The Headlines
699 Words
The next morning…
Every newspaper in Britain carried the same photograph.
Alexander Ashford, London’s most eligible billionaire, standing at the altar with an unfamiliar woman in a white wedding gown.
The headlines were impossible to ignore.
ASHFORD HEIR MARRIES MYSTERY BRIDE AFTER FIANCÉE VANISHES
WHO IS CHARLOTTE BENNETT?
BILLIONAIRE’S SHOCK WEDDING STUNS THE NATION
Charlotte stared at the front page in disbelief.
She had never imagined her face would be printed in every newspaper.
“This can’t be happening,” she whispered.
She was sitting in the private lounge of the Ashford family estate, still trying to process everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours.
The doors opened.
A woman in a crisp black suit entered with a polite smile.
“Good morning, Mrs. Ashford.”
Charlotte looked around the room.
“Are you talking to me?”
The woman smiled.
“You’ll have to get used to it.”
Charlotte felt strangely embarrassed.
“I’m Emily Carter, Mr. Ashford’s personal assistant.”
She placed a tablet and a leather folder on the coffee table.
“These are today’s appointments.”
Charlotte frowned.
“Appointments?”
“Your schedule.”
“I don’t have a schedule.”
Emily looked genuinely confused.
“You do now.”
Charlotte opened the folder.
There were meetings with a fashion charity, a press consultant, a photographer, and an evening charity gala.
Her eyes widened.
“I can’t do any of this.”
“You can.”
A familiar voice came from behind her.
Alexander walked into the room wearing a charcoal-grey suit.
He looked as calm as ever.
Charlotte stood up.
“I’ve never spoken to reporters.”
“You won’t.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“I’ve cancelled every interview.”
Emily nodded.
“Mr. Ashford doesn’t allow the press to interfere with his private life.”
Charlotte felt a wave of relief.
“Thank you.”
Alexander sat opposite her.
“There are still a few public appearances we can’t avoid.”
“Why?”
“Because if we disappear immediately after the wedding, people will assume the marriage is fake.”
Charlotte sighed.
“I suppose they’re already assuming that.”
“They’re assuming much worse.”
He slid the tablet toward her.
On the screen were hundreds of comments.
“She’s obviously a gold digger.”
“Where did this woman come from?”
“She trapped him.”
“She doesn’t belong in the Ashford family.”
Charlotte stopped reading.
The words hurt more than she wanted to admit.
Alexander quietly took the tablet back.
“Never read the comments.”
“You did.”
“I made that mistake once.”
His answer surprised her.
Before she could ask what he meant, the butler entered.
“Sir…”
Alexander looked up.
“Miss Victoria Sinclair is here.”
Charlotte’s heart skipped.
Alexander’s expression hardened instantly.
“I didn’t invite her.”
“She insists it’s urgent.”
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Alexander stood.
“Show her in.”
A few seconds later, Victoria walked into the room.
She looked elegant in a cream designer dress, as though yesterday’s tears had never happened.
Her eyes landed on Charlotte.
She smiled.
It looked friendly.
It wasn’t.
“Congratulations,” Victoria said sweetly.
Charlotte offered a polite nod.
“Thank you.”
Victoria reached into her handbag.
“I actually came to give Charlotte a wedding gift.”
She placed a small envelope on the table.
Charlotte frowned.
“You didn’t have to.”
“Oh…”
Victoria’s smile widened.
“I really did.”
Charlotte picked up the envelope.
Inside was a single photograph.
The moment she looked at it…
The colour drained from her face.
It was an old photograph of Charlotte as a teenager, standing beside a woman she had not seen in years.
Written across the back in black ink were six chilling words:
“I know who you really are.”
Charlotte’s hands began to shake.
She looked up.
Victoria was already smiling.
Waiting.
Watching.
And Alexander had noticed Charlotte’s reaction.
His eyes narrowed.
“What is that photograph?”
Charlotte opened her mouth…
But no words came out.
- Writer
