LOGINCharles left the question hanging. His hand hovered between us, but he didn't dare reach for me."We're divorced. Stay out of my life. I don't love you. Do you hear me?""But I still love you!""Do I have to love you back just because you love me?"I scoffed. He just looked ridiculous to me now.Before he could say anything else, I signaled my bodyguards. They rushed over and dragged him away.I turned and walked toward Cooper. Charles was screaming like a madman behind me, but I never once looked back.In the car, Cooper didn't ask about what had just happened. He only talked about what we'd seen at the exhibit.He didn't pry into my private life at all.I didn't bring it up either. That seemed like the right boundary between friends.After that day, I never saw Charles again.He didn't ask me to return anything he'd given me. The proceeds from the sales were all in my account.I now held half his family's fortune.I bought a gallery and had it renovated exactly as I liked. I spent th
Charles stood with his hands in his coat pockets. When he saw me, he slowly walked toward us.As he came closer, my bodyguards got out of the car. I raised a hand, signaling them to wait.Cooper hadn't finished his impression. He followed my gaze and turned to look behind him. "Do you know him, Serena?"I lowered my phone and nodded.Charles was breathing hard. His hair was a mess, and his face looked worn. He barely resembled the man I'd known.His eyes reddened again as he looked at me."Serena."He said my name in a voice hoarse with despair.Cooper took the hint. "I'll go wait over there. Take your time."He waited under a tree across the street, close enough to see me but too far away to hear.He knew how much space to give me.I glanced over at Cooper, then turned back to Charles. "Why are you following me?"Lately, whenever Cooper and I went out, I'd sensed someone following me. I hadn't thought much of it.I knew my bodyguards were following close by.So I'd let it go. I never
I watched his lonely figure in the cold wind. He'd been standing there so long that he was starting to sway.My expression didn't change at all.A few days of waiting was enough to make others feel sorry for him.I'd lived like that for seven years.The first time he went to Susie, I waited outside the estate gates. It was snowing, and I pulled my cloak tight, my eyes fixed on the road.He'd promised to be home in three hours.But I waited all day. My hands and feet froze, and by nightfall I had a high fever. All Charles said was, "I told you I'd be back. Who told you to wait outside?"Remembering it, I let out a cold laugh.I turned to Mara. "Open the gate and let the dog out. And get some bodyguards here starting tomorrow. No one comes near this place from now on."If I see him again, you're all fired."My expression turned cold, and Mara went pale.The dog burst through the gate, barking wildly at Charles. He yanked open his car door, but the dog lunged for him and tugged at his pan
To me, Charles looked like a madman throwing a tantrum."Oh, I'm divorcing you."It's not up to you. I'm telling you how it is."I don't want to see you. You disgust me."You think if you cry and make a scene like this, I'll feel sorry for you and come back?"As I said it, my smile widened.The heartbreak on Charles's face gave way to disbelief. He never thought I'd say something like that.In the end, I'd always put up with his visits to Susie. My sudden change in attitude was more than he could take.What he didn't know was that it hadn't happened overnight.His lips parted, but for a long time he said nothing. When he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse. "I'm sorry, Serena."I shouldn't have gone to see Susie. I only went because she's not well."You know how much she gave up for me. How could I leave her alone when I'm the reason she's like this?"If you don't like me seeing her, I won't see her anymore."Please... Don't leave me. Don't divorce me, okay?"He looked at me pleadingly
Charles had dark circles under his eyes and hadn't even fixed his hair.His eyes were red-rimmed. He took a careful step toward me and said my name."Serena... Why didn't you tell me?"His voice came out hoarse."Didn't we agree we were going to the racing club together? Why did you come here without telling me?"Charles's voice faded.I looked at him through the iron gate and made no move to open it.The Charles I knew would never have humbled himself like this. Even when he coaxed me, there was always a note of condescension in his voice.In all those years, I'd never seen him make himself so small.The only other time was back when he was courting me. He'd waited outside my house for three hours.When I finally came out, he hesitantly asked if I was hungry.Back then, every look and gesture had seemed hesitant and carefully considered.Watching him, I'd believed he loved me.I really believed I was the one he cared about most.Maybe, for a while, he had meant what he said. He'd done
The moment Charles pulled over, I had my driver stop too.I kept my eyes on Charles.As he walked toward me, I gave him a cold smile.He leaned toward my car window and narrowed his eyes to get a better look. I turned to face him.Once Charles was sure it was me, he tapped twice on the window."Where are you going, Serena?"I told the driver, "Roll down the window."The window slid down, and I smiled. "I left something on the table in the front hall. Bring it with you."Didn't you say we were going to the racing club?"At my reminder, that familiar look crossed Charles's face, as if he'd only just remembered.He drew a breath. "Right. The racing club."Wait here. I'll go back to the house and get it for you."I didn't answer him. I just nodded and told the driver, "It's windy. Close the window."The window began to rise."Drive."The driver stepped on the gas. Charles, still standing by the window, reached out to stop us.The car rolled forward. Charles's eyes widened. He ran after us,







