Once She Came Like a Flash novel Chapter 9

**Faith Didn’t Survive Time – by Aadi Sharma**
**Chapter 9**

As Lola’s plane ascended into the vast sky, leaving the country behind, Charlie and Rose were just stepping back into the familiar embrace of home after their getaway overseas.

In the backseat of the car, Edwin lay peacefully asleep in Rose’s arms, his tiny head nestled comfortably against her shoulder. The sight was serene and heartwarming, casting a gentle glow over the otherwise tense atmosphere of the car. Charlie caught a glimpse of this tranquil tableau through the rearview mirror, and despite the storm brewing in his mind, a reluctant smile flickered at the corners of his lips.

Yet, that fleeting moment of warmth was swiftly extinguished as the reality of the chaos still unfolding online crashed back into his thoughts. He had anticipated that Lola, cornered and humiliated, would reach out, her voice trembling as she begged for forgiveness. But instead, she had simply disappeared, leaving him in a state of unease that settled heavily in his chest like a lead weight.

His spiraling thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the jarring ring of his phone. The sharp sound cut through the air like a knife, pulling him from his reverie. Frowning, he glanced at the screen and saw it was his assistant calling. With a sigh of resignation, he answered.

“Mr. Hudson, something’s gone terribly wrong! Lola—no, Madam—has issued a public statement. She’s revealed your marriage… officially.”

Charlie’s heart plummeted as he slammed on the brakes, the car lurching forward violently. “What did you just say? I specifically instructed you to manage the narrative! Not a single shred of damaging information was supposed to escape! Is this really too much to handle?”

His voice rose in a torrent of frustration, only to be drowned out by the relentless flood of calls and messages bombarding his phone. Each ping felt like a hammer, striking at his sanity as the device choked under the weight of the incoming deluge.

He glanced at the notifications, and a wave of dread washed over him. The texts and voicemails were venomous, each one dripping with accusations: infidelity, betrayal, abandonment—words so vile they nearly made him hurl the phone against the wall in a fit of rage.

A cold shiver crawled up his spine. Was it possible that Lola’s silence over the past few days had merely been a strategic retreat, a way to gather her strength for a single, devastating blow?

No, that was absurd. She was just a housewife. How could she possibly wield such power over public perception? And yet, the gnawing feeling of unease continued to burrow deeper into his mind. He reached for his backup phone, fingers trembling slightly as he scrolled through X. He didn’t even have to look hard; at the very top of the trending list, there it was—her name, emblazoned like a beacon.

“Rose Pearson, the so-called goddess? What a farce. She’s nothing but a mistress who clawed her way in and staged a tacky ‘century proposal.’ If this were the old days, both of you would be publicly shamed and ostracized.”

“From this day forward, I’m boycotting every single Hudson product. I refuse to spend a dime supporting a company run by such despicable people.”

As the outrage gained momentum, the stock price of Hudson Corporation plummeted. Within a mere half-hour, the losses were staggering. If this panic continued, it could cripple the company, leaving scars that might never heal.

Charlie’s hands trembled as he watched the collapse unfold in real time, fury boiling within him so fiercely that it felt like he might shatter the phone in his grip. Yet, he was powerless to intervene. He had no means to rein in the government-affiliated accounts. Even his vast resources were impotent against their authority. The only avenue left was painfully clear: the storm would not subside unless Lola herself stepped forward to quell it.

Clenching his fists, he tasted the bitter tang of defeat on his tongue. He had to concede; her move was ruthlessly clever. And now, for the first time, he found himself with no choice but to lower his head in acknowledgment of her unexpected strength.