Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3025

A relationship forced everyone to grow up.

Charlie finished off his drink and let out a low, elegant laugh. "Thanks for looking out for her tonight, you two. Emily's a lightweight, so I'm taking her home. Drinks are on me next time."

With that, Charlie stood and made his way through the crowd toward Emily.

Jonathan watched him go and glanced at Morrison. "Did he just use us and ditch us?"

Morrison's lips twitched. "Pretty much."

*

Charlie cut through the pulsing sea of bodies, but before he could reach the bar, someone stepped into his path.

Melina Marsh had spotted him the second he walked into the club.

She had clearly been drinking. Her eyes were glazed, swimming with a messy mix of desperation and grief. "Charlie... honestly, the whole time I was abroad, I never stopped thinking about you."

"We were so good together."

"I think we owe it to ourselves to try again. If you give me a chance and still think I don't measure up to your new girlfriend, I swear I'll walk away and never bother you again."

Her eyes were bloodshot, and she swayed on her feet, looking as though she might collapse against his chest at any second.

*

A few yards away, Magdalen spotted the interaction first. Her striking eyes narrowed to icy slits. "Isn't that the Cooper family's prodigal daughter?"

Emily turned around, her breath catching in her throat. Charlie was back?

He hadn't told her he was coming home. The omission sparked an immediate, sinking suspicion—was he meeting Melina here on purpose, or was it really just a coincidence?

Estelle saw them too. She turned to Emily. "Do you trust him?"

Melina noticed his sudden distraction. She followed his gaze and locked eyes with Emily.

So this was the girlfriend.

She finally got to see her in person.

The alcohol suddenly cleared from Melina's system. She raked her eyes over Emily, noting her pretty, fresh-faced features, but finding nothing particularly intimidating.

"You're back?" Emily asked, stopping in front of Charlie.

Charlie couldn't take his eyes off her. "I came straight here from the airport."

Emily gave a tight nod. She shifted her gaze to Melina, then back to Charlie. "Am I interrupting a conversation?"

"No," Charlie replied instantly. "Just a random encounter. She was just saying hello."