Once She Came Like a Flash novel Chapter 16

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the chance to enjoy your success, to bask in the glow of your achievements. I was there when you needed someone to hold you up, even if it was just for a moment.”

Charlie felt a surge of anger rise within him, but he fought to keep his composure. “You think that makes it right? You think your selfishness is justified because you were there for a fleeting moment? You used my son as a pawn in your twisted game, Rose. You put your insecurities above his safety.”

The air between them crackled with tension, and for a moment, the world outside faded away. The soft ticking of the clock on the wall seemed to echo the weight of their confrontation, each tick a reminder of the time lost, the trust shattered.

“I did it for us!” Rose shot back, her voice rising. “I was trying to protect what we have! You don’t understand the pressure I was under, the fear of losing you to her. I thought if I could just keep Edwin away from Lola, we could be a family again.”

Charlie shook his head, disbelief etched across his features. “A family? This isn’t a family. This is manipulation. This is chaos. You can’t just justify your actions with love when all you’ve done is create a rift between us and Edwin.”

Edwin stirred slightly in his sleep, a soft whimper escaping his lips. Charlie’s heart ached at the sound, the innocence of his son caught in the crossfire of their tumultuous relationship. He glanced at the boy, then back at Rose, his resolve hardening.

“You need to understand something, Rose. Love isn’t about possession. It’s about trust, respect, and sacrifice. What you did was the opposite of love.”

Rose’s expression faltered, the bravado she had clung to beginning to crack. “But Charlie, I was afraid! I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“Afraid? You let that fear turn you into someone unrecognizable. You chose to betray us both.” His voice softened slightly, the anger giving way to a weary sadness. “You’ve left me with a choice I never wanted to make. Either I protect Edwin from you, or I risk losing him to your chaos.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Rose’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she grappled with the reality of her actions. “I never wanted it to come to this,” she whispered, her voice breaking.