"Mrs. Smith Copses from Emotional Distress"


    "Second Son of the Smith Family Joins the Smith Group"


    "Second Son of the Smith Family and Mr. Frost"


    "Frank''s Position is Challenged"


    "Second Son of the Smith Family Secretly Contacts RF Group"


    By the evening, the news had been released piece by piece.


    When I saw thest one, I dialed Ryan''s number. ''Is this your doing?"


    There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before he sneered and said with a hint of sarcasm, "Which part are you asking about? The fake daughter of the Shaw family or the mess with the Smith family?"


    "You know what I''m asking about


    "Whatever you say."


    His voice was cold as the sound of a lighter flicking on came through. Charlotte,e back and be Mrs. Frost, I can help you with the Shaw family''s issues and the Smith family''s problems.


    I was momentarily stunned. "The Smith family''s issues?"


    "Frank''s issues."ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    He seemed to take a drag of his cigarette, his voice sounding husky. "Do your think the old man of the Smith family just wants you to leave Frank? He wants to use the RF Group''s power to take the Smith family to another level."


    I forced myself to stay calm. "Do you know that illegitimate son of the Smith family?"


    He replied softly. "He''s a high school ssmate ofn''s


    At that, I understood.


    What really made Mr. Smith willing to give up on Frank was not me but the


    Interests involved


    With Frank and me together, Ryan would keep targeting the Smith family. But with that illegitimate son, there might be a chance to create a win-win situation with the RF Group.


    Even if Frank and I parted ways, it might not change the situation. The only way to turn things around was for Ryan to intervene and stopn from


    contacting that illegitimate son. That way, the illegitimate son would lose his leverage.


    The evening light was blinding me, and leaned back on the sofa. "Ryan, this is meaningless. I don''t love you anymore. Being Mrs. Frost like this..." "I''m the one who decides whether it''s meaningrul or not."


    Ryan''s voice was unyielding, with a hint of a sickly tone. "Charlotte, if you''ve fallen in love with me once, you can fall in love with me a second time." "I''m not stupid enough to make the same mistake again."


    I wasn''t going to jump into the same deep pit a second time.


    "A month. If after a month you still insist..."


    His voice was tight and trembled slightly. "I''ll let you go!"


    I didn''t feel relieved at all.


    A month could change many things.


    "I can''t give you an answer right now," I said.


    "I''m almost in Jeswood. You don''t have much time," he said coldly.


    I abruptly threw my phone away.


    I picked up the mug from the coffee table, thinking of throwing it, but then remembered there was another identical mug on the dining table.


    These were a pair of mugs Frank had bought.


    I resisted the urge.


    Tears fell heavily, spreading across the fabric of my clothes.


    I''m so sorry. I''m used to being cautious. Maybe I don''t deserve someone''s full-hearted love."


    I didn''t want to be a stumbling block in his life or for him to end up with nothing because of me.


    In some ways, Ryan and I were the same.


    We were both self-righteous!


    I walked barefoot to the window, pushed it open, and leaned out a bit.


    Clunk-


    The mug had not been ced properly on the table and fell to the ground.


    Fortunately, the carpet cushioned the fall, and it didn''t break, but it brought me back to my senses.


    I quickly pulled back, sliding down the wall and hugging my knees, uncontrobly bursting into tears.


    I didn''t know how long it took for me to calm down, but the room darkened slightly as someone saidzily, "I tried calling your phone but got no response. I thought something had happened to you. So, you were just hiding here daydreaming?"