Chapter 1

"I'm sorry, Miss Williams, but your test results aren't good." Dr Hewitt announced to the lady seated before him.

Charlotte's grip on the edge of the chair tightened, her knuckles turning white as she heard him.

She stared at the doctor, her throat dry.

"What... what does that mean?" her voice trembled.

The doctor leaned forward, placing down the results on the mahogany desk between them.

"It means the miscarriage last month caused more damage to your body. The scarring on your uterus… it will make conceiving naturally very difficult."

"Difficult?" Her heart stilled.

"Not impossible," the doctor added quickly, "but the chances are slim. There are options we can explore if—"

"I don't want options," she interrupted, her voice sharp before faltering into a whisper. "I just wanted to know if it's possible. If I can still—"

The words stuck in her throat, her jerking hands threatening to betray her.

Dr. Hewitt sighed, his face heavy with empathy. "I know this isn't what you wanted to hear. But it's the truth. You can't—"

"No," she cut him off, standing abruptly. "I'm definitely fine... Nothing is wrong with me."

"Relax Miss Williams," the doctor stood up to hold her. "I'll recommend you go for some counseling first, it will help you."

"No need... I need to go now." Without waiting for his reply, Charlotte hurried out of his office.

As she stepped out of the hospital, the November rain greeted her, cold and unrelenting.

The tote bag on her shoulder felt heavier than ever, though it only held the velvet cake she had picked up earlier.

The rain blurred her vision as she walked toward the curb, waving for a taxi. She didn't wipe the drops from her cheeks. It was easier to let the rain hide her tears.

'Can't conceive naturally?' she thought, staring absentmindedly at the passengers being off-loaded at the curb.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed, breaking into her thoughts. A message from her fiancè, Alexander.

"Plan changed... Lunch at my office. Noon."

She stared at the screen for a long moment. No explanation. No warmth. Just instructions. But she clung to it like a lifeline.

For two weeks, he had been distant. Maybe this lunch was a sign, an olive branch. Maybe today, he'd be the Alexander she fell in love with three years ago.

Charlotte smoothed the folds of her dress, noticing how the damp air had flattened her hair.

She finally flagged down a taxi and hopped in, telling the driver where she's headed...

As she sat behind, she ran her fingers along the cool edge of the cake box on her laps, watching the rain streak down the taxi window like tears.

After a few minutes' drive, the car pulled up to the towering Wallace Enterprises building, and she hesitated, her hand hovering over the door handle.

This wasn't her world. It never had been. Not to mention what she's going through right now.

But her boyfriend, Alexander, had invited her to lunch, and for the first time in weeks, he finally wanted to meet up with her.

So, why won't she show up?

"We are here, miss," the driver prompted gently, breaking her reverie. She stepped out into the drizzle, her coat pulled tight against the chill.

The building stood before her, its sleek glass facade reflecting the gray sky. A symbol of power. Of Alexander's power.

As she stepped in, the lobby greeted her with understated luxury... A world where even the air seemed expensive.

Charlotte smoothed her dress again, painfully aware of how out of place she felt in her high-street outfit.

"Ms. Charlotte Williams?"

The receptionist's voice startled her. The woman's immaculate uniform and practiced smile added to Charlotte's unease.

"Yes, that's me," Charlotte replied, adjusting the box in her arms. "I'm here to meet Mr. Wallace. He invited me for lunch."

She couldn't even dare to call her boyfriend by his name in here.

The receptionist's fingers danced over her keyboard, her expression neutral. "Mr. Wallace is currently in a meeting. Would you like to wait in the lounge?"

A meeting. Of course. His life was an endless string of meetings, each one more important than the last.

Charlotte bit her lip, hiding her disappointment. "That's fine. I'll wait."

The lounge was elegant but impersonal, with soft leather chairs and abstract art on the walls.

As Charlotte settled into a chair, she glanced around. The other occupants were busy on their phones and laptops, their expensive suits and designer bags reinforcing her sense of being an outsider.

She opened her bag and checked her phone. No other messages from Alexander yet.

She set the cake box on the table and let her thoughts drift.

It wasn't just the absence of texts or the canceled dates that bothered her. It was how Alexander has been busy for some weeks now.

A distance had grown between them like a hairline crack in glass which is the major reason she suffered a miscarriage last month.

"Charlotte?" A tiny voice called out.

She looked up to see Eleanor Whitmore, standing over her. The woman was deadbeat beautiful, her presence magnetic despite being in her mid twenties.

Everything about Eleanor exuded confidence, from her navy blue long dress to the way she carried herself.

They'd been friends since university, but not best of friends since their worlds are far apart.

Charlotte had come from a modest background, working part-time while studying, while Eleanor had moved through life as though it had been carefully planned and perfectly executed.

Despite the differences in their upbringing, Charlotte and Eleanor had bonded over late-night study sessions and shared frustrations over their course's rigors.

Yet, Eleanor's ties to Alexander had always made their friendship… complicated.

Charlotte stood, fumbling with the cake box. "Hi, Eleanor."

Eleanor smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "What brings you here?"

"I'm meeting Alex for lunch," Charlotte said, forcing a smile.

"Oh, I didn't realize you'd be visiting today." She replied with a condescending tone. Eleanor's gaze slightly flicked to the cake box, her expression calm.

Something in her tone made Charlotte's stomach tighten. Eleanor always seemed to know more than she let on.

Her family owned a significant portion of Wallace Enterprises, something Charlotte had only come to learn recently from Alexander.

Charlotte wasn't sure how much of it was real friendship or the obligation Eleanor felt toward Alexander, with his undeniable charm and the power that came with her family's empire.

But no matter what, she trusted Alexander.

Before she could respond, the elevator doors at the far end of the lounge slid open, and Alexander stepped out, flanked by two men in suits.

He looked every inch the part—confident, polished, untouchable.

"Excuse me," Eleanor said, her smile sharpening. She strode toward Alexander, her heels clicking against the tiled floor.

Charlotte watched as they exchanged words, their conversation too low for her to hear. But she could see the way Alexander's face softened when he spoke to Eleanor, the way his hand slightly brushed her arm.

Her fingers tightened around the box.

A moment later, Alexander spotted her. His smile flickered, a quick mask that didn't quite hide the shock in his eyes.

"Charlotte!" he exclaimed, crossing the room. "I didn't expect you to arrive so early."

"I wanted to surprise you," she said, holding up the cake. "Congratulations on your award."

"Thank you," he said, his tone clipped. He glanced over his shoulder at Eleanor, who was now speaking to one of his colleagues. "That's thoughtful of you."

Thoughtful. Not loving, not excited. Just… thoughtful.

Charlotte forced a smile, her heart sinking. She had imagined this moment so differently.

"Why don't we talk upstairs?" he said, gesturing toward the elevators.

She nodded, clutching the box as they made their way into the elevator.

The ride was silent, as Charlotte's reflection in the mirrored walls looked pale and uncertain.

When they finally reached his office, he closed the door behind them and offered her a seat as he sat before her.

"Charlotte, I appreciate the gesture, but you shouldn't have bothered with the cake."

Her chest tightened. "I just wanted to celebrate with you, Alexander. I thought—"

"Don't overthink it," he interrupted, his voice smooth but detached. "We'll celebrate properly another time."

She opened her mouth to argue but stopped herself. This was how it always was...his schedule, his priorities, his world every time.

As she set the cake on his desk, she caught a glimpse of a magazine tucked into the corner of his planner. It was of him and Eleanor, taken at an event she hadn't been invited to.

Her heart sank.

"Charlotte," he called out, his tone softening as if sensing her unease. "You know I care about you, don't you?"

Care. Not love. The word felt like a stone in her chest.

She forced a nod, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Of course."

Alexander glanced at her, his expression momentarily softened before he exhaled, a deep sigh.

He turned away and paced toward the window, the reflection of his broad shoulders in the black suit, casting a shadow over the room.

"I need to tell you something." He said calmly, but the words were like a slap to Charlotte.

"About what?" she asked, her voice small, despite the storm of emotions roiling inside her.

He turned to face her. His eyes met hers with a distant, almost apologetic look.

"Let's break up."

Chapter 2

Charlotte's breath hitched. The world seemed to tilt on its axis. She blinked rapidly, trying to process what he'd just said.

It wasn't anger. It wasn't an ultimatum. It was calm, detached. As if he had just said something normal.

Her grip tightened on her coat, staring blankly at him.

"You... you want to break up?" Her voice echoed.

He nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Yes... This isn't working anymore, Charlotte. We both know it. I don't think we're what we need. I'm sorry."

The words felt like a punch to the gut.

A part of her had always known, had felt it in the silence between them, in the moments when he'd pull away, even when they were supposed to be close.

But to hear him say it...so coldly, so easily...cut deeper than she ever thought possible.

She stood frozen, unable to speak. His words pressed on her chest, suffocating her.

"I...I don't understand. What about...what about everything we've shared?" she managed, her voice cracking.

"It's not enough anymore." He replied, not meeting her eyes.

Charlotte blinked, her eyes stinging as tears began to well up. She turned, quickly, swallowing back the hot tears threatening to spill over.

"Is... Is there someone else?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"No," he said quickly. Too quickly. "It's not like that. I just… I can't do this anymore."

The finality in his tone shattered her. She took a shaky step back.

"I think I should go."

"Charlotte—"

But she didn't wait for him to finish as she turned and grabbed her bag, her vision swimming as the tears finally spilled over.

Charlotte's trembling hand reached for the door handle, her mind clouded by Alexander's words. She didn't want to hear more.

The door clicked softly behind her, but her world felt like it had slammed shut.

Stepping out, she barely registered the figure in front of her until she collided with them.

"Charlotte?" Eleanor's voice was sharp with surprise. She steadied Charlotte, her hands firm on her arms. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Charlotte shook her head, avoiding Eleanor's probing gaze. Her vision blurred as fresh tears escaped down her cheeks.

"What's going on?" Eleanor sounded worried, but Charlotte didn't reply.

She pulled away from Eleanor's grasp and hurried to the elevator, her chest heaving with suppressed sobs.

The ride down to the lobby felt like forever, the elevator walls closing in on her.

As the doors opened to the bustling ground floor, she paused. A thought pierced through the haze of her heartbreak.

'He should know.'

'He should know what I've been through, what I sacrificed while he was too busy to notice.'

Her finger hovered over the elevator panel before pressing the button to return to his floor.

When the doors opened again, Charlotte stepped out, her heart throbbing aggressively as she approached his office. She could barely hear her own footsteps over the rush of blood in her ears.

But as she neared the door, voices from inside stopped her in her tracks.

"Did you break up with her?" Eleanor's voice was low but distinct.

"Yes," Alexander replied, his tone calm, as though he were discussing a trivial matter.

"Finally, thank goodness!" Eleanor's voice carried a mixture of relief and smug. "Did she tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Alexander asked, his tone tinged with irritation.

"About the abortion," Eleanor said bluntly. "The one she had last month. You didn't know?"

There was a pause. Charlotte's breath hitched as she pressed herself against the wall outside the door. She never had an abortion. It was a miscarriage.

"No," Alexander replied slowly. "She didn't mention it."

"Oh," Eleanor's voice softened slightly, though the edge of disdain remained.

"I thought she would've told you by now. I mean, after what the doctor said about her chances of having children…"

Charlotte clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

"She didn't tell me any of this," Alexander murmured. "You're saying she had an abortion and can't—"

"Yes," Eleanor cut in, her tone clinical. "It's impossible for her to have children in the future. I thought you'd know."

"Yeah, I know... I heard last night but not the abortion part."

Charlotte's knees felt weak knowing the main reason Alexander invited her for lunch out of the blue.

But why didn't he mention it to her? She was confused. The weight of their words pressed down on her, suffocating her.

"Look," Eleanor continued, "I'm not saying this to be cruel, but maybe this is for the best. Charlotte was never… a good fit for you from the start. Or why didn't she tell you about the pregnancy in the first place?"

Alexander didn't respond immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, almost resigned.

"Well, It's over now." He uttered.

Charlotte stood frozen, every word cutting deeper than the last.

She had come to tell him, to bear her pain and vulnerability. But he already knew. He had known since last night and still, he had chosen to end things like this. What a man!

She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned on her heel, her steps silent as she retreated down the hallway.

\---

Outside the towering Wallace Enterprises building, the rain was relentless, soaking through her coat and clinging to her skin. But Charlotte didn't care.

The world around her blurred, the chatter of passing strangers muffled as if she were underwater. She kept walking, her tears mingling with the rain until she couldn't tell them apart.

There was nothing left to say. Nothing left to give.

The rain came down in heavy sheets, and Charlotte walked aimlessly in it, her shoes splashing through puddles as if the icy water could drown out the storm inside her.

Her mind churned with fragmented thoughts... memories, regrets, and a crushing emptiness.

She replayed Eleanor's words, Alexander's indifference, the doctor's clinical tone when he'd explained her slim chances of conceiving.

"You can't—," he'd said. The word echoed in her head like a death knell.

'What's the point?'

The question wrapped itself around her thoughts like a noose. She didn't see a future anymore, not one that she wanted.

The rain slightly shut her vision as much as the tears, but she didn't stop.

She reached the crossroad, her feet moving mechanically. The green signal flashed for cars to go, but Charlotte didn't notice.

The blaring horns came first. Sharp, urgent sounds pierced through the rain, but they barely registered in her mind.

A car sped toward her, its headlights slicing through the gray.

"Hey!" a voice shouted.

"Move!" another voice yelled.

But she didn't hear any.

The screech of tires skidding on wet asphalt came next, jolting her out of her trance. She turned her head, seeing the car too close, its momentum unstoppable.

Charlotte froze, her heart jumped out of her chest.

But it didn't hit her. The car swerved just in time, stopping mere inches from where she stood.

The door opened, and a man stepped out. His tall frame loomed over her as he moved quickly through the downpour.

"Miss, are you okay?"



Under The Billionaire's Wing; Falling For The CEO