Even if Jagger didn’t like Charlene, the baby she carried was still his firstborn.
The Sulzbergers was powerful and wealthy. To marry Jagger, Charlene had given up everything and moved to Lancaster.
And after the divorce, he would definitely fight her for custody.
That’s why, the moment she decided to leave him, she also began rebuilding her company—she needed to secure a future for her baby.
With top actor Crosby Clooney agreeing to endorse her new product line, the buzz skyrocketed overnight.
She wanted this launch to be her big comeback in Lancaster. So the next morning, she headed straight to the office and called Crosby, telling him to come to Lancaster for the promo shoot—no delays.
To show proper respect to someone of his international status, she spared no expense and booked the best restaurant in the city.
When Crosby landed, he took one look around and nodded. “Nice. You went all out.”
“Of course.” Charlene smiled. “You don’t skimp when you’ve got a money tree like this.”
Because of some delays at the airport, by the time they arrived, many of the diners were already leaving.
That suited Charlene just fine—at least no one was pointing fingers or whispering about her for once.
At the front desk, she gave her name to confirm the reservation.
The moment she said it, several staff looked up at her with strange expressions—curious, almost judgmental.
Charlene noticed immediately. Her brows furrowed, and she asked flatly, “What?”
“Ah—nothing, ma’am. We’ll take you to your room right away.”
But even as the staff spoke, her eyes kept flicking toward Crosby.
To stay under the radar—and keep the product launch mysterious—Crosby wore a black cap, a mask, and a simple tracksuit. But even dressed down, his commanding presence was unmistakable.
Even when the server tried to maintain her professionalism and led them down the hall, Charlene couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
She was still puzzled over the staff’s strange attitude when suddenly, Crosby, hands in his pockets, glanced at the server and let out a cold laugh.
“You called me and said you were finally leaving Jagger. Tell me—are you really the one leaving him, or did he dump you first?”
Charlene blinked, confused. “What are you talking about?”
Crosby scoffed. “Your beloved husband—Lancaster’s big-shot womanizer—loves putting on the perfect-couple act with you. So how come today, the staff are acting like… they’re not buying it?”
Charlene suddenly understood what he meant. But she didn’t want to hear it. Her heart resisted.
To protect what little pride she had left in front of her friend, she glanced at him and tried to shift the conversation. She jabbed back, “Maybe they’re curious why someone dressed like you is eating at a place like this.”
He smirked. “Sure. But your husband’s probably even more noticeable than me. Right?”
He nodded subtly, his chin pointing to a direction. Charlene followed it.
“The food still tastes just like before,” came a soft female voice. She wore simple jeans and a pale yellow sweater, a camel coat draped casually on her arm. Her face tilted slightly, smiling as she looked at the man stepping out of the private room.
“Mmm,” he replied, his voice low and indifferent. “The new dishes are decent too.”
That voice.
That familiar, restrained tone—it haunted her.
‘Just like before? Missed it for a long time?’
The man walked beside the woman, dressed in simple black. An extra coat rested on his arm, and on his other hand, he held her handbag.
When she finished putting on her coat, he handed the purse to her without a word.
“Thanks,” she said, tilting her head up at him with a smile.
He gave a faint smile back. That face, always so cold and unreadable, softened—just barely.
And it was unbearable.
At that moment, all the years Charlene had spent clinging to him, fooling herself—it all crumbled.
She had been numb for so long, trying not to feel, trying not to care. But now… Jagger found yet another way to drive a knife into her where it hurt most.
That faint smile on his lips—it felt like a sledgehammer to her chest. It made her vision darken, her knees weak.
As she stumbled, she instinctively grabbed Crosby’s arm, fingers clutching so tightly they went white.
Jagger’s gaze snapped up, the smile vanishing in an instant.
And in that instant, Charlene saw it—that sudden shift, like a sun-soaked summer crashing into a dead winter.
There was nothing in his eyes for her. Just coldness.
The difference was shattering.
Feeling the pressure on his arm, Crosby frowned and asked in a low voice, “Are you okay?”
The woman beside Jagger also turned and, seeing them, she froze for a second. Her eyes swept over Crosby before landing on Charlene.
She stepped forward, flashing a perfect smile.
“Charlene. Long time no see.”
“Yeah, it has been,” Charlene replied with a calm smile of her own. Composed. Untouchable.
She gave Crystal a polite nod, and then she turned to Crosby. “Let’s go.”
She walked forward, straight past the two old lovers.
The server who had been leading them stood frozen, caught in awkward silence.
Now Charlene finally understood why the staff had looked at her like that.
Of course. That was why.
The luxury restaurant had a wide corridor. There was plenty of space to walk. Plenty of distance between four people.
But no one expected Jagger to suddenly reach out and grab Charlene’s arm.
“What are you doing here?” he asked, voice low and furious.
She looked at him, half-laughing. “It’s a restaurant, Mr. Sulzberger.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Don’t forget who you are.”
Charlene jerked her head up, fury flashing in her eyes.
“Is this place so sacred I’m not allowed in? Or is it that someone like me just doesn’t qualify anymore?”
His eyes narrowed further, and she yanked her arm free.
“Crystal is still waiting for you. Don’t make her look foolish.”
Foolish. Right.
It was a show everyone watched—Jagger was caught between two women.
One, his pregnant wife. The other, the woman everyone knew, was his long-time obsession.
Charlene turned away, grabbing Crosby as she left.
As they passed Jagger, Crosby offered him a brief, amused glance.
“Congratulations.”
Two light words.
But they landed like a stone in Jagger’s ears—and Charlene heard them too.
She didn’t know what game Crosby was playing.
But somehow, it felt damn good.
