She Hired Him as Her Fake Husband… He Never Expected to Fall in Love
Chapter 5
Daniel began investigating Ethan.
Charlotte discovered it when she found a private report in her office.
She confronted her cousin.
“What is this?”
Daniel didn’t deny it.
“I’m protecting the company.”
“You’re spying on my husband.”
“He’s not your husband.”
Charlotte froze.
Daniel continued.
“He has debt.”
“So do half the people in this city.”
“He was involved in a legal dispute with a former client.”
“It was dismissed.”
“He doesn’t have a family business.”
“What does that prove?”
Daniel shook his head.
“You don’t know him.”
Charlotte looked at him.
“Neither do you.”
She walked away.
That evening, she showed Ethan the report.
He read it.
Then smiled.
“He’s not wrong.”
Charlotte frowned.
“What?”
“I did have debt.”
“You didn’t tell me.”
“You never asked.”
“That’s exactly what you said before.”
He laughed.
“But it’s true.”
“What else don’t I know?”
Ethan sat down.
“My father died when I was nineteen.”
Charlotte listened.
“My mother couldn’t survive the loss.”
“She passed away?”
“No.”
“She disappeared.”
Charlotte’s expression softened.
“So you were alone.”
“Yes.”
“How did you become a lawyer?”
“Scholarships.”
“Why?”
“Because I had no other option.”
She stared at him.
For the first time, she saw the man underneath the confidence.
Someone who had built his life without a family name.
Without inherited money.
Without a safety net.
She touched his hand.
“I judged you.”
“So did I.”
“What did you think of me?”
“That you were arrogant.”
“I am.”
He smiled.
“A little.”
She laughed.
Then they became quiet.
Ethan looked at her.
“Charlotte?”
“Yes?”
“Do you regret hiring me?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“Good.”
He stood.
“Because I’m starting to regret pretending.”
Her heart stopped.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean…”
He stepped closer.
“…I don’t think I can keep pretending that I don’t care about you.”
Charlotte stared at him.
Neither moved.
Then her phone rang.
Eleanor.
The contract.
The company.
Reality.
Charlotte answered.
And the moment disappeared.
But she couldn’t forget his words.
Neither could he.
