Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Kathleen stepped out of her room just in time. It was Charles' voice that awoke her from her slumber, fortuitously she caught Charles about to descend the stairs, she called out his name calmly.

“What's the matter? Is Charlene here?” Kathleen enquired as she stood looking at Charles.

Charles halted, he glanced behind to see her already out. He pivoted promptly and shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know. She received a call just now and left my room in such a hurry without saying anything. I have to go after her.”

Charles didn't bother to wait for her approval or response, he descended the stairs and trudged out of the building. James was driving out of the mansion when he arrived outside. Charles cursed underneath, he had to go back in for his car key. He turned around and went inside.

He entered his room, he walked toward the drawer beside his bed, he drew it out a little and took a car key then closed it back. He glanced over the bed, he took her purse then exited the room. He walked out to the garages, he unlocked the car by pressing a button on the remote, it bleeped an unlock sound, he opened the door and hopped in the car. He drove out at full speed.

She was completely stunned to meet Javier outside the mansion. Charlene ordered James to halt the car, she alighted from the car and walked up to him.

“Charlene,” Javier called her name calmly as if he had been relieved from a burden. He rushed to her and examined her body. “I was worried about you. I called you but you didn't pick, I thought something happened. How are you feeling now?”

Charlene flustered her eyes at him puzzlingly. “Javier...”

Javier put a hand on her head and smiled brightly. “I'm glad. You look better than yesterday. When I came to return your phone yesterday I didn't get the chance to see you. You look sick, please don't fall ill, Charlene.”

All she could do was stare at him. Charlene looked deeply into his eyes, she knew that he cared for her but she never thought he would come to the mansion because of her. “Javier, why are you outside?”

“Your gatekeeper already informed me that you're not around but I decided to wait. I guess Richard called to inform you. Perhaps he knew I wasn't going to leave until I saw you.”

“Javier, you should have waited for my call.” Charlene tried her best to maintain her voice. She looked around, she believed Richard might be watching them through the CCTV footage. “I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine. Can you please go now?”

Charles' car halted, he alighted from the car and advanced toward them.

“Yeah, I should.” Javier replied a bit disappointed.

“Charlene, would you ever learn to stop giving someone a fright?” Charles seethed grimly.

Charlene looked at him. “Why are you here?”

“Why am I here? You rushed out like a crazy woman. Do you really think I was going to sit back? Javier, what brought you here?” He replied annoyingly.

“She was in pain yesterday so I came to check on her. I'm about to leave. Bye-bye, Charlene.” He waved at her but she didn't respond.

“Oh. But she didn't tell me anything. Charlene, is it true?”

“It was just a cramp. I'm okay now.” Charlene answered apathetically.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I have to go in.” Charlene attempted to return to the car but Charles stopped her. He strode to his car, he took her purse and returned to her with the purse, he extended the purse to her, she collected and opened the door, she hopped in and the huge gate opened automatically, James drove in.

Charlene stepped out, she went inside while looking around for him. She couldn't even decipher what she felt at the moment, scarcely it wasn't anger. Unexpectedly she met Richard in the living room, Miguel was in a standing position playing with a ball while he was engrossed in his phone.

“Richard, why would you call me as if there was an emergency?” Charlene tried to be polite but she couldn't hold on to the anger that had started boiling inside when she saw how relaxed he was. He completely ignored her as if she was never talking to him. Miguel dropped the ball in his hands and gazed at Charlene. “Richard, I'm talking to you.”

He put his phone beside him before looking up at her. “You ain't blind right? Can't you see I'm busy?”

“The last time I checked you were the one that called me to come home immediately as if the mansion was on fire. Why are you doing this, Richard? Are you doing this to make me hate you? Or to make me give up on you?”

Richard rose, he strolled toward her as he stuffed his hands in his trousers pockets. He halted in front of her and leaned over a little. “oh, dear.” He huffed irksomely. “Actually,both. I want you to stop thinking that I'm going to love you one day. I can't because I won't. And that, I want you to stay away from that guy. If the same history repeats itself Charlene, you might not like what I'm going to do to you.”

“He's my best friend, Richard!” She yelled frustratingly.

“Who cares if he was your ex boyfriend? If anything should happen to my reputation, you're going to pay ten times for it.”

She gasped astonishingly. “Why are you doing this?”

“Chasing you out of this marriage, my intention actually. I never want you and I'll never want you. If you keep hoping for something that's never going to happen, I'm afraid you'll get old before you realize that you're never my type. I don't even know what my father was thinking when he chose you, a college student... Oh, dear. My reputation is really about to crumble because of you.”

“I don't care about what you're going to do but I'll give anything just to ease my midterm in school and he's the only one that can help me. You don't want me to go to the public library, fine. But I won't leave my best friend for you. And the fact that you don't want me now doesn't mean you'd never want me. I'm going to prove to you that I'm better than your ex wife who broke your heart and blinded you from seeing the truth. I'm going to prove to you that one day you're going to need me, want me more than anyone else. I'm not Henrietta and don't you ever compare me to her.” Charlene seethed while trying to control her anger.

“Have you lost your mind!” He snapped ferociously.

Miguel flinched back startlingly as it was sudden. He looked up at Richard's face while he was on the verge of tears.

Charlene moved closer and glared at him. “You're the one that lost his mind for thinking that all ladies are the same. What are you so afraid of? Tell me, Richard. Look at him, you're scaring him. I think he knows who his father is today.” She hissed and crouched down a little, carried Miguel in her arms and looked at Richard grimly.

“Let me have my son. You don't touch him with those hands.” Richard rasped, he attempted to carry Miguel but he hugged Charlene by clutching her dress while looking away from Richard.

“Let's see if he wants you.” Charlene patted his back tenderly. She resisted the urge of rolling her eyes when he glared at her. She saw how nervous Miguel was when he was scolding her, she had seen it in his eyes that he was scared of Richard.

“Are you crazy? Let me have my son!” He repeated imperatively. Before he could get close Miguel bawled suddenly, since he wasn't used to that. Richard furrowed his brows, he sighed softly while trying to calm himself down. “My son, Charlene–”

Charlene stepped back intentionally when she noticed Richard was carrying him from her.

“Richard, stop. You're scaring him, look at him, can't you see he doesn't want you to carry him.” She protested while moving back.

“Charlene, for the last time let me have my son.” He said sternly but she didn't budge.

“No,” As his voice got even louder and harsh, Miguel shrieked, making him halt on the track. If there was anything Richard hated was when Miguel cried because of him, he couldn't withstand his tears let alone his cries. He felt guilty instantly when Miguel refused to stop crying. Charlene rubbed her palm on his back tenderly while staring at Richard who was furious. She gulped her saliva intimidatingly.

He gritted his teeth ferociously as he tightened his fist. He began to walk toward her, Charlene thought he was going to hit her or carry him forcefully from her but he surprised her by walking away.

Charlene turned around to see him heading toward the elevator, she released the breath she didn't notice she had been holding for too long. With Miguel on her right shoulder she walked over and sat down on the sofa.

“Shush, don't make a sound. Darling, don't cry.” Charlene was able to pet him until he slept off. She laid him down gently on her laps and stared at him intently. She sighed despairingly when she remembered something. “Don't think about what hee said, Charlene. Don't lose hope yet, you just have to prove it to him that you deserve his love.” She encouraged herself while looking at Miguel who was sleeping peacefully.

KATHLEEN STOOD ON his way instantly he stepped in. Rowan had arrived and Kathleen already informed him everything. Charles furrowed his brows. “What now, mum?” Charles asked a bit insolent.

“What's wrong with her? She didn't even bother to check me in the room before she left.”

Charles didn't know if he should tell them the truth or pretend as if he knew nothing.

“Charles, is there something Charlene isn't telling us?”

Eventually Charles shook his head. “No, she's not hiding anything. She got really excited about what Richard told her on the phone. I believe he wanted her home urgently.” Charles framed an excuse, hoping his parents would believe without another question.

“Was that the reason she left without talking to her mother? Dear lord. Honey, I think Charlene is slowly forgetting us.” Kathleen joked as she stepped away from Charles' way.

Rowan chuckled. “She'll come around some other time.”

“Mum, dad, I'm jealous. She didn't bother to listen to what I wanted to tell, she left me because of him. I think Richard has charmed my sister.” He said with sarcasm.

“Don't be absurd. All of us here know Charlene has always loved him before they met. I don't even know what to call their love but it's beautiful.” Rowan mumbled.

“I'm so glad my daughter is happy.”

Charles clenched his fist out of anger, he forced a smile on his lips while nodding to what they said. Deep down he wanted to yell, he wanted to tell them that the marriage they thought might be working never worked. “Yes, she's pretending to be happy.” Charles murmured that none of them heard what he murmured.

“I'll be in my room.” He announced then he walked to the stairs leisurely but halted on the staircase. He turned around. “Mom, I think you should call Charlene. Javier told me she had a cramp yesterday while they were at the library.”

“Oh. That's her menstrual cramp. I'm pretty sure Richard is going to take care of her. Don't worry, I'm going to call and ask about how she's feeling in case she needs any drug to alleviate the pain.”

Charles nodded before ascending the stairs. He was quite disappointed in himself for lying to their parents when he knew everything about their marriage. However he couldn't tell them because Charlene might not be happy if he did. He wanted her to be happy so respecting her decision was the only option left for him. He had no choice but to pretend.