Library
Search
Home / Romance / Simp No More / Chapter 2

Share

Chapter 2

Author: Chubbs
The girl in Charles's arms was young.

Still a college student, most likely.

She had those wide, innocent eyes that blinked at me like she hadn't figured out yet how the world worked. Prettier than the one who'd poured drinks down my throat the night before, or at least a little gentler, I thought absently.

But I was wrong.

When she took the bag of ice cream from my outstretched hand, she gave a delicate little shiver. Her hand "slipped." The ice cream splattered onto her thighs with all the predictability of a stage cue.

"Oh no!"

She shot up from the sofa like a startled rabbit. The ice cream bucket tipped with her, crashing downward and soaking me in cold.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! It's just—it's so cold, and I know you didn't do it on purpose either, I'm totally fine—really."

Her eyes, big and glossy, teetered on the edge of tears.

"Please don't blame her, Charles," she added sweetly. "It's my fault, not hers."

By the time she finished talking, there wasn't a word left for me to say.

I just stood there, drenched in melted ice cream. Half of me mourned the ruined fabric. The other half thought—she didn't need to go this far. Charles would've found a reason to punish me anyway.

After all, I'd smiled at the door just now.

He couldn't stand to see me smile.

And sure enough, the next second—

Charles shot to his feet, kicking the glass coffee table with a sudden fury. It skidded across the floor, smacking into my legs.

I stumbled and fell hard. And even as pain shot through my knee, all I could think was: Good. Let this be the last time.

"Mindy! You ungrateful wretch, you did that on purpose, didn't you?!"

He stormed forward and yanked me up from the ground like I weighed nothing.

The force of it crushed my breath. My face flushed crimson from the pressure.

"Say something. Cat got your tongue? What were you smiling at, huh? Who told you you could smile?"

The others in the room—his friends, his girls, his entourage—went still. Most of them had never seen this version of Charles. The kind with his claws out. The kind that didn't bother pretending.

No one made a sound.

"S...sorry," I choked out, barely able to breathe.

I didn't bother to explain. He wouldn't have listened. He never did.

"Go apologize to Rhyn," he barked. "Grovel at her feet. Say it like you mean it. Or you can pack up your shit and get the hell out of my house for good!"

My fever had blurred everything by now. The air felt heavy and unreal.

But that last sentence cut through it all.

Like music.

I steadied myself. Pulled against the grip he had on my shirt.

He thought I was heading toward the girl, so he let go easily.

"Alright," I said, smiling at him. "Then goodbye, Charles."

And with that, I turned, straightened my back, and walked out of Room 1808, without once looking back.

Behind me, his voice rose in a final roar, the sound of it muffled and buried the moment the door clicked shut.

"Mindy! You'd better not regret this!"
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Latest chapter

  • Simp No More   Chapter 16

    Inside the box, a familiar blue crystal pendant lay quietly.And with it, memories I thought long buried were suddenly set alight.After the accident, I had wandered to the rooftop of a tall building just off the street. Not because I had any particular thought in mind, only because I wanted a place with a view, somewhere silent, somewhere to be alone for a while."You were the guy on the rooftop that day?"It hit me all at once.I stared at Tyler, my mouth hanging open in disbelief.But he looked nothing like the boy I remembered.Back then, he was all angles and shadows—gaunt, hollow-eyed, worn out in a way that made him seem already halfway gone. Lifeless, almost.Tyler smiled softly and gave a small nod. "Yeah, that was me.""That year I was applying to college," he said. "My parents pushed me into business. I didn't want it. I never wanted it. My life felt like a marionette's—someone else always pulling the strings. I couldn't sleep for months. My mind started slipping in

  • Simp No More   Chapter 15

    There's something different about the streets of France in early winter.I was walking back to my apartment alone after class. The sound of hurried footsteps behind me made me tense. Instinctively, I quickened my pace.But whoever was behind me only closed the distance faster.Panic swelled in my chest. I broke into a run, turning corners without thinking, until I crashed into something—someone—solid and cool."I've been waiting forever," a man's voice murmured above my head, calm and low. "Took you long enough."He spoke in fluent, effortless French—clearly for the benefit of the people behind me.From behind, someone cursed under their breath and turned away, footsteps fading into the distance.Only then did I lift my head.The first thing I saw was Tyler's face. As cold and striking as I remembered, but thinner now, more worn. The disheveled stubble, the slight slump in his shoulders—he looked like a man who had lost things along the way."What are you doing here?" I asked,

  • Simp No More   Chapter 14

    "You're clever," Madam Mankin said, her voice low and tight, "but you should also know—only certain kinds of people are truly capable of keeping secrets."I raised an eyebrow, calm and unshaken."I wouldn't have come here alone unless I was ready," I said. "All the evidence is scheduled to be sent from a secure email. If I don't make it to my flight, it'll go straight to George. But if I get on that plane, it vanishes. For good.""And why should I believe you?" Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her emotions clearly pushing against the seams."Because you don't have a choice. You have to."I knew her weakness better than anyone. After a lifetime of manipulation, I understood what she valued most. It wasn't the police she feared. It was her husband, George Mankin.The moment he discovered who was truly behind the death of his beloved son, everything she built would crumble.This was a game neither of us could afford to lose."Who are you?" she asked, her voice low, eyes narrowing.

  • Simp No More   Chapter 13

    It was as if Charles were caught in the grip of some unfathomable, fatal dilemma.His expression faltered—confused, adrift."Mindy," his voice came from behind me, low and hoarse, "it shouldn't be like this. Even if you're in love with my brother... we look so alike. Why don't you feel anything for me at all?"I didn't stop walking. Didn't even glance back.A man like him—perhaps someone like him could live his whole life without ever truly understanding what love is.He had imprisoned himself in the past, wrapping it around him like a safety blanket, too afraid to see that it was already threadbare. But me—I wanted to move forward.Inside the inner hall, Madam Mankin was already waiting for me.She lifted her face slightly, then stroked the cross in her hand.When she heard my footsteps, her fingers paused."Mindy," she said gently, "I've always known... you were just a child back then. What happened—it wasn't your fault."I stared at her, expressionless. Not a flicker of em

  • Simp No More   Chapter 12

    Madam Mankin stepped out from the inner room.She glanced at Charles before turning to me."He called earlier to check in," she said. "I mentioned you'd be dropping by. So he came."I forced a dry and awkward smile but didn't respond.Madam Mankin, clearly sensing my reluctance, let the subject drop. Instead, she turned to Charles again. "I need to speak with Mindy about something. Go clean yourself up. Just look at you."I didn't spare him a glance. Without a word, I followed Madam Mankin toward the inner hall.We were just passing the couch when, for reasons I couldn't begin to understand, Charles suddenly lost it.He shot up from the sofa like something inside him had snapped. In a few long strides, he was beside me, eyes bloodshot and feral, like something wild and cornered.Before Madam Mankin could say anything, he grabbed my wrist and started dragging me toward the door."I need to talk to her," he said. "Just the two of us. Something private."The agreement had long s

  • Simp No More   Chapter 11

    I hadn't expected it to be Tyler who called me."You ran off again?" His voice crackled through the receiver, edged with accusation."Sorry, Dr. Ford," I said. "I'm just not the kind of patient who follows orders."The wind was howling around me, and the roar of waves crashing onto the shore must've reached him too, because he paused. I could almost hear him stiffen."Where are you? Are you at the beach? Mindy, don't do anything stupid. That bastard Charles isn't worth it. Listen to me—if you're even thinking about ending it all, I swear I'll destroy him. I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life, I—"He'd clearly misunderstood.There was a new panic in his voice now—hurried footsteps, the clatter of things knocked over, some object shattering somewhere near him.I quickly spoke up to calm him down. "Relax. I'm not going to do anything reckless. Dr. Ford, I think I may have given you the wrong impression last time. Maybe I wasn't clear. Whatever I'm going through, it's n

More Chapters

You may also like

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status