Once She Came Like a Flash novel Chapter 9

**Faith Didn’t Survive Time – by Aadi Sharma**
**Chapter 9**

As Lola’s plane ascended into the vast sky, leaving the country behind, Charlie and Rose were just stepping back into the familiar embrace of home after their getaway overseas.

In the backseat of the car, Edwin lay peacefully asleep in Rose’s arms, his tiny head nestled comfortably against her shoulder. The sight was serene and heartwarming, casting a gentle glow over the otherwise tense atmosphere of the car. Charlie caught a glimpse of this tranquil tableau through the rearview mirror, and despite the storm brewing in his mind, a reluctant smile flickered at the corners of his lips.

Yet, that fleeting moment of warmth was swiftly extinguished as the reality of the chaos still unfolding online crashed back into his thoughts. He had anticipated that Lola, cornered and humiliated, would reach out, her voice trembling as she begged for forgiveness. But instead, she had simply disappeared, leaving him in a state of unease that settled heavily in his chest like a lead weight.

His spiraling thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the jarring ring of his phone. The sharp sound cut through the air like a knife, pulling him from his reverie. Frowning, he glanced at the screen and saw it was his assistant calling. With a sigh of resignation, he answered.

“Mr. Hudson, something’s gone terribly wrong! Lola—no, Madam—has issued a public statement. She’s revealed your marriage… officially.”

Charlie’s heart plummeted as he slammed on the brakes, the car lurching forward violently. “What did you just say? I specifically instructed you to manage the narrative! Not a single shred of damaging information was supposed to escape! Is this really too much to handle?”

His voice rose in a torrent of frustration, only to be drowned out by the relentless flood of calls and messages bombarding his phone. Each ping felt like a hammer, striking at his sanity as the device choked under the weight of the incoming deluge.

He glanced at the notifications, and a wave of dread washed over him. The texts and voicemails were venomous, each one dripping with accusations: infidelity, betrayal, abandonment—words so vile they nearly made him hurl the phone against the wall in a fit of rage.

A cold shiver crawled up his spine. Was it possible that Lola’s silence over the past few days had merely been a strategic retreat, a way to gather her strength for a single, devastating blow?

No, that was absurd. She was just a housewife. How could she possibly wield such power over public perception? And yet, the gnawing feeling of unease continued to burrow deeper into his mind. He reached for his backup phone, fingers trembling slightly as he scrolled through X. He didn’t even have to look hard; at the very top of the trending list, there it was—her name, emblazoned like a beacon.

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