Broken Bond: Claimed by My Ex-Husband's Alpha Billionaire Uncle-Chapter 66: If I Fall Again, It Will Be You

After spending time memorizing her childhood in her old bedroom, Charlotte dedicated the rest of her day to being with her parents. At noon, she helped her mother pick out fabrics for her upcoming fashion show.

"Charlotte, would you like to come to my fashion show? It will be held in three months." Hattie asked suddenly, her eyes gleamed with excitement. "And it just so happens that it’ll be held in Northbridge."

Charlotte’s face lit up. "Really? Of course, I’ll come, Mom!"

Back then, she never missed a single one of Hattie’s fashion shows, not just because she was her daughter, but because she was genuinely enchanted by her mother’s fashion designs.

Attending those shows always felt like stepping into a fairytale land with the elegant gowns, the dazzling runway lights, and many beautiful models that looked like fairies.

Unfortunately, because of Julian, she hadn’t attended a single show in five years, even though Hattie had always sent her invitations.

"It’s such a shame I haven’t seen your shows in five years," Charlotte sighed, her voice filled with regret. "I’m such a terrible daughter, aren’t I?"

"Oh, Charlotte, don’t ever think like that." Hattie immediately put her work aside, giving her daughter her full attention. "You didn’t stay away because you wanted to. It was because of that bastard, wasn’t it?"

Charlotte nodded slowly. "I tried asking him to let me go to your show, but... he got angry at me."

And the result had been predictable. Hattie could already imagine her sweet daughter trembling in fear as her bastard husband shouted at her.

"Okay, let’s not think about that anymore." Hattie pulled her into a hug. "You’re safe now, and I’ll make sure you come to my show this time! If Damon even dares to stop you, I’ll ask your father bite him to death."

Charlotte let out a soft laugh. "He wouldn’t dare stop me." She continued, "Mom, Damon is nothing like Julian."

For a brief moment, Hattie saw something familiar in her daughter’s eyes, a soft blind admiration, the same look she once had when she spoke about Julian before their marriage.

Charlotte had fallen for a man again.

A mother should be happy to see her daughter in love, to see her heart mend after years of pain.

And yet, beneath that happiness, there was fear. Fear that history would repeat itself.

Fear that another man would break her daughter’s heart, leaving her to pick up the pieces all over again.

"Do you like him?" Hattie asked gently.

Charlotte tilted her head. "Like him? Of course, I do. He’s always there for me, Mom. He’s helped me so much."

Hattie let out a chuckle. "That’s not what I meant, sweetheart." She reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair behind Charlotte’s ear. "I’m asking if you like Damon... the way you once liked that rotten Julian."

Charlotte paused for a moment, the question hitting deeper than she expected. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face as she lowered her gaze, her fingers absentmindedly fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.

"I ... don’t know," she admitted softly. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Then, in a whisper, she confessed everything. How Damon had told her the truth about his feelings. How she wanted to also feel the same, but fear held her back.

"I’m scared, Mom," she said, her voice trembling just a little. "I’m scared that I’ll never be able to give him all of my heart... and that, in the end, I’ll be the one who hurts him."

She hadn’t planned on sharing this with her mother. But who else could she turn to?

All her old friends were gone. No, Julian had asked her to leave them. One by one, she had let them go and she was too afraid to reach them out again, too ashamed of what her life had become.

Now, she didn’t even know where they were, what they were doing... or if they ever thought about her at all.

Hattie listened carefully, her heart aching for her daughter. She had always known that Julian had stripped Charlotte of so many things—her freedom, her confidence, her happiness—but now she realized he had taken something even more precious.

Charlotte’s ability to love without fear.

Hattie was afraid that her daughter’s heart would be shattered by a man again, but she was also afraid that Charlotte would close herself off completely, never allowing herself to experience love the way she deserved.

"My sweet girl," Hattie murmured, cupping Charlotte’s face in her hands. "You don’t have to rush anything. Love isn’t about forcing yourself to feel something before you’re ready." She stroked her daughter’s cheek gently. "The fact that you’re worried about hurting Damon already tells me how much you care about him."

Charlotte blinked, surprised. "But what if it’s not enough? What if I can’t ever love him the way he loves me?"

Hattie smiled. "Then he’ll wait. If Damon truly loves you, he won’t push you. He’ll stand by your side, just like he has been."

Charlotte let out a shaky breath. "But what if he gets tired of waiting?"

"Then he never deserved you to begin with."

That answer should have been comforting, but Charlotte still felt a lump in her throat. She didn’t want Damon to leave. She didn’t want him to grow tired of waiting.

Because even if she wasn’t ready to admit it yet ... the thought of a life without him felt unbearably lonely.

Hattie pulled Charlotte into a warm embrace, stroking her hair like she used to when Charlotte was a child. "You’ll figure it out," she whispered. "One day, when you’re ready, your heart will tell you what it wants. And when that time comes, don’t be afraid to listen."

Charlotte closed her eyes, leaning into the comfort of her mother’s arms. Maybe Hattie was right. Maybe she didn’t need all the answers right now.

Maybe, for now, it was okay to just let things be.

Just as Charlotte was about to respond, Damon cleared his throat from the doorway.

"There you are," he said, "Your father is looking for you. Something about showing you his new wine collection."

Charlotte was taken aback by his sudden appearance. Had he been listening to her conversation with her mother this whole time? Or had he just arrived?

"How long have you been standing there?" Charlotte asked.

Damon paused for a moment, as if debating something in his mind. It seemed like he had heard everything, but instead of admitting it, he chose to cover it up with a lie. "I just got here."

Hattie, who didn’t want to sabotage her daughter for herself said, "Go on, dear. You can keep your father company. I’ve had enough of hearing about his wine collection, now it’s your turn to suffer."

As they walked toward her father’s wine room, Charlotte stole a glance at Damon. There was something different about his expression, as if he had made up his mind about something important.

Just as they reached the door, he suddenly took her hand. "Charlotte," he said, "I need you to know something."

She blinked up at him, surprised by his serious tone. "What is it?"

Damon stopped walking and turned to face her fully. His gray eyes seemed so warm as he gently squeezed her fingers. "I will never leave you," he said firmly. "No matter what happens, no matter how much you doubt yourself, I’ll always be by your side."

So, he heard everything.

"Damon, I—"

"I told you this back at the cabin, remember?" Damon reminded her. "Like I said, I’ll wait. I don’t care how long it takes—I’ll wait until you’re ready to open your heart again."

"Why?" Charlotte muttered, almost to herself.

Damon smiled. "Because you told me that if you ever fall in love again, the lucky man will be me."

But how could she believe in a promise like that? Was he really not afraid that Charlotte might suddenly change her mind and fall for someone else?

Damon tilted his head slightly, watching her face. "You’re overthinking again," he said, as if he knew exactly what Charlotte was thinking in her mind. "If you fall for someone else, then that’s on me for not being good enough to keep your heart."

Charlotte’s chest tightened. Why did he have to say things like that? So effortlessly, so sincerely.

"Or are you really planning to love another man?"

"I’m not!" she blurted out, almost too quickly. "You’re the only one I want!"

Just as the words left her lips, the door swung open with a sharp creak.

Charlotte froze. Damon slowly turned his head.

There, standing in the doorway with his arms crossed, was Derek.

He raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between the two of them. "So ... what exactly am I walking into?"

Charlotte’s face burned. "Dad! How long have you been standing there?"

Derek leaned against the doorframe, looking far too amused for her liking. "Long enough." His eyes flicked to Damon. "And long enough to hear that you’re ’the only one she wants.’"

Damon, on the other side, didn’t look the least bit flustered. Instead, he straightened his posture and met Derek’s gaze with quiet confidence. "That’s right," he said smoothly. "And I intend to keep it that way."