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\---

“Jasmine!” Charlotte screamed, her voice echoing through the room. Her sudden outburst startled Jasmine, who was still joy in Astor’s arms.

Jasmine flinched, her tiny fingers gripping the fabric of Astor’s shirt as she looked at her mother with wide, confused eyes.

Astor’s brow furrowed as he turned to Charlotte, his expression a mixture of curiosity and irritation. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked, his tone clipped.

Charlotte didn’t answer. She hissed under her breath, her gaze darting between Jasmine and Astor, before spinning on her heel and storming out of the room.

“Mommy?” Jasmine called after her, but Charlotte didn’t turn back.

Astor sighed and set Jasmine down gently. “Go play, kiddo,” he said, ruffling her hair. “I’ll check on her.”

\---

Meanwhile, across town, William paced in his dimly lit apartment, his phone pressed to his ear.

“Is he out yet?” he asked, his voice low and tense.

“About stepping out,” the voice on the other end replied.

William smirked, his fingers tightening around the phone. He had been waiting for the perfect moment, biding his time until Astor left the house. Tonight, he was ready to act on what he’d always intended.

Peering out the window, he spotted the familiar black car pulling out of the Harrington estate. His smirk deepened. “Good,” he murmured to himself.

What William didn’t know, however, was that the person in the car wasn’t Astor—it was Brandon, tasked with running a late-night errand. Astor, in reality, was still in his study, unaware of the danger lurking just beyond his doors.

\---

Charlotte sat on the edge of her bed, her head in her hands. Her emotions were a tangled mess—anger, confusion, and fear all battling for dominance.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the faint sound of footsteps outside her door. She froze, her heart skipping a beat as the doorknob turned slowly.

The door creaked open, and William stepped inside, his presence filling the room like a dark cloud.

“Charlotte,” he said, his voice dripping with false charm. “You look... tense. Trouble in paradise?”

She stood quickly, her pulse racing. “What are you doing here?”

William stepped closer, his smirk widening. “Relax,” he said, his tone smooth but predatory. “I just wanted to talk.”

Charlotte backed away, her hands trembling. “Get out, William,” she said firmly. “You have no right to be here.”

William chuckled, the sound sending chills down her spine. “Oh, but I do,” he said, his gaze locking onto hers. “You see, I know everything, Charlotte. About you. About Jasmine.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “What are you talking about?”

He took another step closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Don’t play dumb. I know she’s Astor’s daughter. And that makes you... very interesting to me.”

Charlotte’s stomach churned, but she refused to show fear. “Leave,” she said, her voice shaking slightly.

Instead of complying, William reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Why so hostile?” he said, his tone mocking. “We’re family, after all. And I’ve always had a soft spot for you.”

Charlotte slapped his hand away, her anger boiling over. “Don’t touch me,” she hissed.

William’s expression darkened, his charm slipping to reveal something far more dangerous. “I was trying to be nice,” he said, his voice cold. “But if that’s how you want to play it…”

Before she could react, he grabbed her arm, his grip bruising as he pushed her backward onto the bed.

“Let me go!” Charlotte screamed, struggling against him.

William ignored her, his hands moving to unbuckle his belt as he pinned her down. “You think you’re so high and mighty,” he sneered. “Let’s see how long that lasts.”

Charlotte thrashed beneath him, panic surging through her veins. “Get off me!” she cried, her voice raw with desperation.

The sound of heavy footsteps in the hallway was the only warning before the door slammed open, revealing Astor, his face a mask of pure rage.

“William!” Astor bellowed, his voice shaking the room.

William froze, his hands still on his belt, as he turned to face his brother. “Astor,” he said, his smirk returning. “You’re just in time.”

Astor didn’t respond. He crossed the room in two quick strides, grabbing William by the collar and yanking him away from Charlotte.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Astor growled, his voice low and dangerous.

William shrugged, his smirk unwavering. “Just having a little fun,” he said, his tone casual. “No harm done.”

Astor’s fist connected with William’s jaw before he could say another word, the force of the blow sending him stumbling backward.

“You’re a disgrace,” Astor spat, his fists clenched. “Get out of my house.”

William wiped the blood from his lip, his smirk faltering for the first time. “Is that any way to talk to your brother?” he said, his voice laced with venom.

“You’re no brother of mine,” Astor snapped. “You’re a parasite.”

The tension between them was suffocating, the air crackling with unspoken animosity.

Charlotte watched from the bed, her heart pounding as the two men squared off.

“You think you’re better than me, don’t you?” William said, his tone taunting. “But we’re the same, Astor. Two sides of the same coin.”

Astor’s eyes blazed with fury. “The difference is I don’t prey on women,” he said, his voice cutting.

William’s smirk returned, though it was weaker this time. “You’ll regret this,” he said, his tone low and threatening.

“Get out,” Astor repeated, stepping closer.

William hesitated for a moment before turning and walking toward the door. But before he left, he looked back at Charlotte, his gaze dark and chilling.

“This isn’t over,” he said. “I’ll be back”