a cold, hard object inside her pocket, and her face instantly chilled. Gazing at the emerald jade pendant in her palm, she could piece together the impending plot.

And in Leiventale, only Chloe would craft such a cunning scheme against her!

Charlotte surveyed her surroundings with caution. The lake was expansive and situated on the outskirts, meaning surveillance cameras were sparse.

No one would know she had been by the lake.

With a decisive "plop," she tossed the jade pendant into the water, took a deep breath, and strode confidently toward the gate.

The guards at the gate glanced down at their phones, and then exchanged looks. With an unspoken agreement, they approached Charlotte.

"Miss, Miss White's heirloom jade pendant is missing, and we've locked down the place. Nobody's allowed to leave, so we're gonna need you to come with us."

The way they said it made it sound all official and important.

Just a heads up: Narugi.com is the only place to read the complete version of this book for free. Don't miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! Charlotte let out a derisive chuckle, gesturing towards others sauntering out without care. "Isn't the whole place under strict watch? Why are they allowed to leave?" "They're the young master and mistress of the Garcia family. Do you think they would steal a jade pendant? Enough talk; come with me!"

She was forcibly brought to the center of the event.

Upon entering, she spotted the woman who had been too drunk to walk straight earlier, now sobbing at the feet of an elderly man.

"That jade pendant is a family heirloom, the key to our Swiss vault. If it's truly lost, my father will have my head! Mr. Smith, can you help me look for it, please?"

The old man, moved by her tears, agreed and helped her to her feet.

The woman continued her lament, "The pendant must be here somewhere in the venue."

A voice of dissent arose, "We've searched the place twice over. If it's not found, perhaps it's been stolen? Evelyn, did you encounter anyone unusual?" "We've checked everyone, all the servants and outsiders I've met, and found nothing out of the ordinary."

Then, a girl stepped forward, " Evelyn, there's someone we haven't checked! Remember the woman you bumped into on the west path? She left in such a hurry after getting up. Looking back on it, there seems to be something fishy about it." In this way, they passed the blame around until it conveniently landed on Charlotte.

The guards brought Charlotte forward at just the right moment.

As soon as the woman saw her, she pointed accusingly and demanded, "You're not one of the Smith family's servants nor an invited guest. What's your identity? Did you bump into me on purpose to take the chance to steal my jade pendant?" Charlotte responded coolly, "If it's such an important family treasure, I would assume you'd keep a close watch on it. How could it just fall off from a mere bump? Unless what you're carrying is a fake."

"You!" the woman stammered, caught off guard.

Without giving her a chance to retort, Charlotte went on, "Besides, you've mingled with so many people here, why did the pendant only go missing after our encounter? Is it you who's orchestrating this charade?"

The woman's complexion shifted, a mix of anger and panic.

Yet she retorted with forced confidence, "All your explanations... are you feeling guilty, perhaps?"