Chapter 198 Charlotte thought to herself , right on cue She nodded , keeping her expression carefully neutral " Yes , they broke my Lucía visibly rxed , her shoulders dropping slightly , Charlotte observed this reaction , then decided to cut straight to the pose " You''re in love with him , et pa Lucia blinked , taken aback by Charlotte''s directress , " I am , " she admitted with surprising honesty . " That hasn''t changed " Charlotte raised an eyebrow .


    " That''s quite the long termmitment . Seven years , if I''m counting righ " Mm - hmm . " Lucia lowered her gaze , voice softening Charlotte felt aplex mix of admiration and pity . Carrying a torch for someone for that long took remarkable dedication . But love doesn''t operate on persistence alone . " The thing is , " Charlotte said with a small smile , " Asher never stopped loving Thalia . From what I can see , they''re likely to find their way back to each other .


    " The polished smile faded from Lucia''s lips . " What makes you say that ? " " Their breakup wasn''t what it seemed , " Charlotte exined . " They didn''t fall out of love or get bored with each other . Malfoy - Andrew''s illegitimate son - realized Thalia was Asher''s weakness . He kidnapped her , tried to kill her multiple times . Thalia was actually shot by Malfoy''s men recently . She''s still in the hospital recovering Lucia''s eyes widened . " Oh my God . I had no idea .


    " " Yeah , " Charlotte sighed . " Thankfully Malfoy''s been arrested now . " Lucia frowned , her expression turning serious as she seemed lost in thought . " Lucia , " Charlotte said gently but firmly , " You can''t force someone''s heart to change direction . " Lucia gave a sad smile . " I know , but … " She paused before continuing , " I just can''t let go . I came back to take my shot . They''re already broken up - pursuing him now isn''t exactly homewrecking .


    " 99.5 %%% Chapter 198 Charlotte regarded Lucis with a look that said everything without words . Lucia understood exactly what Charlotte was thinking Let him go . Move on . She''d tried that seven years ago , and failed miserably . After graduating from one of the world''s top universities , she''d surprised everyone by declining the family business session , insteadunching her own fashion brand . Herpany had flourished globally , even going public on NASDAQ .


    Now , she felt confident , aplished , worthy of standing beside someone like Asher ckwood . Her first act upon returning to London had been researching Thalia''s current situation . Learning that Thalia was now merely a rtively unknown attorney at a small firm had given her hope . At least professionally , she held thepetitive advantage . Seeing her words had no impact , Charlotte dropped the subject . Back at home , she couldn''t hide her troubled expression .


    James noticed immediately . " What''s wrong ? You look stressed . " " Did you know Lucia Schulz has a thing for Asher ? " she asked . " Lucía and Asher ? " James''s eyebrows shot up . " That''s news to me . Since when ? " With Asher''s history of admirers , James''s ignorance wasn''t surprising . Asher wasn''t one to broadcast women''s confessions , and Lucia had chosen a private setting for hers , making James''s unawareness perfectly understandable .


    Charlotte only knew because a friend of hers knew Lucia''s former confidante . During drinks one evening , the woman had let it slip . She''d immediately begged them to keep it quiet , terrified Lucia would cut ties with her if word got out . Lucia''s pride couldn''t handle people knowing that she - the Schulz heiress desired by countless eligible bachelors - had faced rejection .


    Charlotte wasn''t typically one for gossip , and having promised to keep it quiet , she''d never mentioned it - not even to Victoria or Thalia . At the time , she only knew Lucia had been turned down , not that Asher had rejected her because of Thalía . She hadn''t realized his heart was already imed by her best friend . 99.7 % Chapter 198 Later , when Thalia and Asher got together , Lucia had been overseas for years . Charlotte assumed she''d moved on , making the information irrelevant .


    Now that Lucia was back and openly pursuing Asher , Charlotte felt sharing with James didn''t vite her promise . " She confessed to him before leaving for the States , " she exined . " He turned her down . " James raised an eyebrow . " Interesting . Asher never mentioned that . " " Why would he ? " Charlotte shrugged . " She told me today she still has feelings for him and ns to actively pursue him . " " Seriously ? " James seemed genuinely surprised .


    " She''s been gone for what - six , seven years ? And she''s still hung up on him ? " " Yeah , " Charlotte frowned . " And Thalia''s clearly not over him either . What do you think Asher will do ? " " Is that even a question ? " Jamesughed . " For Asher , if Thalia''s in the equation , there''s never a choice to make . " Charlotte''s frown dissolved into a smile . " That''sforting to hear , especially from his best friend . You probably know him better than anyone . " James nodded .


    " Asher was secretly in love with Thalia for years before they got together . He''s not giving up easily . " Then James asked thoughtfully , " What about Rupert ? Asher may not see this as a choice , but what about from Thalia''s perspective? " " That''s harder to call , " Charlotte admitted . " When Thalia was hospitalized , Rupert went to St. Paul''s Cathedral for that Guardian Angel Charm . His devotion is just as genuine .


    If I had to choose between them … " Charlotte considered the question and found herself genuinely stumped . " They both love Thalia deeply . Both match her in looks and status . It''s really anyone''s guess . " James''s lips quirked upward . " When Asher and Thalia first got together through the arranged engagement , it happened naturally - no chase involved . If he wants her back now , he''ll have to actually work for it . " His eyes sparkled with amusement .


    " I must say , I''m looking forward to seeing Asher ckwood have to genuinely pursue someone . In all the years I''ve known him , it''s never happened before . " Charlotte grinned . " Now that you mention it , so am I. " ? ( 11) ( 0 )