Mr. Norman, She's Out of Your League Now novel Chapter 1

"You've been on a business trip for two months. Now that you're back, you only want to do it once? Is something wrong with you?" said Charlotte Perry.

It was early in the morning. After an intense and passionate night, Charlotte felt like she'd died and come back to life.

Sweat clung to her skin, her body was sore and weak, and her breathing was still unsteady. Yet, she wrapped her arms around Brian Norman's lean waist, asking the question softly.

Brian got off the bed and headed into the bathroom. However, he stopped when he heard her question.

He grabbed her chin, his voice low and husky. "What? I didn't satisfy you?"

"Of course you did. You gave me more than what I needed. But if something's wrong, we should schedule a check-up. Better to catch it early."

Before she could finish, he kissed her fiercely, almost angrily.

"Charlotte, you'll pay for what you did."

Charlotte knew that Brian liked things to be passionate. Even though he didn't love her, he gave her the illusion that he did with every touch. Still, Charlotte didn't mind.

They'd been married for two years, and she was willing to keep trying, hoping she could one day win over his heart. She dreamed of building a family with him and having children together.

That thought made her reach up and wrap her arms around his broad shoulders again.

It was already four in the afternoon by the time it was all over.

Brian had made it very clear that, physically, he was in perfect condition.

After showering, he dressed up as usual in a shirt and slacks. His tall, lean frame filled the clothes perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His strikingly perfect features looked like they had been carved by God himself.

His beautiful eyes held a depth that could make anyone feel seen, and he carried himself with elegance and power.

As Brian buttoned up his shirt, a sudden ringtone broke the silence. He paused and picked up his phone with one hand.

He listened for a moment. Whatever the person said, it left him stunned. He hung up a few seconds later, his gaze landing squarely on Charlotte.

She was barely clinging to consciousness from exhaustion, but when she saw his expression, she forced herself awake.

"What is it? Who was it?" she asked.

Brian replied calmly, "It was my mom. She said you're not actually the Perry family's daughter. You and Louis Perry aren't related, and now his real daughter has been found."

Charlotte's heart skipped a beat, and her mind snapped to full alert.

A month ago, her father, Louis, went in for a routine check-up and discovered that their blood types didn't match. That revelation led the Perry family to launch a public search for their real daughter. Two weeks ago, they found her—Lydia Perry.

The night Lydia returned, the Perry family hosted a grand welcome party. But Lydia fell into the pool during the event and accused Charlotte of pushing her.

The Perry family was furious. People even accused Charlotte of attempted murder.

As the fake daughter, she was cast out without hesitation.

Brian had been away on business and clearly hadn't heard of this until now.

Charlotte had planned to tell him herself, but she never expected his mother, Estelle Sanders, to break the news first.

She nodded slowly, her fingers clenching the bedsheet. "Yeah. It's true. Did your mom say anything else?"

Brian's tone remained eerily flat. "She said this marriage was arranged between the Norman and Perry families. Now that the real daughter is back, the engagement should return to its rightful owner."

In other words, Estelle wanted Charlotte to give up her marriage to Lydia.

Charlotte's face paled.

No one expected this identity mistake to happen.

She and Brian had already been married for two years, and that wasn't something that could be erased overnight.

Still, more than Estelle's cold reaction, what Charlotte cared about most was Brian's.

"And you? What do you think?" she asked, her fingers gripping the sheets tightly as she looked at him hopefully.

In her mind, she considered herself nearly perfect as a full-time wife for the past two years. She handled his meals, routines, and life with dedication and care. She thought even if Brian didn't love her yet, maybe he at least liked her a little.

But his following words hit her like a bucket of cold water. "I haven't really thought about it. It's just a marriage agreement. It doesn't matter who it's with. It doesn't change much for me... I've got a flight tonight. Business trip to a neighboring city. I'll be gone a few days."

With that, he grabbed his blazer and left without waiting for her response.

As the door clicked shut, Charlotte suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe. It was as if someone had driven a knife straight into her chest.

His words kept repeating in her mind.

He didn't care who he married. It could be anyone.

To Brian, their marriage was nothing more than a disposable accessory. Everything she did was out of her own self-delusion.

Only now did Charlotte see how cold and indifferent that man truly was. No matter how much she tried, she could never win over his heart.

An hour after Brian left, Estelle showed up at the door with divorce papers in hand.