Page 242 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8
‘You say she’s messed up.’ His voice was raw and his eyes were half-closed, as if he couldn’t bring himself to even look at her.
‘Yes. She’s ruined. By you.’
A muscle jerked in his jaw and then, his shoulders dropped, as he glanced downwards at the floor.
‘I didn’t want that.’ He dragged a hand through his hair. ‘Or maybe I did. I was so angry with her. So hurt. I was—,’ he swore then. ‘Oh, God, Charlotte. I was an absolute fool.’
‘Yes,’ Charlotte agreed. ‘I suspect you were.’ But because she knew a thing or two about love, and mistakes, she stepped forward and did something she thought she’d never, ever do. She put a hand on her half-brother’s shoulder and squeezed it. ‘But you can fix it, if you want to.’
He shook his head. ‘You don’t know what I said. How I behaved.’
‘I know enough,’ she contradicted, but gently. ‘And I know that the reason Jane is so devastated is because she loves you, too.’
His eyes widened.
‘Go and fix it,’ she said, and when the elevator doors pinged open, she gestured for him to precede her. He didn’t need to be told twice.
‘You think she loves me? Even after what I said?’
‘I know Jane is the most forgiving and loyal person that’s ever lived.’ Charlotte took a step forwards as the doors pinged shut. ‘But the same cannot be said for me, Zeus. If you ever hurt her again, if you ever so much as make her eyesthinkabout watering up, you will pay for it. Understood?’
His eyes widened and then he laughed, shaking his head.
‘What?’ She asked. ‘You think I’m kidding?’
The doors pinged open and her eyes landed on Dante, who’d been waiting downstairs, a silent, comforting presence if she needed it. Her heart exploded.
‘No. I think I’m glad she has you. I’m looking forward to getting to know you, Charlotte.’
‘Fix everything with Jane and we can go from there.’
And she meant it. It was a time for fresh beginnings and Charlotte realised that that applied to her and Zeus, as well.
In the end, it was Jane’s idea.If we have a joint wedding, thenneither of you technically got married first, she pointed out.
And so it was that six months later, at Allegra’s villa, that Charlotte stood shoulder to shoulder with her very best friend in the entire world, a woman who was more like a sister to her than a friend, as they each said their vows to the men they loved, and were loved by, more than words could express.
The ceremony was witnessed by friends and family, though they tried to keep it intimate and small, to focus on the people they wanted to spend time with, most in the world.
Aristotle Papandreo was there, as the father of both a bride and a groom, and so was Charlotte’s mother. It was something Charlotte had spent a long time worrying about. But in the end, it was Dante who’d reassured her, reminding her that they were their own people, and had to handle their own feelings and behaviours. She couldn’t control them. She just had to trust that for the first time in her life, they would both put her first and allow the wedding to be about her, not them.
And thanks to a carefully delivered warning from both Dante and Zeus, that was exactly what happened.
Which wasn’t to say Mariah and Aristotle didn’t interact. In fact, towards the end of the reception, Dante happened to walk past as they were locked in conversation and couldn’t help hearing Aristotle say, ‘I loved my wife and I could never have left her. But if you think, for one second, that I didn’t love you, too. That I haven’t thought about you...’
Dante shook his head, wondering at the possibilities that might open up, wondering at the future, and what it might hold. Love, apparently, had a way of finding its way through even the most closed-off of hearts. And wasn’t he delighted about that?
Almost a year after their wedding, on a balmy summer’s night, Dante returned home and Charlotte, who’d been watching the clock, waiting for his arrival, pounced immediately.
‘Thank goodness you’re here.’ But the news she’d been waiting to deliver died on her lips, at the bemused expression on his face and the way he was holding his phone.
‘What is it?’ She asked, instead.
He passed the phone to her. ‘Take a look for yourself.’
She read the text message—from Jamie—without even a hint of jealousy. There was no reason to envy the other woman. Her relationship with Dante was in the past and he left Charlotte without any hint of doubt as to how he felt for her.
Dante, I wanted you to be the first to know. I’m engaged. Broderick proposed last night, and Nathan and I are both thrilled. Lots of love, always xx
