Chapter 7 Shifting Alliances

As Beatrice was escorted out, Sarah and Charles stood in the hallway. The tension between them thickened. "You said you wouldn’t sleep with her, Charles," Sarah hissed, her anger barely contained. "But here we are, with you making babies with her." Charles's jaw tightened, frustration evident in his eyes. "It happened the day I came back drunk, Sarah. It meant nothing." Sarah’s face flushed with rage. "If you don’t fix this, Charles, I swear I’ll leave, and you know that means. I’m not going to keep playing these games." She turned to walk away, but Charles grabbed her wrist, halting her. His grip was firm. When he spoke again, his voice was low but calm. "I found something about Suzanne," he said, his words sharp. Her curiosity piqued, Sarah stopped and narrowed her eyes. "What do you mean, something about Suzanne?" Charles leaned in closer, his gaze cold. "She’s hiding a lot more than just her pregnancy." --- The next day came faster than Suzanne expected. She was still trying to process everything. The shock of her pregnancy. The tension with the Langfords. Her complex emotions about Liam. Liam had stayed by her side, and now they were deep in conversation. His concern was palpable as he leaned forward, his voice steady but intense. "I know you think I shouldn't care, but as someone you know, let me give you my two cents." Suzanne just stared at him like he had grown two heads. "You don’t have to stay here, Suzanne. You know that, right? You have wealth, a career, everything you could need to take care of your baby. You don’t have to stay in this family, dealing with their drama. You can leave all of this behind." Suzanne looked at him, her heart heavy. "I can’t just walk away, Liam. Not with this pregnancy. I’m staying for the child." Her voice was firm, but inside, she was torn. Leaving seemed impossible, but staying meant subjecting herself to the same toxic world that had caused so much pain. Liam exhaled, frustration mixing with his concern. "But this isn’t healthy for you. It’s not healthy for the baby." Suzanne shook her head, her gaze distant. "I know it’s not ideal, but I don’t have a choice right now. I can’t leave my baby’s father. My child needs a father. I have to think about what’s best for the child." Liam didn’t reply. His eyes softened with understanding but were tinged with regret. He wished he could offer her a way out, but he knew it wasn’t that simple. The door opened, and Beatrice entered, followed by Charles. Both of them looked almost too happy, as if they were expecting some sort of celebration. Beatrice was practically glowing. Charles, unusually, was holding a bouquet of flowers. Suzanne blinked, taken aback by their sudden appearance. "What’s going on?" she asked, her voice guarded. Beatrice smiled, her tone sweet, though an undercurrent of something more manipulative lay beneath it. "We’ve come to take you home, darling," she said, her words laced with an air of finality. "You’re well enough to leave now. It’s time for you to come back to your rightful place." Suzanne stared at her, confused. "You... you want me to come home?" Charles, who had been silent until now, stepped forward and handed her the flowers. "We’ve decided it’s best if you return now, Suzanne. We’re here to support you." Suzanne glanced between Beatrice and Charles. Uncertainty flooded her. She hadn’t expected this. What was going on? Why were they being so nice? Beatrice’s smile never wavered. "You need to go back where we’ll be able to take care of you, my child. We’ll take care of everything, and you can rest." Suzanne wasn’t sure how to react. She had come to expect their coldness, their judgment, and their manipulations. But this sudden warmth threw her off balance. She didn’t trust it, not for a second. Something wasn’t right. Charles stepped closer to Suzanne, his expression shifting in a way that almost seemed affectionate. He reached out and rubbed her face gently, his touch unexpectedly tender. She flinched, but he didn’t notice. Instead, he looked down at her stomach and whispered, his voice soft, "Daddy will take care of you. Don’t worry." His lips brushed against her belly in a gesture that felt more calculated than sincere. Suzanne’s heart twisted at the words. The intimacy of the moment only reinforced the fact that this was part of the performance, part of the game they all played. The way Charles acted, caring and protective one minute, cold and manipulative the next, was nothing new to her. But it always left her unsettled. He straightened up, then turned to Liam, his voice suddenly firm. "Write her discharge letter. We’re taking her home now." Liam’s gaze shifted between Suzanne and Charles. His expression was conflicted. He had his doubts, but he knew there was little he could do now. With a heavy sigh, he nodded. "I’ll get it done." But his tone carried a quiet warning. --- As they drove through the familiar streets, the hum of the car engine filled the silence between them. Charles broke the quiet, his voice almost soft, as if speaking to himself. "You know, Suzanne... I still remember the first time we met. I knew right away. There was something about you, something different from anyone else I had known. I’ve loved you from that moment on." Suzanne didn’t reply immediately. She only smiled faintly, her eyes staring out the window, watching the world pass by. It was hard to truly believe his words, not after everything that had happened. If only this change could be real. If only he could truly mean what he said. Charles seemed to notice her silence, but he pressed on, his voice growing more sincere. "I know I’ve made mistakes. I’ve treated you badly for so many years, but I want to apologize, Suzanne. I’m sorry for all of it. For everything I did. For not seeing you. For not understanding what you needed." His words were slow, almost as if he was searching for the right ones. Suzanne could hear the hint of genuine regret in his voice. She glanced at him. His expression was more vulnerable than she ever remembered seeing him. For a fleeting moment, a small part of her wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that this apology was real. Charles continued, his gaze not leaving her. "From today on, I promise I’ll treat you right. No more of this. I’ll be the man you deserve, Suzanne." Suzanne’s heart tightened, but the smile on her lips didn’t reach her eyes. She nodded slowly, not trusting her own voice. "We’ll see," she said quietly, her words barely above a whisper. She couldn’t bring herself to say more. It was hard to accept the apology when the past still weighed so heavily on her. And yet, a small part of her couldn’t help but wonder if there could be some truth in it. If things really could change, even just a little. But for now, all she could do was wait, watch, and see if this promise would hold any real meaning in the days to come.