love at first sight?

fancy dinner and sunset at the beach

*Ivy*

I looked at the display. It showed "Liam". Why would he call me again? My gaze felt on Charles. My eyes were widened and I didn't know what to do. Should I accept the call? I wanted to know what he wanted. "Hello?", I said after pushing the green button. "Ivy! Finally you're accepting my calls again", he said in a happy voice. "What do you want?", I asked him annoyed. Charles looked at me curious and a little worried. "I want you back, Ivy. I saw that you spend time with this formula 1 driver. We both know he isn't what you need, Ivy. You need me. Come home and we'll talk about everything", he said. My brows furrowed. What was he even thinking? "I'm definitely not coming home. And I don't need you, Liam. I'm very happy without you", I said angrily. Charles clenched his jaw and looked a little angry too. Probably because I was talking to my ex boyfriend. "You don't even know him, Ivy. You're better off with me, trust me" "Oh, because you cheated on me?", I was furious now. "It was a mistake, Ivy. I regret it. But don't play this game. I know you better than everyone else. He can't give you what you need" "Oh yes he can", I just said and looked over to Charles who seemed a little confused by the situation. "You'll regret it, Ivy. Believe me. You'll get to know me now", he said in a scary voice. I frowned. What did he meant by that. I quickly hung up. Now I was scared. "What did he want?", Charles asked. His voice sounded cold. "He said that I would regret it and that I would get to know him now", I repeated Liam's words still shocked by them. Charles turned his head and looked at me worried. His anger had faded. "That's scary", he admitted and put his hand back on my leg. "I know and I know him good enough. He is planning something and it's nothing good", I said. "He's such a strange guy", Charles meant and stopped the car. We were at the beach. "I feel embarrassed for noticing it only yet. I've been together for almost three years with this guy", I said disgusted. "Was it a healthy relationship?", Charles asked as we walked down to the beach. It was still very warm. "I thought so at the start, but it was very toxic. He never really trusted me and would go though my phone to see if I cheated on him. Sometimes when he was drunk he would push me onto the bed and have sex with me even if I didn't want to. In those situations I felt helpless like when the guy in the club wanted to rape me. It reminded me of Liam to be honest. It was different because I didn't know the guy but also similar in a way. Sometimes he would even hit me but made it look like he did it on accident. He always apologised for it or surprised me with something afterwards because he felt bad. I got some scars from that too", we had sat down in the sand and I looked at the sea. Charles seemed speechless. "Why didn't you break up with him?", he asked softly looking at me. I still faced the sea but turned to him. "I tried a few times but he would always tell me that he would change and I was too naive and believed him. There were some good times too so I believed it would stay like this. And I was also scared he would do something to me", I said. I never talked about this with anyone, not even dad. I wouldn't have been together with Liam anymore if I would've told him. "I'm so sorry you had to go though all of this. Did you talk about it with anyone?", he asked wrapping his arm around my shoulder. "No, you're the first one I feel comfortable enough with to talk about it", I answered and smiled at him. "I would never hurt you, Ivy", Charles said and put some of my hair behind my ear. "I know, Charles", I whispered and laid my head on his shoulder. "I wish you would've came to a race sooner, Ivy", he said and I knew he meant it. "Why?", I asked looking at him. "Because then we would've met sooner. I could've protected you from him. You didn't have to experience all of this with him then", he answered getting quieter at the end. "It's not your fault he was like this, Charles. Maybe it all had to happen so that we would meet. Please just don't let me alone with him when it comes to the situation", I said softly, "I feel safe with you, Charlie" He smiled. "I like that", he grinned. The sun already started to set. It was beautiful. Just me and Charles and the sea. "Thank you for saving me", I whispered snuggling even closer to him. "I'd do it all again", Charles smiled and pulled me closer to him. "Can we come back here when it's night? I bet you can see millions of stars from here", I said softly. "Sure, we can come here after dinner", he answered and looked at his watch. "Do you want to go back to the hotel and get changed for dinner?", he asked afterwards. "Yes, I'm hungry already", I said. Charles helped me get up and we walked back to the car.