Although she had used Charlotte Thompson’s identity for more than just this reason, now that Justin had seen through her guise.
She didn’t have much to fear anymore.
"Is that room also related to you?"
Instead of answering her question, Justin posed another one.
He looked at the woman in front of him. For some reason, he suddenly felt as if he was back on that night.
It was quiet yet fiery to the point of restlessness. Intense desires were completely unleashed that night.
Like the last rose of high summer, it burned their hearts.
"Why does Mr. Battleson want to know about 808?"
After a long silence, it was Charlotte who finally broke it with a nonchalant question.
Justin pursed his lips, the usually icy expression on his face showing a rare hint of emotion.
He silently watched the woman in front of him. His eyes, as dark as the dead of night, flickered with emotion.
The gentle lighting wasn’t glaring and yet it reminded Charlotte of that wild night that had almost suffocated her.
"I always thought it was Evelyn Curtis that night."
Charlotte couldn’t tell if it was her imagination, but she seemed to hear a faint sigh from Justin after he finished the sentence.
She couldn’t help but feel the irony.
The night that she loathed so deeply was, in his mind, spent with another woman.
"Since Mr. Battleson already has an answer, why do you want to question me?"
A hint of resentment flickered in Charlotte’s eyes. She hid it well, but her slightly trembling lips betrayed her momentary emotions.
Justin thought for a moment, took a long while before he finally spoke.
Perhaps because he was voicing a secret he had held onto for so long, his tone was slow and his voice low.
"I only had that one night with her. I still can’t figure out why I drank so much."
"All this while, all the resources and finances I invested in her were to make up for the harm I did to her that night."
"I brought up the issue of the vacation hotel room number 808 to tell you this. I want to have a proper talk with you."
Justin’s eyes were deep, like the night sky spreading out in the lonely late-night darkness.
Maybe it was because he was speaking so slowly, Charlotte was momentarily dumbfounded.
But she quickly gathered herself and walked slowly to Justin.
The high heels clicked on the floor. Each step was alluring, yet devoid of seduction.
"What do you want to talk about? Does Mr. Battleson want to narrate the story of you and your rumored girlfriend to me?"
Justin didn’t know if Charlotte knew about it or not.
But in his view, clarification of the issue was paramount now.
After all, all this time, his feelings hadn’t been clear and that had led to so many events unfolding.
He had always considered that night a mistake.
If it hadn’t been for that hazy night, he might not have had to spend five years getting to know his own heart.
"In fact, I’ve always been aware of my feelings for Evelyn Curtis." Original content can be found at novel[f]ire.net
Justin slowly spoke. He didn’t know whether Charlotte knew about all these things.
But he felt that if he wanted to be honest now, he had to tell Charlotte about his feelings.
Charlotte listened to his words calmly, as if she were listening to a spectator’s tale.
There was a smile on her lips, but her eyes were frosty cold, devoid of any trace of warmth. Instead, they emanated a chilling aura.
"What’s the purpose of telling me all this, Mr. Battleson?"