Chapter 7 : Why did you allow her

Charles froze midway through pulling on his shirt.

“This… this is a mistake,” he said hoarsely. “I’m so....so sorry. This shouldn’t have happened.” Fear edged his voice as the words spilt out.

Rosina straightened, her bare feet planted firmly on the floor. “What’s done is done,” she said calmly.

Charles stared at her with empty eyes, “Please… don’t get close to me again,” he muttered, turning to leave.

Rosina grabbed his arm.

She broke down instantly, tears flooding her eyes as she clung to him....“What did you expect?” she cried. “What we had last night was reconciliation. You love me, Charles. You wanted me...you wanted me to be yours.”

Charles gently pulled away, pressing his hands to his head, trying desperately to remember anything.

But there was nothing. Nothing about how they both ended up on the same bed...

“I don’t remember anything,” he said quietly.

All he could recall was the hotel lounge bar. He had been there for business. He’d had a couple of glasses and a little whiskey, before running into Rosina by chance. They’d exchanged a few friendly words, nothing more. Then… nothing else.

“I’m married to your best friend,” he said, his voice breaking. “This should never have happened. I must have been carried away.”

Rosina’s eyes hardened beneath her tears. “That doesn’t change the fact that I met you first. We were supposed to be together. You and me. Not you and Bianca.”

Charles shook his head, pain cutting across his face at her words.

“I chose her,” he said firmly. “Because I love her.”

Rosina’s expression softened, but her resolve did not...“Fate chose this, it chose us” she said calmly. “That’s why we both woke up naked in the same bed. I don’t care if you took my virginity. What matters is that I did it with a better man. A man I love ”

But Charles wasn’t having it...Guilt crushed him, heavy and suffocating, and he didn’t want to hear another word. His heart was pounding violently in his chest when his phone suddenly rang.

It was from Bianca

Taking a shaky breath, he inhaled and exhaled slowly before answering, his eyes flicking briefly to Rosina.

“Yes, sweetheart,” he said into the phone, forcing calm into his voice. “I’m so sorry....I was exhausted and must have fallen asleep. Yes, baby… it went well.”

He didn’t wait long enough for suspicion to creep in. He ended the call and walked out quickly.

Behind him, Rosina watched....She slowly lifted her head and held herself the same way she was hugging herself and smiling in front of the washroom mirror as the memory faded…

“Now we’re locked in,” Rosina whispered, rubbing her six-month-pregnant belly as she stared at herself in the mirror.

She remembered telling Charles three weeks later that night she was pregnant with his child. Charles had nearly collapsed. The shock had drained the color from his face. He had always wanted a child but not like this....He wanted that future with Bianca, his one and only

Rosina hadn’t cared.

A month into the pregnancy, she had threatened him without blinking. She told him plainly that she would erase him from the child’s life if he didn’t take responsibility...if he didn’t step up and claim her and the baby.

“Marry me, Charles,” she had said coldly. “Introduce me to everyone as your wife.”

Charles had stood frozen in front of her...“I can’t do that. I’m married to Bianca. She’s my life. Nothing will change that” Rosina had smiled slowly, picked up her bag, and walked out without another word.

Now, standing in the washroom, Rosina laughed softly, reliving every detail she had planted.

The sound of the door opening snapped her back to the present.

The memory made her laugh softly now, alone in the bathroom, relishing every detail until she heard movement behind her.

Charles stepped out of the bathroom already dressed in a sharp suit.

“You’re leaving already?” she asked, surprised, watching him reach for his phone on the bed.

“Yes. I have a board meeting,” Charles replied shortly.

He walked out without another word.

Rosina hesitated for a moment, then hurried after him. .

“Let me at least make breakfast for you,” Rosina said, rushing after him.

“I’m fine,” Charles replied without slowing, already halfway down the stairs.

In the lower hallway, Mrs Camilla was moving slowly, swinging a tray of incense, muttering prayers under her breath, words about blessings, fulfilment, and good fortune finally settling in the house. She paused mid-chant when she saw Charles, hastily setting the tray down.

“Charles, sweetheart,” she called out, “are you leaving already? I thought you’d be home all day.”

He didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at her. He walked straight past her and out the door.

Seconds later, Rosina appeared at the top of the stairs.

“Oh, my sweet daughter-in-law,” Mrs Camilla exclaimed, rushing toward her. “You look like an angel sent straight from heaven.”

She pulled Rosina into a tight hug, Rosina, however, rolled her eyes deeply, clearly tired of Mrs Camilla’s shenanigans.

Pulling away, Mrs Camilla frowned. “Are you hungry?” she asked, pressing her own forehead lightly. “How can I even ask a pregnant woman this?” she muttered, then hurried off. “I’ll have some proper English breakfast prepared for you,” she added as she disappeared down the hallway.

Rosina smiled to herself. Have her wrapped around my finger, she thought, as she sauntered over and sank onto the sofa.

Her eyes fell on the tray of incense Mrs. Camilla had left beside the sofa. The smell hit her sharply, making her wrinkle her nose in disgust. What in the world… is this cultish nonsense? she muttered, slamming everything off the tray onto the floor and standing, holding her nose.

“I almost choked on my pregnancy....goodness me!” she exclaimed, marching straight to the elevator…

***

Bianca had managed to book a hotel for the rest of the week with the small amount of money the maid had given her from the penthouse. One thing she knew she had to do was stop by Charles’s company. She was certain she would catch up with him there and there was no way he could dodge her.

Now, standing in front of the towering office building, Bianca took a steadying breath before stepping inside.

Inside, workers moved hurriedly, in a sharp suits each of them looking like they were racing against time.

The same company where Bianca had once been greeted with smiles and warm hellos now treated her like a stranger.People glanced at her with uncertainty, even fear, as if approaching her might cost them something. No one stepped forward and no one smiled.

The cold reception broke Bianca’s heart even more. Her fist clenched tightly at her side. She knew exactly who was to blame and she was determined that Charles would face whatever she had brought for him today..

Walking straight past the onlookers and whispered murmurs, Bianca made her way to the third floor. She hurried down the hallway until she saw Charles’ personal assistant rushing toward her, just as she reached the doors to his office.

“Ma’am…” the assistant began, but Bianca turned sharply to him.

Bianca turned sharply toward him, her gaze piercing. “Where is Charles?” she demanded, looking him directly in the eyes. The assistant, aware of all the weekend gossip swirling around the office, swallowed nervously.

“He’s not in yet,” the assistant said softly, keeping his head lowered out of respect and perhaps pity for Bianca.

“Do you need something?” he added cautiously.

“Yes,” Bianca said firmly. “I need to see your boss and have a word with him. I’ll be in his office waiting.”

Without giving him a chance to respond, she stepped inside and shut the door from behind her.

About ten minutes after Bianca had arrived at the office, causing whispers and sideways glances across the building, a Limousine came to a stop outside and Charles stepped out, adjusting his suit.

“Good morning, sir,” the security men said in unison as Charles’ feet touched the company logo on the floor. They exchanged nervous glances as he entered the building.

His assistants, who had clearly been waiting, rushed toward him.

“Sir,” he called struggling to keep pace beside him…

Charles didn’t even glance at him until he murmured,

“Sir… Mrs. Bianca, your ex-wife, is waiting in your office.”

Charles stopped and turned sharply, a dark look flashing in his eyes.

“Why did you let her in?” he demanded, anger breaking through his calm.

“Well… sir,” the assistant began, unsure how to explain.

“Cancel all my meetings today and book me a flight to Japan. I want it in the next thirty minutes,” Charles said, already turning and striding back toward the entrance.

The assistant hurried after him. “Sir…the deals for the board meeting… they’re scheduled for today.”

“Tell them I have more important things to handle,” Charles replied coldly, walking outside and entering into a waiting limousine which drove off the same way it had arrived.

The assistant watched the car disappear through the tall gate, standing there in distress.. Now standing awkwardly in front of Bianca, he bowed slightly, muttering,“I’m so sorry, ma’am. Mr Warren declined to see you. He should already be at the airport, flying to Japan.”

Bianca only nodded. She didn’t argue or ask why. The rejection was clear now, he didn’t want to see her anymore. A tear fell as she lowered her head.