Chapter 9 Found Her

• Two days later, when Charlotte heard Mike's name mentioned again, she felt a slight tug at her heart, accompanied by a lingering ache, though it was not as piercing as before.
• Determined to erase Mike from her heart completely, her feelings towards him underwent a transformation.
• "Charlotte, let's go for a walk over there," Ben suggested, leading her towards a small path without hesitation.
• Charlotte appreciated Ben's concern, so she followed along. His care for her was evident.
• Little did she know, her presence had caught Mike's attention as he stepped off the yacht.
• Is that ... ?
• "Mike, wanna take a stroll?" Lanie asked him softly, a hint of excitement in her voice when she found out about Mike's divorce.
• She felt like her moment had finally come!
• However, Mike did not pay her any mind. Instead, he went after the figure he saw.
• "Mike ... " Lanie tried to catch up, but Mike signaled his bodyguards to keep her back.
• He had not invited her to join him, nor had he mentioned anything about the auction, yet here she was, right in front of him.
• If it were not for Eric's sake, he would not have let step foot onto the private plane.
• Feeling a mix of anticipation, nervousness, and a bit of worry that she might not be Charlotte, Mike did not have time to chat with the people coming his way.
• He just brushed them off and kept walking along the path.
• After about two or three minutes of following, he finally saw a man and a woman standing together in the small garden ahead.
• The man had his back turned, engrossed in conversation with the girl, whose head was bowed as she laughed uncontrollably.
• Her eyes sparkled with mirth, and her animated expression gave away her amusement.
• At first glance, Mike identified the girl as Charlotte.
• "Charlotte!"
• He rushed over, seized Charlotte's hand, and stared at her with intensity.
• Charlotte looked radiant and graceful, despite her lack of makeup, exuding confidence and natural elegance.
• "Where have you been?" He held onto her hand tightly, his tone tinged with aggression.
• Charlotte frowned, trying to pull her hand away but failing. "Mr. Warner, please behave yourself. My whereabouts are none of your concern."
• Ben stepped in, firmly pulling Mike's hand away and positioning himself protectively in front of Charlotte.
• Glancing sharply at Mike, he spoke up, "Mr. Warner, cut it out. Stop bothering my friend."
• The term "friend" did not sit well with Mike, evident in his expression.
• Looking over at Charlotte, who stood quietly behind Ben, Mike felt a surge of irritation. Then, his gaze returned to Ben with a hostile edge.
• "Bothering? Mr. White, do you even know who she ... "
• However, Ben cut him off, saying, "I know!"
• “Mr. Warner, I know all about Charlotte's connection with you,” Ben stated firmly.
• Mike's eyes narrowed sharply, irritation mounting within him. "So, were you the one who sent those people to help Charlotte with her luggage that day?"
• The butler had mentioned that two female bodyguards had come to fetch Charlotte's belongings, asserting it was her request.
• Though he had not identified the bodyguards, he discovered that someone had hired them.
• And that someone turned out to be Ben!
• Charlotte's composure impressed Mike, reinforcing his belief that she had been involved with Ben for a while.
• Ben smiled slightly. "Indeed, it was my doing. I only organized the luggage pickup after confirming with Charlotte."
• Charlotte nodded in agreement. "Yes, I requested it. If you think I've taken anything of yours mistakenly, just let me know. I'm willing to make it right."
• She seemed entirely at ease, devoid of any anxieties or apprehensions.
• She felt empowered!
• With a stern expression, Mike directed his gaze at Charlotte and Ben. In a cold tone, he questioned, "Charlotte, was he the real cause of our divorce?"
• Standing confidently beside Ben, Charlotte smiled brightly, radiating confidence and beauty. She seemed like a completely different person, making it hard for Mike to avert his eyes.
• Gone was the Charlotte who used to cater to his every whim. Instead, she appeared transformed and empowered.
• A fierce fire burned within Mike, urging him to pull her away from Ben and keep her to himself.