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The Billionaire’s Reluctant Bride
Chapter 49
Charlotte’s POV:
Alexander rubbed his temples, looking utterly exhausted. “Charlotte, look carefully. She called me, but I didn’t answer.”
I checked the screen again. He was right, but that didn’t extinguish the flames of anger burning inside me. “But you answered a call from another person named Barrett!”
“That was a specialist’s call. He’s the one who fixed the equipment today,” he explained, with an infuriating patience.
“And there’s also an unknown number,” I persisted, unwilling to relinquish my righteous anger.
Alexander sighed. “That was Karen’s father calling to ask me to make an exception for Camilla Hayes and reinstate her enrollment. I told them they had the wrong person–the school is now managed by my wife, and my words carry no weight. Then I hung up.”
Despite his explanation, the hurt from earlier in the day wouldn’t go away. He had deliberately made me jealous, and I wasn’t going to let him off easily.
I noticed Richard Kingsley taking out his phone to call someone. “Hello, old Chen, it’s Richard.”
I listened carefully to the conversation, confirming that Alexander had indeed been with colleagues all afternoon. But knowing he hadn’t gone out flirting with other women did nothing to ease my anger. The fact remained: he had deliberately made me jealous, causing me unnecessary worry for hours.
After Richard finished boasting about his newly acquired WeChat skills and walked away, James Kingsley tactfully left with his wife. Jason followed, leaving only Alexander and me in the spacious living room.
I maintained my silence, letting my displeasure speak for itself.
Alexander approached, bending down to try to take my hand. I immediately pulled away, refusing his touch.
Later that night in our bedroom, Alexander tried again. “Charlotte, I’m not going anywhere tomorrow. I’ll stay home and teach you how to drive, okay?”
“Don’t bother,” I answered coldly, turning my back on him.
“Would you like me to take you to the Fragrant Manor Restaurant?” he proposed, with a hint of coaxing in his voice.
“Go by yourself. Take your numerous female friends and eat to your heart’s content.” I lay down and immediately closed my eyes, maintaining my distance from him all night.
Early the next morning, before Alexander could stop me, I slipped out seeking Lily’s comfort. If anyone could understand my frustration, it was her.
We sat in a quiet corner of our favorite café with steaming cups of coffee in front of us. I poured out everything about Alexander’s behavior.
Lily listened attentively before sharing her troubles. “My parents went back home to visit my grandparents. Now it’s just my brother and me in San Francisco. My brother watches me like a hawk. You know what, Charlotte? I was in the bathroom playing on my phone for just five minutes, and he was already knocking on the door, urgently demanding I come
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Chapter 49
out.”
“Your brother cares about you. Don’t take it for granted, I said, momentarily forgetting my troubles.
But when he’s too protective, I just want to run away,” she continued. “Before, when my parents weren’t home, we’d eat out for every meal. I’ve tried every restaurant near his police station. Now, he won’t even let me visit him there. Do you know why?
I shook my head, asking curiously, “What’s embarrassing about going to see him?”
Lily dramatically slapped the table. “Because my brother’s intern has a crush on met
Just like that, my anger toward Alexander temporarily gave way to Lily’s romantic prospects, “Wait, isn’t he that young, handsome guy who hasn’t graduated yet? That senior year intern?”
“Yes!” Lily nodded vigorously, “Can you believe how annoying this is? He’s even more handsome than Jason. Such a perfect opportunity, and my brother ruined it!”
“That’s so unfair!” I agreed. “I saw him when I visited the police station. He’s fair–skinned and handsome, like a refined scholar. Honestly, if I weren’t married, I would have asked Jason to get his contact information for me,”
Lily pounded her chest in frustration. “My brother threatened that sweet boy, saying if he continued to like me, he’d transfer him. Can you imagine my situation?”
“Why don’t you date secretly?” I suggested.
“How would I date secretly? You mean, behind my brother’s back, meeting privately?”
I nodded. “Exactly.”
“Miss Cole, please,” Lily rolled her eyes. “My brother is a police officer. He can track all my spending records and whereabouts. Even if he couldn’t, his interrogation techniques would make me confess everything within three minutes.”
“If you won’t pursue him, then I will,” I said with a fake smile.
“Why? Look at your wedding ring–you’re a married woman, Lily reminded me.
“To make my husband jealous,” I answered, half–joking.
Lily shook her head. “Bad idea, Charlotte. Leave that poor guy alone. My brother has already made his life difficult enough because he likes me. If Alexander found out you were interested in him, wouldn’t they both tear him apart?”
“You’re right,” I conceded.
We spent the entire day together, shopping, watching movies, and finally exploring a night market. Being away from the Kingsley mansion, becoming simply Charlotte again–it felt liberating.
As night fell, Alexander called. “Isn’t it time to come home?” His voice revealed his agitation.
“I’m not coming back tonight. I’m staying at my parents‘ house,” I told him.
“Come home tonight, and I’ll take you to your parents‘ tomorrow,” he insisted.
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Chapter 49
“No need. Lily will accompany me. I hung up before he could argue further.
When we arrived at my parents‘ home, my mother opened the door in surprise. “Why are you back?”
“Mom and Dad, I’m staying here tonight. Lily and I are going to talk all night, I announced, leading Lily into my bedroom.
After settling in, we lay on the bed discussing topics only young women would talk about.
“So, how many times have you and Alexander… you know… since you got married?” Lily boldly asked.
I blinked, somewhat uncomfortable. “Not once,”
“How do you manage to share a bed with that man and remain pure?” Lily was genuinely curious.
I thought about it. Alexander had been restraining himself all along. “He’s quite gentlemanly. He knows I’m not ready and hasn’t forced me. He respects me.”
“That’s rare,” Lily admitted,
“He’s not a bad person,” I conceded. “But what he did yesterday was too much. In marriage, we should live harmoniously. Using other women to make me jealous? What kind of trick is that?”
“Charlotte, Lily narrowed her eyes, “could he be deliberately provoking you, creating insecurity, hoping you’d take the initiative when he returned? That way, he gets what he wants.”
I paused, considering her theory. “That… sounds disturbingly plausible.”
“You’ve never dated or been married before. How do you know so much?” I asked curiously.
Lily shrugged. “My brother taught me. He’s seen too many young women ruin their futures because of relationships.”
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