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ten

Charlotte

Peter was going to kill me.

I blew out a deep breath and hit SEND on the text.

“Hey, Charlotte,” Blaire said, knocking twice on my office door before she entered. “Are you done with the—”

I was startled, having jumped in my chair at her intrusion, which sent my phone flying out of my hands and plummeting down hard in front of my desk.

I grimaced and squeezed my eyes closed when Blaire harshly surveyed the scene with her brows raised concerningly high.

“Are you okay?”

“I can’t do it,” I said, my chest heaving so hard I was on the verge of a panic attack. “I just can’t do it.”

I winced again, my body bristling tighter when my phone began ringing on the carpet. I didn’t have to look to know it was Peter.

“Charlotte.” Blaire took a calm step toward me.

“I just can’t do it.”

I rushed forward and slapped the phone out of her hand when she kneeled down to pick it up.

“Just listen to me.”

“Charlotte.” She pinned me with a thin, impatient glare. “Stop talking and just breathe.”

“Right.” I sat back on the edge of my desk and impulsively rocked myself back and forth, my breath shuddering. “Just breathe. Right. Yeah, I can totally do that.”

“You have to make a choice, Charlotte.” Blaire kneeled in front of me and grabbed my arms, ceasing my rocking. “I get that it’s your ex-husband, but you have to think about yourself here.”

“I’m not a monster,” I whispered, shaking my head as I looked at her. “I can’t do this to him.”

“Nobody said you’re a monster. But unless you put a stop to this shit now, then it’s only going to get worse. Do what’s best for you, Charlotte. Just know that it may not work out in your favor if you wait too late.”

“You’re right.” I understood what she was saying. I just hated how shitty it made me feel. “You’re absolutely right.”

I got myself together, and after taking a few minutes to give back the paperwork Blaire needed some friendly advice on, the alarm on my phone signaled it was time to leave for Karl’s arraignment. My body shook, and it was all I could do not to burst into tears on the way to the courthouse. I parked next to Peter and got out to meet his harrowing glare and perfectly locked jaw.

“Please tell me you’re joking,” he spat, his hazel eyes flashing in a way that sent chills slithering down my spine.

Despite the hostility, he looked good in his black suit and white tie. His dark hair was combed and styled in a fancy fauxhawk, and he must have been suffering through another eczema flare because he was wearing his favorite black gloves again today.

“Hey, Peter.”

“You’re dropping the assault charges?” he raged, scoffing as he grabbed ahold of my shoulders and shook me like a fucking maraca. “Are you out of your goddamn mind?”

“I’m sorry, Peter. I’d also like to address Karl before the court and judge.”

Peter stepped away and sucked in a sharp breath, glaring at me like I’d lost all of my sense of intellect. “Even if you drop the assault charges, you said it yourself that he won’t honor the restraining order.”

“He will,” I assured him. “Once he hears what I have to say, he won’t bother me anymore.”

And if he does, then I guess everyone was right and I’d be just another unfortunate soul who foolishly fucked around and found out the hard way.

“Charlotte.” Peter blew out a deep breath before he came closer and grasped my shoulders, squeezing them gently. “Please don’t do this.”