Once She Came Like a Flash novel Chapter 18

**Faith Didn’t Survive Time – by Aadi Sharma**
**Chapter 18**

“Charlie, I was wrong! I didn’t mean to! I swear, I’ll never do it again!”

In that moment, Rose’s bravado crumbled like a house of cards. The panic in her eyes was unmistakable, a desperate plea for mercy as she turned to Charlie, her voice trembling with fear. She hoped against hope that he would intervene, that he would somehow spare her from the looming threat of the police.

“The rest will be handled by my lawyer,” Charlie stated flatly, his tone devoid of any warmth as he observed the officers escorting her away. Each step she took felt like a weight pressing down on his chest, but he remained unmoved, a silent sentinel to her downfall.

Her cries echoed softly, fading into the distance as she was led further down the corridor. Only then did Charlie allow himself to sink into a nearby chair, his fingers brushing against a family photograph that had once occupied a place of honor in Edwin’s room.

In that image, Lola’s serene face seemed to radiate a gentle warmth, as if she were smiling directly at him. Charlie found himself whispering, “Lola, everything you endured before… she will pay you back a thousand times over. So please, don’t stay angry with me, alright?”

But the photograph was merely a still image, an inanimate object that offered no solace or response.

The aftermath of Rose’s arrest unveiled a dark truth that Charlie had never anticipated. As the investigation unfolded, it became evident that Rose had not only drugged Edwin and framed Lola, but she had also orchestrated a sinister campaign against her. The online harassment that had nearly shattered Lola’s spirit was a calculated attack, masterminded by Rose herself. She had even gone so far as to leak Lola’s private information—her phone number, her address—leaving her vulnerable to relentless torment.

It was Rose’s deliberate actions that had escalated the situation, pushing it beyond control until the authorities were compelled to step in.

When Charlie confronted the evidence, a wave of disbelief washed over him. He had merely wanted to teach Rose a lesson, to show her the error of her ways. But now, the reality of her crimes loomed large; they would undoubtedly lead her straight to prison. Even so, a part of him felt that this was nothing less than what she deserved.

With a heavy heart, Charlie handed over all the evidence to his lawyer. Rose would now face the full force of the law, and there was no turning back.

Later, he sat down with Edwin, the weight of the truth heavy in the air. He recounted the entire story, revealing who Rose truly was. As the pieces fell into place, Edwin’s young face drained of color, the realization hitting him like a thunderclap. He had been so naive to believe that someone with no blood ties, no genuine affection, could ever truly care for him.

“Dad… I think… I said a lot of things that hurt Mom,” Edwin confessed, his voice barely above a whisper, trembling with regret. Memories of the harsh words he had hurled at Lola in a misguided attempt to please Rose flooded his mind—words that had cut Lola deeply, like a knife through flesh. For too long, he had believed that his father bore the weight of their family while his mother contributed nothing of significance.

But now, in her absence—when she no longer hovered over him, preparing his meals, or reminding him of the little things—Edwin finally understood the immense effort it took to maintain that “ordinary” life they had shared.

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