The words “Mr. Was” stabbed straight into Darren’s heart.
“So you finally admit it, Charlotte!”
A storm of emotions crashed through him. In a sudden surge, he reached out and gripped the back of her neck.
Before she could react, his burning lips crashed down on hers—a kiss that was half punishment, half conquest.
“Mmm—”
Charlotte tried to push him away, but his grip only tightened, the kiss growing harsher.
She bit down on his lip, hard.
“Ah—”
Darren hissed in pain and let her go.
Seizing the moment, Charlotte swung her hand to slap him across the face—
But Darren caught her wrist in midair, stopping her without effort.
Holding her fast, he licked the blood from his split lip, voice icy. “What’s wrong? Out of strength after taking on my bodyguard single-handedly? Or are you just pretending to be weak?”
His words dripped with mockery, as if accusing her of playing coy, luring him in.
But he had no idea—Charlotte really wasn’t well. Something was wrong inside her, a feverish weakness she suspected had something to do with the implant in her head.
Even her voice came out rough. “Darren, let go…”
Her arm remained pinned above her, struggling in vain.
“Let go? Ha!”
Darren’s anger simmered. “I let it slide when you faked your death two years ago. But you helped another man go against me, and you think I’ll let that go? Don’t be naïve.”
Even as he spoke, Darren yanked off his tie and bound her wrists together.
He’d always done this to her—whenever they were together, he tied her up, made her turn her back to him.
He’d claimed he couldn’t stand the sight of her face.
It was the same now. He shoved her down onto the couch, twisting her arms behind her as if interrogating a prisoner.
He hated this version of her—the sharp tongue, the cold indifference. He preferred the Charlotte who used to flirt with him, please him, try so hard to win him over.
He ripped at her collar, wanting to see that old panic and fear in her eyes, but all he found was a cold, bitter amusement.
A sharp ache stabbed through his chest. “Charlotte, I’m willing to forget the past—for Noah’s sake. If you behave, I’ll give you another chance.”
As he spoke, he spun her around to face him and kissed her again, rough and demanding.
Charlotte’s body was weak—resistance felt pointless. She let him have his way, kissing and biting, tearing off the last scraps of her clothing...
But she never responded. Not once.
Darren’s frustration built to a fever. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be! In his memories, Charlotte would always moan and call out for him, soft and eager.
Now it felt like kissing a corpse.
He wouldn’t give up—his hands roamed her body, searching for a reaction, feeling the heat of her skin and the ice in her eyes.
His voice was raw in her ear. “Didn’t you love me for over ten years? Say it. Beg me. Beg for me.”
He toyed with her body, but her voice was calm, unshaken. “Darren, I did love you. But whatever love I had left burned to ashes in Sanctuary Chapel.”

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Delete My Love for You