Chapter 2 A desperate plea

Marcy, ever the mediator, stepped forward, her voice gentle yet firm. "Ethan, please take a moment to reconsider. Charlotte possesses exceptional qualities, and sometimes, it is the differences between two individuals that create the most profound connections."

Ethan's gaze softened, a flicker of contemplation crossing his face. He looked between Charlotte and Marcy, his voice softer now. "I appreciate your input, Marcy, but I have made my decision. Charlotte, I wish you the best in your search for happiness."

Charlotte's heart sank as she sat in the interview room, her dreams of financial security slipping away before her eyes. The weight of her mother's illness and her brother's educational aspirations bore down on her shoulders. Working three jobs a day seemed futile in the face of mounting bills and a crumbling support system.

She had applied this as a joke. She didn't expect to get in. But now that she is in, isn't it better that she goes far? Get a billionaire to solve all her problems while she just acts like a pretty wife? But now even that was not possible. How hard could life be for her?

She glanced at Marcy, her eyes filled with desperation. Marcy had been her last hope, the bridge to a brighter future. But as the reality of her situation settled in, Charlotte could feel her carefully laid out plan collapsing like a house of cards.

Just as despair threatened to consume her, Marcy stepped forward, determination etched on her face. She turned to Ethan, the man who held the power to change Charlotte's life and began to speak.

"Ethan, please," Marcy implored, her voice filled with conviction. "I know Charlotte may not fit the typical mold of a billionaire's wife, but she possesses qualities that go far beyond superficial expectations. She has the resilience, the kindness, and the unwavering determination to be the partner you need."

Charlotte's gaze met Ethan's cold stare, but she refused to back down. She took a deep breath, summoning every ounce of strength within her.

"Mr.Williams, I understand that this may seem unconventional, but I am not here seeking a life of luxury or extravagance," Charlotte spoke, her voice quivering with sincerity. "I am here because I believe that together we can create something meaningful. I am willing to stand by your side, to support you in your endeavors, and to prove that I can be a woman that can bloom into a socialite even in the most unexpected circumstances."

As Charlotte poured her heart out, her words resonated with a raw honesty that couldn't be denied. She pleaded with Ethan to see beyond the surface, to look into her soul and recognize the potential they held together.

The room fell silent, the weight of the moment hanging in the air. Ethan's piercing gaze softened ever so slightly, a flicker of curiosity igniting within his eyes.

"I suppose," he finally spoke, his voice laced with skepticism, "there may be more to you than meets the eye. But I won't make any promises just yet. Show me, Charlotte. Prove to me that you're worth taking a chance on."

With those words, Charlotte's heart soared with a renewed sense of hope. The journey ahead wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to seize this opportunity and change her fate.

"Thank you. Thank you so much" Charlotte said with her hands clasped together.

"We will get back to you soon," Marcy said.

The interview with Ethan left Charlotte's heart pounding and her mind racing. As she towards the door of her humble apartment, a wave of disappointment washed over her. Her carefully laid-out plans seemed to crumble before her eyes. The weight of her mother's illness and her brother's education expenses bore down on her like an insurmountable burden.

Though there was little hope, she still felt like they wouldn't call her back.

Sitting on the stairs, Charlotte found her 14-year-old brother, Daniel, engrossed in playing with a stray cat. His youthful innocence provided a momentary respite from her worries. She lowered herself next to him, her tired body finding solace on the cold steps.

Daniel looked up at Charlotte, his youthful eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay, sis? You look stressed," he asked, his voice laced with genuine worry.

Charlotte let out a sigh, unable to hide her fatigue and frustration. "What do you know, Danny? You're just a kid," she replied, her voice tinged with a touch of bitterness.

Undeterred, Daniel gently nudged her arm. "You don't have to face everything alone, sis. We're family, remember?"

Charlotte's heart swelled with love for her younger brother. She reached out and ruffled his hair, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're right, Danny. I'm sorry. I'm just overwhelmed."

Curiosity sparkled in Daniel's eyes as he leaned closer. "How's Mom doing? Is she feeling any better?"

Charlotte's gaze softened as she thought of their ailing mother.

"She's holding on, Sis. She's a fighter. She prepared lunch for us. Let's go inside and enjoy it together."

The evening sun cast long shadows across the modest living room, where Charlotte sat in a worn-out armchair, lost in her thoughts. Her gaze drifted towards the old family photo on the dusty shelf-a bittersweet reminder of a time when their lives were different.

Her mind wandered back to that fateful day when her father had tragically lost his life in a train accident. It was a turning point that shattered their once-average family, leaving them in the wake of uncertainty and struggle. Charlotte couldn't help but feel the weight of the responsibility that fell upon her young shoulders.

She was just 24, but she felt like she was 50.

She remembered the days when Daniel, full of dreams and innocence and her dream to become a popular chef, should have been attending school like other children his age. But their circumstances had forced him to stay at home, helping Charlotte make ends meet, toiling alongside her in their shared struggle for survival.

Tears welled up in Charlotte's eyes as she recalled the sacrifices her mother had made to keep them afloat, working long hours to ensure they had food on the table and a roof over their heads. It was her mother's unwavering love and resilience that had kept them going, even in the darkest of times.

As the room grew dimmer, the memories of their former life mingled with the present reality. Charlotte's heart ached for the normalcy they had lost, for the opportunities Daniel had been denied, and for the burden, she had shouldered to keep their family intact.

Yet, amidst the shadows of their past, a flicker of determination ignited within Charlotte. She vowed to herself that she would find a way to change their circumstances, to create a better future for both herself and her beloved brother. Her dreams of becoming a chef burned brightly in her heart, a beacon of hope that whispered promises of a life beyond their current struggles.

With renewed resolve, Charlotte wiped away her tears and stood up. She walked over to Daniel, who sat at the small kitchen table, his school books scattered in front of him. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she smiled and said, "Let's keep pushing forward, Danny. We'll find a way to make things better, together."

Days turned into weeks. Weeks into months. Charlotte has given up on the possibility that they would ever call her. She knew it. She had wasted her breath talking and trying to convince him. She was sure he had found someone else.

Though she still checks the tabloids to see if he was married. Since he was a popular person and one of the richest persons in the entire nation. He has invented new technologies and is very well-known and respected.

She had gone too far thinking she would ever be chosen as his wife.

Steam filled the air as Charlotte stepped out of the shower, her body wrapped in a fluffy towel. She reached for her phone on the bathroom counter, her heart skipping a beat as she noticed a notification-a bank alert. With trembling hands, she unlocked her phone and opened the message.

Her eyes widened as she read the digits on the screen: $2,000,000. Disbelief washed over her, followed by a surge of emotions-shock, excitement, and a flicker of hope that threatened to consume her. The weight of the unexpected windfall settled in, leaving her stunned.

Her mind raced, trying to comprehend the implications of this astonishing turn of events. Two million dollars-more money than she had ever dreamed of possessing. It was a lifeline, a chance to lift her family out of their struggles, secure her mother's treatment, and give Daniel the education he deserved.

Just as she was processing the enormity of the situation, her phone rang. She hesitated for a moment, then answered the call. A voice on the other end said, "Get ready, Char. Pack your bags. It's time to move into your new home."