Forsaking the Years of Longing
Chapter 1

Love Story1-Chapter 1

"Charlotte, the family arranged an engagement for you when you were younger. Now that you've mostly recovered, would you be willing to return to New Orleans and get married?"

"If not, I'll talk to your father again about canceling it."

In the dim room, Charlotte Murphy could only hear the silence filling the space. Just as the person on the other end of the line thought they'd failed to convince her again, she suddenly spoke, "I'm willing to go back and get married." Charlotte's mother was stunned on the other end, taken aback. "You... you agree?"

Charlotte's tone remained calm, "Yes, I agree, but I need a little time to wrap things up here in Miami. I'll return within two weeks. Mom, you can start preparing for the wedding."

After saying this and a few more words, she hung up the phone. As the call ended, the booming music from downstairs echoed up, with faint sounds of a birthday song in the background.

It was a birthday party for Sophie Reed, organized by Jaziel Collins and Nolan Rogers. Suddenly, footsteps approached, and Sophie entered, holding a slice of Black Forest cake with a smile. Her doe-like eyes blinked, her delicate face touched with a bit of makeup, and a few smudges of cream adding a strange charm. "Charlotte, come join us downstairs?"

Charlotte had long seen through her facade. Her voice was cold. "I still have work to do. You guys have fun."

Almost instantly, Sophie's eyes welled up with tears. "Charlotte, do you dislike me? Is that why you're turning me down?"

Charlotte frowned instinctively. She hadn't done anything, yet Sophie acted as if she'd been bullied. Inside, Charlotte scoffed, unwilling to continue listening to Sophie's theatrics. "Save that act for Jaziel and Nolan. It doesn't work on me."

With that, she moved to close the door.

"Charlotte, wait..."

Sophie quickly reached out, her hand landing in the doorframe. As Charlotte closed the door, Sophie's entire hand got caught, bruising the pale skin instantly.

"Hiss-"

Jaziel and Nolan, coming up the stairs, saw the scene. Both men rushed forward, cradling Sophie protectively, examining her hand with concern. Seeing the bruise, Nolan's eyes grew red with anger. Impulsively, he scolded Charlotte, "It's one thing if you don't like Sophie, but why do something so despicable, Charlotte? Since when did you become this way?"

Jaziel, usually reserved, looked at Charlotte with the same disappointment in his deep gaze.

"Charlotte, today's Sophie's birthday. You didn't need to go this far." But as he turned back to Sophie, his tone softened. "Sophie, does it still hurt? I'll take you to put some medicine on it."

Watching Jaziel lead Sophie away, Nolan followed closely, comforting her as he went. "Sophie, don't be upset. I'll give you my new sports car! After the party, I'll take you for a spin. That'll cheer you up!"

Surrounded and doted upon by both men, Sophie finally managed a teary smile. "Thank you, Jaziel." Then, turning to Nolan with watery eyes, she murmured, "Nolan, please don't race anymore. Racing is dangerous, and I'd be worried about you."

Seeing her smile through her tears, Nolan agreed quickly, "Alright, alright, anything you say!"

Watching them disappear down the stairs, Charlotte stood in the doorway, feeling a strange sense of disillusionment. She recalled a time when she had stood between Jaziel and Nolan.

From a young age, she had been frail and prone to illness, with asthma. The damp, rainy climate of New Orleans wasn't ideal for her, so at the age of five, her parents sent her to sunny Miami to live with her aunt, who was a doctor. It was then that Charlotte met Jaziel and Nolan, who lived next door to her aunt.

The three of them grew up together as childhood friends. From the moment they met her, both boys were smitten, sticking to her side and acting as her protectors. They'd escort her to school, bring her breakfast and milk, and even tear up any love letters she received, forbidding any boy from getting close.

As they grew older, one took over the family business, becoming a CEO, and the other became a renowned racecar driver. Despite their busy schedules, they each bought a house next to hers, combining the spaces so they could all live together, coming home each day to cook for her.

When her family pressured her to return to New Orleans, they even pleaded tearfully for her to stay, saying that if she left, they'd drop everything to follow her. Wherever Charlotte was, they wanted to be.

Thanks to them, Charlotte's condition stabilized, and she delayed her return to New Orleans. But everything changed when Sophie entered the picture.

Sophie had been an intern Charlotte took under her wing. On her first day, Sophie shyly refused to join the others for lunch. Charlotte later found her eating plain bread and pickled vegetables alone and learned that Sophie came from a poor family in the mountains. Out of kindness, Charlotte, who had grown up in luxury, began looking after her. Occasionally, she'd invite Sophie to join her and the boys for meals. And thus, Sophie met Jaziel and Nolan.

Jaziel, who once avoided loud parties, now made exceptions for Sophie. Nolan, who lived and breathed racing, would abandon it with a single word from Sophie.

This had happened countless times over the past month. Once, Jaziel and Nolan openly competed for Charlotte's attention, even pressuring her to choose between them. She'd even considered choosing one of them, feeling her heart moved.

But now, accepting her family's arranged marriage didn't seem so bad after all.

Charlotte smirked, setting a countdown on her phone. From now on, she would no longer disrupt the three of them.