Ashes Of The Throne | Part I

Chapter 160 | The Daughter Of Ezra | The One That Escaped

Timeline - August 23rd - Earlier that morning.

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The tension in Matthew's office was suffocating, the kind of pressure that crawled under the skin and refused to relent. The air vibrated with the aftermath of Charlotte and Jesse's shouting match. Mya clung to Jesse's arm, her grip firm as she tried to reel in Jesse's barely contained fury. Richie stood as a human wall between the two women, his broad shoulders squared, his presence the only thing keeping the confrontation from devolving into chaos.

"I just need to know where he is, that's all!" Charlotte's voice cracked, cutting through the tense air like a jagged blade. It wavered with desperation, louder and more strained than even she intended.

"Far away from you," Jesse snapped, her words dripping with venom, a smirk twisting her face. "And he'd like to keep it that way."

"Enough!" Mya's sharp tone silenced them momentarily, her hands raised as she turned to Charlotte. Her voice, though low, carried an unyielding edge. "Charlotte, listen to me. Toni is not here. That wasn't a lie. But you cannot keep showing up like this. This is Allegiant. You're not welcome here. You've been told that more times than I can count."

Charlotte's hands trembled at her sides, her fingers curling into tight fists as her gaze darted toward the floor. She drew a shaky breath, the defiance on her face faltering beneath the weight of her emotions. "I just need to talk to him," she said, barely above a whisper. Then louder, more urgent: "I need to explain things. To explain everything to him!"

"No!" Jesse roared, surging forward like a storm unleashed. Her finger jabbed the air in front of Charlotte's face, her whole body bristling with unrestrained fury. "No! You don't get to explain anything, because he doesn't want to see you. How many times do we need to spell it out for you? He's. Done. With. You. Get it through your thick skull, Charlotte."

Charlotte lifted her chin, defiance sparking in her tear-streaked eyes. "Then why did he send me a comms piece, huh?" Her voice cracked but gained an edge of desperation as she stepped forward, matching Jesse's ferocity. "Why did he tell me to come here, to meet him? He said he wanted to see me!"

The room stilled. Her words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to detonate. Richie, Jesse, and Mya exchanged glances, their disbelief sharp enough to cut through the thick tension.

"W-what?" Richie finally broke the silence, his voice tight with suspicion. "He contacted you?"

"No," Jesse interjected sharply, her voice brimming with certainty and disdain. She shook her head, stepping closer to Charlotte, her lips curling in an incredulous sneer. "No, that's bullshit. He wouldn't. That's not happening. You're delusional, Charlotte. You're not seeing him. Not now, not ever. Over my dead fucking body."

Charlotte's lips quivered as she fought to steady her breathing. Her voice rose, trembling but fierce, the weight of her desperation spilling out unchecked. "But he wants to see me!"

Jesse let out a sharp, bitter laugh, her hand brushing Richie's as if she needed him to hold her back. "Wants to see you?" she repeated, her tone thick with sarcasm. "Oh, honey, you must've really convinced yourself of that fairy tale while you were talking to yourself in the mirror. Toni has moved on. He's done. And if you had an ounce of self-awareness, you'd be done too."

"No!"

"Get. Out!" Jesse roared suddenly, her voice raw with anger as she took a menacing step forward. "You psychotic fucking bitch! Get out before I break your face. I'm serious. Leave."

Charlotte stumbled back, her chest heaving as tears blurred her vision. Richie stepped in, grabbing Jesse by the arm and pulling her back, though she fought him, her fury barely contained. "Jesse, enough," he hissed under his breath, his voice low but firm. "This isn't helping."