Chapter 153 <fn41d5> Read full story at FindN0vel</fn41d5>
May felt a surge of panic. Charles had never defended Ynda like this before. Just what happenedtely? she asked herself.
She tightened her fist at her side, struggling to speak, but in the end, she stayed silent.
As the car slowly rolled forward, Ynda felt a bit dizzy, but she couldn’t help trying to convince Charles. “You shouldn’t talk to May like that. Renee’s like this, and it hurts her too.”
Charles gave her cheek a yful pinch. “Even now, you’re worried about others. That’s why you’re my amazing wife.”
Ynda let her eyshes drop, forcing a bitter smile. “You chose Renee over me before. I know she’s so important to you, so that’s why I always did my best to look after her. Thinking of you is the least I can do, honey.”
Charles’s yful smile faded, reced by a look of silent wonder as he saw how earnest she was. ‘She really is hopelessly sincere,‘ he thought, a strange ache rising in his chest.
Even he still thought what he had done–the trade–was unforgivable, yet Ynda spoke about it so lightly, as if it was just another small thing in life.
It was proof she never once resented him. Only someone that gentle would rush over to care for Renee like this today.
‘She really does love me…‘ he thought.
At the hospital, the doctor patched up Ynda’s wound. Thankfully, she didn’t need any stitches–it just bled quite a bit.
Once she was bandaged up, Ynda sat quietly in a chair, waiting for the test results. Charles had insisted on getting her checked for a concussion, worried something might’ve been missed.
The nurse nced at her and spoke up.
“Your husband treats you so well. This is just a minor injury–there’s really no way you’d have a concussion, but he wouldn’t rest until we ran all the tests.”
“Plus, he’s super handsome and probably loaded. You’re one lucky girl.”
Ynda simply smiled, staying silent.
When the results came back clear, Charles guided Ynda back to the car, supporting her the whole way.
He took a wet wipe from Jiang and began cleaning her fingertips, gently removing the dried blood that lingered in the creases of her skin.
He went over each finger, utterly focused, his movements slow and careful–like she was the most precious thing in the world to him. <ol><li>IV. </li></ol>
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When they got home, Charles’s phone rang. It was Quinn Cooper, asking him toe over for drinks.
He’d been busy with things at the Andrade manortely, so he hadn’t gotten in touch with his friends for quite a while.
Tonight, he finally had a free moment, but for whatever reason, he just didn’t want to <i>go</i>.
That kind of thought had never even crossed his mind before.
Ynda let out a big yawn, her eyes sleepy. “I’m heading to bed, just wanna have some quiet time to myself.”
Charles walked her to the living room. “Alright, I’ll go hang out with Quinn and the guys for a bit.
Ynda nodded.
Charles stepped into the private lounge and saw the crew was already there, hanging out.
True to form, Quinn had a few gorgeous party girls around, shing that mischievous grin of his.
“You’ve been tied uptely, huh? Been calling you nonstop, but you just ghost me,” Quinn teased.
Charles sat down, gracefully undoing his tie with those long, elegant fingers.
One of the party girls instantly scooted closer, trying to feed him a grape.
He tilted his head away, looking icy. “Sit over there.”
The girl paused, visibly disappointed, and hurried to sit next to Quinn instead.
Quinn took a few seconds to react, then tsked, waving for the girls to head out.
“What’s got into you, Charles? Settling down or something? Anyway, it’s been a while since you brought that little actress along,” Quinn teased.
Back then, Charles used to bring Sophie to parties like this without a care, and nobody would’ve ever bothered Ynda about it.
Charles picked up a ss of wine, a soft smile shing across his face. “Ynda’s honestly amazing.”
Quinn perked up, clearly loving the gossip. “Dude, Ynda’s waited fifteen whole years for you, and now the jerk finallyes to his senses? Seriously, that’s something worth celebrating. Wanna throw a party? Have all your old flings over and just tell them it’s done.”
Charles just smiled, keeping his silence.
Quinn’s smirk disappeared in an instant and he shot up in his seat, stunned. “Holy crap, are you actually
serious?”
Leo was sitting off to the side, ying a game on his phone. But the second they brought up Ynda, his thumbs froze. He was totally zoned out, mind drifting way off–there was no way he could concentrate
anymore.
10:15 Fri<b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>
Charles leaned back, carrying a mix of gentle charm and that signature hint of recklessness. “Who knows<b>? </b>Maybe it’s time I actually take things seriously.”
He shared how he’d once put Rence above Ynda, making that trade–then went on about how, even tonight, Ynda had rushed over to care for Renee. As he spoke, his gaze softened, filled with a quiet tenderness.
Quinn set his ss down with a sigh. “Honestly, man, what you did back then was really unfair. Ynda’s always been kind of timid–you can imagine how freaked out she must’ve been. Yet tonight she still went out of her way to look after Rence, like, she absolutely adores you. From day one, she’s never bothered to hide how much she cares, not even a little. Sure, I always joke she’s got <i>a </i>one–track mind for love and that falling for you’s basically ruined her life, but truth is, I’m kinda jealous. Most girls are after your money, but she’s only ever wanted you for you.”
Leo dug at his ear, half–convinced he was hearing things.
‘What the hell is this?‘
Ynda’s supposed to be into Charles? For real?‘
‘Get outta here! The guy’s got women all over town!‘
‘Man, what a faker–ying everyone like that.‘
Leo clenched his phone, shooting Quinn a look that could kill.
Quinn caught him staring, touched his face and joked, “What? Is there something smudged on my cheek?”
Leo smirked, his tone dripping with bite. “Nope, not a thing.”
Out of everyone in the lounge, only Leo really knew what Ynda was truly like.
Thinking about that, a strange warmth bloomed in his chest.
He set his phone aside and quietly stared at the drink in his ss.
Quinn’s mood soured in an instant and he kicked at Leo. “You’ve been acting real weirdtely, man. That look you gave me were you trying tough at me or what?”
“Nah,” Leo replied, ice–cold.
Quinn was about to go off on him, but then remembered they were still talking about Ynda, so he just let out a sigh.
“Charles, if you’re really thinking about settling down with Ynda, then it’s time to get serious and stop messing around. You’re still in the game, man–it’s not toote. She’s your wife, the one you actually put your name next to on that marriage certificate. Ande on, with how stunning she is, you know half the guys out there are probably dreaming about stealing her away,” Quinn said.
Just as Quinn finished speaking, Leo suddenly cut in, “Heard Joelle Monroe’sing back.”
<b>10:15 </b><b>Fri</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>
The lounge went dead quiet, and Quinn clicked his tongue. “Seriously? You just had to bring that <b>up</b><b>, </b>huh?”
Leo pulled out his phone again and fired up a random game, not really paying attention.
“Me, bringing it up on purpose? I’m just stating facts. Joelle Monroe made an announcement overseas<b>–</b>she’sing back to make it big here. Wasn’t she always Charles’s dream girl, the one that got away? Pretty obvious she’s got her sights set on him this time. Back when Charles had his ident, she ran off with some nobody, but now she’s a famous actress–probably hoping to pick up where she left off”
When Joelle’s name came up, Quinn didn’t know what to say.
Back then, Joelle could’ve just ridden Charles’s coattails and worked the scene in the entertainment world, but nope–she was after the real deal: love, honesty, and some damn respect.
Charles couldn’t give her what she wanted, so she bailed. Ever since then, she’s been the girl who stayed stuck in his heart–the one he calls his “white moonlight.”
Charles was totally into her. Joelle had this stubborn streak, made guys wanna win her over just to see if they could.
She’s been killing it abroad these past few years, and word is Charles actually flew out to see her more than
once<b>. </b>
Honestly? He still can’t get her out of his head.
Leo kept tapping at his phone, looking like he was totally into his game, but then just threw out, “Charles, if Joelle Monroees back, would you try to rekindle things with her?”
Quinn nced at Charles too, but Charles just gripped his ss and stayed silent.
Quinn let out a sigh of relief. “With this guy still acting like a total yer, I swear Ynda’s probably got another fifteen years of waiting ahead of her.”
Leo lowered his eyes, his fingers just mindlessly swiping at his phone–even though his game character had gotten killed a long time ago.