TEMPORARY MATES PERMANENT CRAVINGS novel Chapter 357

Three hundred and fifty seven

Isabella POV

Everything unfolded before me as I hid behind the door, watching Wesley leave. The hart on his face was harder to bear than his anger. Charlie had betrayed him. Wesley valued his friendship with Charlie almost as much as the air he breathed. Had it been anyone else, Wesley might have laughed it off, given how little he thought of Barbara. But coming from Charlie, the betrayal cut deeper.

Charlie turned toward Barbara, glaring at her.

“Why did you lie?”

Barbara’s tear-streaked face twisted with confusion.

“You and I have nothing to hide anymore. Wesley knows the truth. He doesn’t want you and has moved on with another woman. Why are you still pretending?”

“Stop screaming at me!” she sobbed. “I feel like a joke. Everyone is treating me like one. You’re all bullying me.”

“Oh, please. Stop with the pity party,” Anita snapped. “It’s getting stale. Look at what you’ve done to everyone around you.”

“I didn’t do anything. I don’t deserve this.”

Charlie moved closer, lifted her to her feet, and pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back as she continued sobbing. Barbara was such a convincing actress, and poor Charlie didn’t even realize it.

He pulled away and cupped her face.

“I know you’re trying to save face, but it’s time to be honest. We can’t keep hiding what happened. We were going to tell Wesley the truth, weren’t we?”

Barbara shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Anita scoffed.

“Really, Charlie? Of all the women in the world, you chose someone who was clearly after Wesley.”

Emma had already walked away, and my heart broke for her. Learning that she had loved Charlie when they were younger, then watching him pine for another woman who clearly didn’t want him, had to hurt-especially after years of pretending she felt nothing. She didn’t deserve this, or someone who couldn’t see her worth.

Anita, Barbara, and Charlie remained in the living room. Barbara’s continued sobbing grated on my nerves.

“Fine.” Anita looked at her. “Let’s make this simple. Do you love Charlie?”

Barbara stared at her without answering.

“Are you with Wesley because you want him, or because you want to hurt him? And if Charlie loves you, why not stay with him? He’s an Alpha, and he’s already been installed. What do you want?” I

“I didn’t sleep with Charlie,” Barbara said, breaking down again.

Anita looked at Charlie.

“Are you sure about what you’re saying?”

Charlie didn’t respond.

Barbara gathered her things with shaking hands.

“I don’t deserve any of this.”

20 Bonus

harned toward the door, crying so hard she could barely speak

When she was gute, Anitzsuched Toward Charlie.

“Did you really sleep with her? On did you make out? Maybe something happened that you’re interpreting differently.”

“Stop it, Anita!” Charlie snapped “I’m not five years old.”

Anita sat on the sofa and adjusted her robe.

“I’m not trying to cause problems with Wesley,” Charlie said “I told him the truth because I didn’t want us keeping secrets from each other especially now that he’s openly chosen Isabella.”

Anita groaned.

“Charlie, don’t be dumb. You’re still not getting it. Your feelings for Barbara started before Weday announced the fake relationship, didn’t they?”

He nodded.

“Bingo. If Wesley had never told anyone the relationship was fake, you would have slept with her anyway.”

Chadse hesitated. “I didn’t mean to. I was trying to get her to leave Wesley, I knew he didn’t love her.”

Anita shook her head.

“You wouldn’t have stopped. Even if Wesley had put a ring on Barbara, you would still have been sleeping with her because she has you wrapped around her finger.”

Charlie said nothing,

“And now look at the woman you claim to love. Is this how she’ll behave whenever something goes wrong? Deny everything and make you look like a fool? If she really wanted you, don’t you think she could have stood there and said, “Yes, Charlie and I slept together. Yes, we want each other? Instead, she denied you.”

Charlie raked a hand through his dark hair.

“Using Wesley as a comparison doesn’t hold water. Wesley never denied wanting Isabella. He made his choice clear, even when everyone around him disagreed And Isabella isn’t with him because she wants his name or his position. She’s has mate”

My hand flew to my mouth. Anita had just let the secret slip

Charlie’s head snapped toward her.

“What did you say?”

“Oh, shit

Cherie sprang up and moved to the sofa where Anita sat. She tried to leave, but he caught her arm

“Fine,” she mumbled. “Wesley found his mate We just found out too Wesley himself doesn’t know yet. It’s a one sided bond

His mouth fell open

“We’re still running the tests. We should have confirmation tomorrow or Monday at the latest. Then we’ll know how to tell him

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