Broken Bond: Claimed by My Ex-Husband's Alpha Billionaire Uncle
Chapter 114: Someone From The Past

Chapter 114: Someone From The Past

Charlotte didn’t expect to meet an old friend again after so many years.

Through the call, Aveline said she was currently in Northbridge for work. That’s why she gathered the courage to call Charlotte’s old number and ask to meet.

Not wanting to waste any time, Charlotte quickly changed her clothes and put on some light makeup before heading out.

Initially, she planned to go alone with the chauffeur, but her protective mate couldn’t help but tag along.

"I won’t bother you," Damon promised. "I’ll just wait in the car or somewhere nearby."

Charlotte sighed. "You’ll be bored if you come with me."

"Isolde isn’t here," Damon replied.

Charlotte frowned. "I know. But aren’t there always werewolves following me even when Isolde’s not around?"

Since it was the weekend, Charlotte had given Isolde the day off so she could enjoy herself. However, even without Isolde, there were still plenty of werewolves silently guarding her and she was sure Damon had increased their numbers.

So really, Damon didn’t need to follow her.

"That’s different," Damon still tried to convince her. "They’re just watching from a distance."

"And you’ll also be watching from a distance even if you come," Charlotte pointed out.

Damon shook his head. "Sweetheart, I’m faster than the others. They might need thirty seconds to reach you, but I can get to you in ten."

Charlotte let out a soft chuckle. "That’s ridiculous."

At this point, she was sure Damon was just looking for an excuse to follow her. After a moment of silence, she sighed and said, "Fine, you can come. But don’t blame me if you get bored."

A bright smile instantly lit up Damon’s face. "I’ll never get bored as long as I can see you."

Charlotte just shook her head in response, thinking Damon was acting like cling wrap ever since he confessed his love. It felt like there wasn’t a single day when he would leave her completely alone.

Even when they were both busy and couldn’t meet, Damon always sent her messages and food to her filming location.

And even though their work hours were unpredictable—sometimes he came home later, sometimes she did—he never missed a chance to hug her in bed and shower her with kisses in the morning.

That’s why, despite their hectic lives, Charlotte never truly felt that Damon was absent.

Charlotte eventually set the meeting location with Aveline. Since they had a lot to talk about, they agreed to meet at a café near her hotel.

Once she arrived, she reminded Damon, who was still in the car, "If you get bored, you can go somewhere else. Don’t worry, I’ll call you right away if something feels off."

"You don’t have to think about me, sweetheart," Damon said with a smile. "Just enjoy your time with your friend."

How could Charlotte not think about him? This man was even willing to finish his work in the car—just so he could watch his mate from afar.

Other men might pressure their girlfriends to let them join their friend groups, but Damon didn’t even want to bother her.

"Alright, I’ll be back soon." Charlotte leaned through the car window and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Before Damon could ask for more, she had already dashed toward the café.

He touched his cheek, letting out a quiet sigh. His mate had definitely gotten a little naughtier lately.

Inside the café, Charlotte glanced around nervously. She hadn’t expected Aveline to already be there.

But to her surprise, she spotted a woman whose face looked oddly familiar.

It had been five years since they last saw each other, but even after all that time, Charlotte could still recognize her best friend in an instant.

Aveline’s bright smile lit up the room the moment their eyes met. She waved enthusiastically, signaling Charlotte to come over.

And yet ... for some reason, Charlotte’s feet felt so heavy.

She stood frozen at the entrance, unable to believe that, after everything, she was really standing here, face-to-face with Aveline again.

All these years, she had been so sure that her friends had forgotten about her.

She believed they must have been angry, so angry that she had vanished without warning and was nearly impossible to reach.

So it had never once crossed her mind that any of them would still try to find her.

"I’m sorry, miss, but you’re blocking the entrance," a waitress said gently.

Charlotte quickly stepped aside. "Oh—sorry! I’m really sorry."

She apologized a few more times before finally walking toward Aveline.

Honestly, she didn’t expect her friend to recognize her at all, especially since she was wearing a black mask and hat to cover her face.

Maybe her posture or style of clothing had given her away?

"Aveline ..." Charlotte stopped about three steps away, suddenly unsure if she should move closer. "You really came."

The smile on Aveline’s face never faded. She stood up from her seat and walked over.

"You asked me to come, so I did," she said. "Isn’t that what we always used to do? You’d suggest a place to hang out, and I’d go with you without question."

The moment Aveline mentioned the past, Charlotte’s eyes grew warm. Tears pooled in her eyes, and to stop them from falling, she quickly lifted her head.

"I’m sorry for disappearing all these years." Charlotte fanned her face with her hands. "I really wanted to call you, but—"

"It’s okay." Aveline gently cut her off before she could finish. "I understand now, Charlotte. I do."

Without caring about the people around them, Aveline pulled Charlotte into a hug.

It was a tight embrace, one that felt like she was afraid that if she let go, her friend would disappear again.

"I’m so glad we finally got to meet again, Charlotte," she whispered. "And I’m sorry ... for not being stubborn enough to find you."

If only she had tried harder. If only she had shown up at Charlotte’s house without warning ... if only she had paid more attention to the signs, the little cracks in Charlotte’s marriage, maybe she could’ve helped her escape sooner.

"It’s not your fault," Charlotte replied quietly. "You couldn’t have done anything unless I asked for help first."

That was why Damon always told her, there’s no use in clinging to the past.

Aveline gently patted her back before pulling away from the hug. "Okay then. Let’s just agree it’s all your rotten husband’s fault."

Charlotte chuckled and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. "You mean ... my ex?"