Chapter 44: Charlotte

Noah's POV:

"Oh she is!" someone said. "That's some important news"

I turned back involuntarily at the familiar voice. He was back... Lucas.

"Wh-what?" I asked him.

"Aww. Our Astrid is a heart patient? Well, I can get the files and make her believe that I'm telling the truth" he said.

"No! You're not even going in front of her!"

"Hm? Really? I can, you know that!"

"No! You will not go!"

"And why so? What can you do?"

"What do you want?"

"Astrid will not be able to take this news, will she?"

"Answer me what do you want!!" I yelled.

"Well, I want something you wouldn't want to give me. So, I'll talk to Astrid itself!" he said.

"Just fucking tell me what you want!!"

"Will you give whatever it is?" he asked.

"Y-yes!" I said.

"Cool. All you need to do is.." he said and made a call. In a second, Charlotte came.

"You have to make her your girlfriend" he said. I was shocked. Charlotte was looking at the ground.

"Wh-what? Why are you doing this to her? You know I don't love her. She'll only suffer if she stays with me!" I said.

"That's the thing. You gotta love her"

"You can't make someone love someone like that! What else can I expect from someone like you? Nothing more than a piece of shit. How can I expect you to know the meaning of love?"

"Yeah sure. Now, that's on you. Tomorrow Charlotte and you should be together or get ready to lose her!" he yelled. I looked at Charlotte. She was still looking down.

"I'll give you some privacy" he smirked and left the place. I looked at her once again. She looked up. She was crying.

"Noah.. I.. I'm not the one.. Doing this.. I'm not doing this.." she said sobbing.

"Calm down and sit" I sat looking at her pathetic condition.

She was wearing a shawl around her. It was not winters, so I wondered why.

"It's not winters.." I said. She looked at me and then at her clothes. She sighed.

"No, it's fine" she said..

"Charlotte, if there's anything then tell me"

"Just.. Just don't hate me.. You don't need to act like anything.. I know you don't like me.. I don't want to force you.. Please"

"Charlotte. Okay, fine I will not hate you, but something is wrong"

"No.."

"Tell me" I insisted.

"Okay, but.. You have to promise me one thing.."

"Okay, I will.."

"Okay then first promise me that you will say yes to Astrid"

"What? Why would you say that?"

"Because.. Because.. I don't want Astrid to be sad anymore.. You know it’s my cousin's fault.. So.." she said. She seemed disgusted by him.

"But the doctor said that she shouldn't be in any relationship. That's the reason I—"

"Noah, you're the topper of our college how do you not know that she said this because Astrid might get another heartbreak. But if you're with her, you won't break her heart, so it's fine!"

"Really?"

"Of course!"

"Oh.. Okay. I promise. I'll. Now tell me, what's wrong?" I asked.

She slowly removed her shawl.

What the fuck!!!

Her hands were completely covered with bruises, they looked like as if lashed by belts. There were burn marks too.

"C.. Ch.. Charlotte..??" I asked scared.

"Lucas is a.. monster.. I didn't have any choice than to do what he wants.. That's why.. I had to come here. I'm sorry"

"Wait. Did HE do this??" I asked totally shocked.

"Y.. Yes" she said.

"What..."

"H-he used to come all drunk and used to beat me and burn me everywhere. I can't stop him; he is way stronger than me.. And not at least with all these wounds.. I.. I" she started crying badly.

"Oh crap. I can't believe, is he even a human??"

"I.. I'm sorry now because of me your life is also disturbed.."

"Did you not try to run away? " I asked ignoring her apology.

"I.. I have no other place to go. I have no money, its him who has all money, you know after my parents died, there's no one to look after me. He's usually alone at home with me.. His parents are busy with business.."

"........."

"I.. I thought that.. It's better to not live on streets, you know all those people.. They can do even worse.."

"Did he.. Did he ever cross his limits?" I asked.

"No and the only reason is that his mother asked him to take care of my dignity.. She made him take the promise or I would have.. He would have.." she started crying more.

"Okay. Okay. Calm down, Charlotte. We'll do something. First of all, you aren't going to home from today. Secondly, we'll do something, don't worry!"

"Thank you Noah.." she said.

I looked at her. I smiled at her uneasily, to which she tried to return with the same but failed.

"Let's get you to a doctor" I said.

"No.. I can go. I.. I have some money with me, and I can sell my car. It will be fine"

"I'll book a room for you in the hotel near the college. Don't worry. Don't return to your house"

"Noah, you don't need to—"

"Let me help, Charlotte, you helped me in understanding that I can accept Astrid"

"Okay.." she said. She got up. I took her number so that I can inform her about the hotel.

Oh, so Lucas is the worst person I ever saw. He didn't even leave his sister?!