The Godfather's Love (Erika and Charles) novel Chapter 14

Chapter 14

(Erika’s Perspective)

“None of that matters!”

Charles swung his arm violently, as if trying to shake off all the facts tormenting him. His eyes locked onto me again, intense and desperate.

“Erika, I know I was wrong! I lost my mind! I’ve sent Evelyn away-she’s gone for good!”

“We can go back. We can explain everything to the Elders. I can appeal. We can still-”

“Charles.”

I cut him off again. My voice carried a trace of weariness.

Not in my body, but in my heart.

“Look carefully. This is Paris, not Seattle.”

“The woman standing before you is Erika Churchill, not your wife.”

I reached for the bench behind me, bracing against it as I tried once more to stand.

This time, Damien caught me-calmly, firmly-offering his arm for support.

I didn’t refuse.

“My foot needs treatment.”

I looked at Charles, my tone distant, as if I were speaking to a stranger who just wouldn’t leave.

“If you have nothing else to say, please go. Damien will take me to the hospital.”

“Damien?”

Charles latched onto the name like a viper, his gaze curling toward Damien with venom.

“How cozy. Erika, how long has it been since we separated?”

“A month? And you’ve already lined up your next man? What is he, some pretty-boy-”

He gave Damien a once-over, eyes dripping with scorn.

“A gigolo?”

“Charles!”

My voice dropped to ice.

I could endure his accusations against me, but I would not tolerate him insulting the man who had stood by me when no one else did.

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Chapter 14

Damien, however, smiled.

It wasn’t a smirk born of anger, but a genuine, slightly amused smile.

He gently patted the back of my hand, a silent gesture to keep calm.

Then he stepped forward-just enough to stand eye to eye with Charles.

“Mr. Nell,”

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His voice was polite, but the temperature in his words dropped to absolute zero.

“Allow me to remind you of two things.”

“First, you’re in Paris, not Seattle. Didn’t Miss Evelyn mention that?”

“The security here, especially toward unwelcome guests who harass women, isn’t exactly.. accommodating.”

His words carried layered meaning. He knew about Evelyn. He knew how Charles had found this place. And he was making it very clear-he had the power to make things far more unpleasant for Charles in this city.

Charles’ pupils narrowed.

“Second,” Damien continued, his voice softer but heavier.

“Words like ‘pretty-boy’ and ‘next man’-I hope that’s the last time I hear them from you.”

“Miss Churchill is my business partner. She is also a valued guest.”

“My respect for her comes from her talent and integrity. Not from whatever filthy assumptions you’re making.”

He paused. A sharp gleam flickered in his storm-colored eyes.

“But you, Mr. Nell-during your marriage, you publicly professed your undying love for another woman, begged your wife to let you reserve a place for her in your heart-”

“In any society with even a shred of decency, that kind of behavior is what we’d call disgusting. Don’t you agree?”

“You-!”

Charles’ veins bulged at his temple. His fists clenched tight.

A dangerous aura flooded the air around him.

It was the instinctive reaction of a mafia godfather when his pride was trampled./

But almost instantly, both doors of the rehearsal room-previously left ajar-swung open in eerie silence.

Four men in dark coats stepped in.

They moved quietly, efficiently. Each pair took a position-one near the front, the other near the exit-subtly boxing Charles in.

Their hands rested casually in their coat pockets.

Chapter 14

But their posture, their eyes-it was clear. These weren’t ordinary men.

They were trained. Possibly worse-professionals.

Charles froze.

His eyes darted from one to the next, assessing.

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