The balcony wasn’t really secluded–sure, there was a door, but it was just closed at the moment.
Hardly anyone ever came out here.
Charles was the kind of man who kept his distance, proud and untouchable. Taking the initiative in bed just wasn’t his style–sharing a kiss was about as much as he’d ever offer a woman. Anything beyond that? Forget it.
He flicked the ash from his cigarette, not even a hint of interest in his eyes tonight.
Vivian looked embarrassed, slowly rising to her feet. “Is it about work? Or is it those uncles of yours…?”
Charles‘ brow furrowed a little, his patience clearly running thin. “Don’t you realize how annoying you are?”
Vivian’s face went pale as a ghost, so humiliated she couldn’t even lift her head. She was older than Charles, and she’d been crushing on him for ages.
But Charles was way too proud; trying to get him to bow his head was harder than climbing Everest.
She’d confessed once before, but he’d shot her down–not because of her, but because her uncle yed dirty. Being with her would’ve just stained his reputation.
She bit her lip, her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“Charles, you’re scared I’ll ruin your ce in the Sinir family, aren’t you? I’ve been acting like we don’t even know each other for years, just to keep your reputation safe. But now we’ve slept together, and this is how you treat me? I always thought you’d dump Ynda and get a divorce–she’s not worthy of you.”
Charles hardly ever lost his cool, but now he let out a mockingugh and crushed his cigarette. “It’s nothing but a fling, Ms. Andrade. I told you already–I’m not getting a divorce. Ynda is far more suitable to be my wife than you–at least she doesn’t go around trying to stake her im or start pointless drama.”
Vivian felt as if her whole world was tilting. ‘So he’s ming me for making it so obvious at the mahjong table tonight, she thought, biting back the humiliation.
He lit up another cigarette, his gaze still gentle on the surface, but his words were ice–cold. “If Ynda wasn’t so naive, do you really think she wouldn’t have caught on by now?”
Vivian forced a bitter smile and tried to move in for a hug. “It’s on me. I promise I won’t mess up like this next
time.”
Charles could be gentle and charming when he wanted, but when he shut down, it was like dealing with a total stranger.
He took a long drag of his cigarette, blowing out a perfect smoke ring. “From now on, let’s keep it strictly
business.”
It’s not like he was running short on lovers anyway.
<b>13:34 </b>Mon<b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>N
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A glint of fierceness shed in Vivian’s eyes. She’d humbled herself this much already, and yet Charles was still treating her like she was nothing. ‘Why is he always this way?‘ Vivian thought bitterly.
After all these years of knowing each other, if Ynda hadn’te in and thrown a wrench into everything, she’d have had Charles wrapped around her finger by now.
Vivian was shaking all over from anger, but all she could do was stare helplessly as he walked away.
Vivian kicked the balcony door with all her might, her chest trembling with rage and frustration. She couldn’t wait a second longer–right now, she just wanted to end Ynda for good. ‘If I could get my hands on her, I’d make sure she never stood in my way again,‘ Vivian thought furiously.
When Charles got back to the room, he saw Ynda already fast asleep, and his chest tightened again.
He yanked the nket off her and nudged her roughly. “Wake up.”
Ynda blinked awake, rubbing her eyes as she looked up at him. “What’s going on?”
Charles jerked her toward him, scrubbing at her lips with his thumb, rough enough that she almost started bleeding.
Ynda frowned, confused and hurting. One moment she’d been sound asleep, now she was wide awake with her lips smarting from his rough treatment.
Charles locked eyes with her, his gaze zing. “Do you even know how to use these?”
Ynda finally got what he meant and <iy </i>back down, clutching the nket protectively around herself. “I don’t know how to do that. Never learned.”
She honestly had never tried anything like that for someone before.
And in the few, pitifully rare times she’d been intimate with Charles, he was always blunt about what he wanted–no beating around the bush, just straight to the point.
Charles stood there for a moment, watching as she turned away–then all that pent–up frustration inside him just faded. He reached out and pulled her close from behind.
“Ynda, maybe you ought to take a few pointers from other women,” he said with a teasing edge in his voice.
‘Not like you–back then, you’d get all flustered just from a kiss,‘ Charles thought, the memory bringing a faint smile to his lips.
Ynda kept her eyes shut, wondering if he was actually crazy.
She gave a couple of half–hearted replies, then heard him add, “Let me know when you figure it out.”
She threw out another indifferent “mmhmm,” not taking it seriously at all.
Charles smiled to himself, pulling her into his arms. A sigh escaped him–equal parts helplessness and
affection.
<b>13:34 </b><b>Mon</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>22 </b>N
55 vouchers
The next morning, Ynda woke up to find Charles nowhere in sight.
As usual, she checked in with ke about thetest updates. When she heard that Renee and herpanion had already checked into the hotel, her spirits soared.
Ynda felt absolutely zero guilt about what she was putting Renee through. As far as she was concerned, Renee totally had iting.
Ian was off shooting his scenes, leaving her alone in the hotel. With nothing better to do, she just headed downstairs, nning to swing by the nearby set.
Whenever she dropped by the set, she always disguised herself–hat, sunsses, you name it.
Just as she was about to walk into the pop–up makeup station, she caught Raelyn’s voice cutting through the air. “You sure you won’t regret this? Do you even know what getting mixed up with me means?”
Ian stood tall, his long legs lean and powerful, his silhouette clean and sharp–so well–defined it was almost like a de.
For the shoot, he’d gone all out–bright red hair and three ruby earrings made his whole look bold and shy.
He looked so good, people would absolutely stop and stare if he walked down the street like this.
He had a can of Coke in his hand, set to be his prop for the uing scene.
Raelyn had been messaging him non–stoptely, always trying to get his attention. At first, Ian was nice about it, but now he was really starting to lose patience.
“Raelyn, I’ve already turned you down more than ten times,” Ian said tly.
Raelyn bit her lip, irritation flickering in her eyes. Sure, she’d been shut down time after time, but deep down, she refused to give up.
“Ian, you broke or what? I checked up on your mom at the hospital–word is, she’s in pretty rough shape.” Raelyn’s tone was sharp, almost taunting, like she was daring him to deny it.
In the next moment, Ian’s whole face twisted into a snarl as he mped his hand around her throat. His eyes were ice–cold and merciless. “Do you seriously have a death wish?<b>” </b>
Raelyn struggled for breath<b>, </b>chest burning as if he was sucking the very life out of her lungs.
Her eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, a vicious red mark blooming on her neck right where his fingers
bit in.
Ynda, her hat and mask pulled low to hide her face, hurried in and grabbed Ian’s arm. “Calm down!”
Ian’s hand loosened immediately. When he saw her, he looked a bit lost for a moment. “Ms. Gilbert.”
He still remembered their deal–on set, he had to stick to calling her Ms. Gilbert.
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<b>13:34 </b>Mon, Sep 22 N
Raelyn staggered backward, fear written all over her face. She rubbed her neck, her fingers shaking uncontrobly.
Her voice quivered as she shot back, “Just you
wait.”
With that, she hurried out of the room.
Ynda nced at Ian, his bold red hair making him impossible to miss.
He lowered his gaze, his arms rigid with tension. “Did I get you into trouble?”
His mother was his bottom line–messing with her was unforgivable. <fn7e52> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? </fn7e52>
Ynda gave his hand a reassuring pat, signaling for him to rx.
Ian pressed his lips into a thin line, then guided her hand to his earring. “Pretty cool, huh?”
The sparkle was so intense, it was like his earrings lit up the entire room.
Ynda gave
his earring a gentle squeeze<i>, </i>and Ian let out a yful hiss. “I’m getting my tongue pierced in a couple days<b>.</b><b>” </b>
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