Chapter 21

Charles looked grim. "Shay, that's not it. I was just making excuses. I didn't mean any of it." Freya came out then. She stood at the top of the stairs and frowned. In a family like the Bowmans, she had seen every kind of power play. She probably noticed I did it on purpose. "Charles, she's just a lover. You don't need to be so concerned." The moment she spoke, I felt Charles' arms tighten around me. "Mom, she isn't a lover. She's the woman I want to marry." Right then, Charles confronted Freya. Every word sounded deadly serious. Freya seemed to realize something, and her voice turned somber. "You said all that just now because you wanted to protect her?" Charles didn't respond, which meant yes. I felt momentarily stunned. If that was the case, then I'd fallen for nothing. "Charles, she's not good enough for you," Freya reminded him again. Charles lifted me in his arms and looked up at her. "If she's not good enough, then I'll fight to make her good enough." "Charles, what