Chapter 13
Diana nestled into his chest, tiptoeing to kiss his lips.
She had always been an expert at this-her kisses could strip Charles of every defense.
By the time his mind started to blur, she gently leaned into him, her voice soft enough to melt steel.
“Charles, I regret it…”
“Only after I left you did I realize you’re the one I’d loved all along. I was just… caught up in the thrill and novelty of the
outside world. I never meant to hurt you.”
She lifted her tear-brimmed eyes to meet his.
“Can you forgive me? Can we start over? Vivian is gone now, she’s not coming back. Charles, let me love you again,
please? Evan needs his real father too… I’m begging you.”
The same woman who had once tossed him aside like trash was now clinging to him as if he were her whole world.
Dazzling, seductive, the dream girl of countless men-was now curled in his arms like a docile kitten.
A strange, heavy feeling welled up in Charles’ chest.
He paused for two seconds, then gave a subtle nod.
He told himself it was for the sake of giving Evan a complete family.
After having lunch with Diana, Charles returned to the office.
Mr. Chambers, ever cautious, watched him closely.
“Mr. Foster… since you and Miss Schuyler have made up, should we… stop looking into Mrs. Foster’s whereabouts?”
“No need for now. And pack away everything that has to do with her. I don’t want Diana upset.”
Charles glanced at the wedding band still on his finger.
After a long beat, he looked up, his voice low and weighted.
“Check into Diana.”
He wanted to know-why had she come back all of a sudden?
Mr. Chambers gave a quiet nod and exited, leaving one sentence stuck in his throat:
I hope you really can get used to life without Mrs. Foster…
Because… dependency has a way of becoming addictive.
That evening, after work, Mr. Chambers accompanied the chauffeur to drive Charles home as usual.
Charles leaned back in the rear seat and closed his eyes to rest, but after a while, his brows furrowed.
“Did we change cars today?”
“No, sir,” Mr. Chambers replied.
Strange.
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Charles slowly adjusted his posture, but something felt… off.
He opened his eyes.
“Then why does this seat feel… wrong?”
Mr. Chambers glanced toward the backseat, momentarily stunned.
“Sir, your back’s not in great shape. The car used to have a custom-made lumbar pad-one Mrs. Foster had sewn for your spine curve. Following your instructions, I had it removed… Should I put it back?”
Charles fell silent.
“…Don’t bother.”
That night, he didn’t sleep a wink.
The next morning, after back-to-back short meetings, he felt completely drained.
Leaning back in his chair, he rubbed his temples with fatigue.
“Mr. Chambers. Coffee.”
Mr. Chambers opened the door cautiously.
“Sir… you’re allergic to caffeine. You can’t drink coffee.”
Charles clicked his tongue in irritation, eyes turning cold.
“Then what am I supposed to do? I’ve got another meeting this afternoon. I feel like hell today. Can’t I just have one cup?
Just today?”
Mr. Chambers sighed.
“Do you know why it’s only today that you’ve run out of steam, sir?”
Chapter 13
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