Chapter 5

It was past midnight when William returned home. Every light in the house was off, the entire place swallowed in darkness.

He stood still for a long moment, uneasy, before finally turning on the lights.

In three years of marriage, no matter how late he came home, Charlotte would always be waiting in the living room, curled up on the couch with the TV on. The moment she saw him, a bright smile would play on her lips. She would run barefoot across the floor, jump into his arms, and glue herself to him.

Now, not even a single light had been left on for him.

She was truly angry this time.

Dragging his tired body into the bedroom, he found it just as dark. William switched on the bedside lamp by the faint light slipping through the curtains.

Charlotte stirred slightly, turning her face into the pillow.

He sat on the edge of the bed, gently brushing the strands of hair from her forehead, trying to see if she was asleep. But she stayed perfectly still, her face buried in the blanket.

After a brief hesitation, William stood and went into the bathroom.

The sound of running water filled the silence. Charlotte slowly opened her eyes. Her damp eyelashes trembled. Then she pulled the blanket back over her head.

When William came out, he was wearing a dark bathrobe, his hair still dripping. He bent down to check on her again, then, seeing no movement, turned off the light and left for the study.

The study remained unlit. William stood by the window, a cigarette between his fingers, the glow briefly illuminating the diamond bracelet in his hand.

She shouldn’t have noticed anything. If she had, with her temper, she would have already made a scene loud enough to shake the entire house. The fact that she had stayed silent meant it had to be a coincidence. The bracelet must have fallen at the hospital by accident.

*

The next morning, Charlotte woke early, washed up, and got ready to deliver breakfast to her parents. As she reached for her phone, William stepped out of the dressing room, fully dressed.

She had no intention of speaking to him.

He caught her by the wrist. “Where’s the bracelet? Why aren’t you wearing it?”

Charlotte lowered her gaze and answered hoarsely, “I don’t know. Maybe I lost it.”

William ignored the roughness in her voice. His eyes stayed fixed on her face. “I saw Caleb last night,” he said casually.

It took her a moment to realize he was testing her.

She drew a deep breath and looked up to meet his eyes. “After we left each other, I went to the hospital to see my mom. Caleb said he saw you go up to the thirteenth floor. I went there to find you but didn’t see you, so I came home.”

William took the diamond bracelet from his pocket. “You dropped this at the hospital. I picked it up and brought it back.”

He carefully avoided explaining why he had been there in the first place.

As he tried to fasten it back onto her wrist, Charlotte pulled away. “I don’t want it.”

For once, William tried to be patient. “Just wear the bracelet for now. Once this busy period is over, I’ll take you to pick one you actually like.”

Charlotte felt like she was losing her mind.

Days of pent-up frustration and resentment burst out all at once. Her emotions shattered completely. “I said I don’t want it! I don’t want it! I don’t want it!”

Her voice trembled as she went on. “If it’s not a one-of-a-kind gift, if you’re not a one-of-a-kind husband, then I don’t want any of it!”

Seeing her this angry actually made William feel relieved.

Charlotte had been pampered her whole life. Whenever she didn’t get her way, she would throw a tantrum.

He assumed she was only upset because the gift wasn’t special enough.

William reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, leaning down to kiss her.

The moment their lips touched, Charlotte shoved him away.

She didn’t react like before, when even the slightest touch from him could spark her passion.

Tears streamed down her face as she pushed against his chest. “I don’t want this! I don’t want it!”

She hit and shoved him like someone completely breaking apart.

William caught her wrists, frustration flashing in his eyes. “Charlotte, enough. There’s a limit to how far you can take this.”

He could tolerate her being emotional, even a little spoiled.

But this hysterical version of her was beyond anything he could understand. He couldn’t reason with her when she was like this.

Charlotte’s voice shook with anger. “I’ve been like this my whole life. What, you’re just realizing it now?”

William remained calm. “All this over a bracelet?”

Charlotte snapped. She began throwing things across the room. “You know exactly what you’ve done, William Harris!”

Tears streamed down her face as she pushed and shoved him toward the door. “You didn’t want to come home anyway, right? Then go! Get out!”

William caught her in his arms. “Stop it before you hurt yourself.”

Just then, his phone started to vibrate, cutting through their shouting.

When he hurriedly hung up, that small movement was enough to send Charlotte over the edge.

She lunged for his phone. “Go on, answer it! Aren’t you busy with work? Take the call!”

She couldn’t take it anymore.

William refused to give her the phone, and in a fit of desperation, Charlotte bit his hand.

He winced from the pain and pushed her away. She stumbled backward and fell hard onto the floor.

The heavy thud echoed through the room, followed by complete silence.

William stood there, breathing unevenly, staring at her motionless figure. Her hair was a mess, her body still. After a long moment, he turned away, exhausted.

He thought back to the girl she used to be—playful and mischievous, with a smile that could charm anyone.

As she grew older, she became radiant and full of life, the kind of girl who drew every eye in the room. Later, she was bold and passionate, clinging to him, teasing him, loving him with wild, open affection.

After marriage, she softened. She became gentle and considerate, learning how to take care of him and settling into her role as a graceful wife.

No matter what stage of life she was in, she had always been beautiful and proud. She had never screamed or broken down like this, never looked so lost and out of control.

“When you calm down, we’ll talk,” William said quietly before leaving the room.

Just as he stepped out, Michelle arrived.

William glanced upstairs. “Charlotte isn't in a good mood. I ordered her some food. Make sure she eats and then take her out for a walk to help her feel better.”

Before Michelle could respond, William was already gone.

It wasn’t the first time Charlotte had faked fainting. Whenever she upset him, she would pretend to pass out or act pitiful until his anger faded.

But this time was different. She had gone too far. She needed to calm down.

Michelle climbed the stairs and entered the bedroom. The sight made her freeze.

“Charlotte!” she shouted, running forward.

Charlotte was lying unconscious on the floor. Panicking, Michelle knelt beside her and tried calling her brother, but the line was busy.

With no other choice, she dialed 911.

When Charlotte woke up, she was in a hospital bed. Michelle and her mother-in-law, Mandy Walker, sat beside her, their faces filled with worry.

Mandy quickly stood and moved closer. “Charlotte, sweetheart, are you in pain? Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

Charlotte felt weak all over. “Mom, why am I in the hospital?”

Michelle helped her sit up. “You fainted at home.”

Charlotte’s memory slowly returned. She remembered the argument, the shouting, and biting William before he pushed her away.

She glanced around the hospital room. “Did William bring me here and then leave?” she asked quietly.

“It was me who called 911. William—”