Chapter 30
Charlotte’s POV:
That afternoon, Alexander returned to find Jason standing outside our bedroom with a swollen, bruised lip, while I sat fuming on the sofa.
“Alexander,” I accused, “control your nephew. Everything today was his deliberate doing!”
“What did you just call me?” he asked.
“Alexander,” I answered simply.
P
Jason muttered under his breath, “My uncle wants you to call him ‘baby.“” Alexander ordered him to go to the study.
Once we were alone, Alexander seemed to be in a good mood. He instructed me to organize my clothes in the closet since we would be staying for a while. When I asked if we would still sleep on the bed, he countered by asking if I didn’t want to sleep with him. I nodded honestly, saying it made me uncomfortable.
“You slept very soundly last night,” he observed. “I didn’t notice any discomfort.”
After he left for the study, I stuck my tongue out at his retreating.
Later, as I arranged my clothes in Alexander’s closet, I was pleased with how my colorful garments brightened up the otherwise serious space. My white sneakers and canvas shoes looked particularly cute next to his formal black leather
shoes.
I still chose to sleep on the sofa, but when he returned from the study and found me curled up there, he picked me up
without a word. “We shouldn’t sleep in the same bed,” I protested.
“If sleeping with your husband isn’t appropriate, then who would be?” he countered, tucking me into bed before calling
Morris to completely remove the sofa.
I slapped Alexander’s shoulder in frustration. “Where am I supposed to sleep now?”
“In the bed,” he answered simply.
Alexander sat beside me, his expression serious. “As husband and wife, there are some things you need to accept. Charlotte, since you’ve married me, we must become one. Some things might not happen now, but they eventually will. I’m giving you time to adjust.”
I began to wonder if I had to live with him for the rest of my life. “Alexander, we agreed not to interfere with each other. If you really can’t control your desires, I can find—”
Before I could finish, he leaned closer, his magnetic voice interrupting, “I’m not someone who can’t control my desires, but now I declare our previous agreement void.”
A knock at the door saved me. “Charlotte, are you asleep?” Victoria called.
I gratefully slipped away to open the door. Victoria noticed our awkward situation and smiled knowingly. As they discussed plans for tomorrow, she mentioned Jason’s injury: “Alexander, could you be gentler when punishing Jason? His face is all
swollen.”
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Realizing Alexander had taken the blame for me, I began to feel guilty.
After Victoria left, Alexander said, “Be more careful next time. When you hit Jason, do it more gently, understand?”
“I’ll remember that,” I promised, my gratitude toward him increasing.
The next morning, Alexander woke me early: “Today we’re visiting your parents. Get up and get ready, let them know we’re
coming.”
Still drowsy with sleep, I nodded vaguely as he mentioned needing to go to the company to arrange work, but promised to return by ten to pick me up.
Before ten, Alexander’s car arrived. I had just finished getting ready when I suddenly realized I hadn’t contacted my parents. Alexander laughed, “I knew you’d forget. Don’t worry, I spoke with your parents this morning–they’re waiting for
us at home.”
A wave of gratitude toward my husband washed over me. When I forgot to do something, he would take over without complaint. Maybe having a husband wasn’t so bad after all.
I eagerly climbed into Alexander’s car, fastening my seatbelt as I waited for him.
When we arrived at my parents‘ house, their warmth toward Victoria took her by surprise. When she finally attempted to apologize, my mother interrupted: “Charlotte already explained everything. She was out that day, which is why we couldn’t meet you.”
My mother even thanked Victoria: “Charlotte is still young, and we were worried when she married Alexander. Fortunately, you’ve guided her, helping her avoid many mistakes. Charlotte told us everything. Thanks to your help, we can finally
sleep peacefully. We were planning to visit you personally to express our gratitude!”
Victoria could hardly believe that I had never complained about her to my parents, but instead had given her undeserved
praise.
When my parents saw Jason, they greeted him with surprising familiarity: “Jason, so you’re Alexander’s nephew!” Jason deliberately displayed his injured lip, and my parents exchanged a look that only they understood: our daughter has hit Jason again.
Alexander noticed this and his suspicions deepened: “Dad, you know Jason?”
My father casually replied, “Of course! He’s been visiting Charlotte since childhood, every holiday.”
“Jason frequently came to see Charlotte?” Alexander probed further.
“These two children get along very well,” my mother inadvertently added. “They often go out together.”
Alexander turned to me, his icy smile making me uneasy: “When we get back, come to my study.”
I felt inexplicably afraid.
After lunch, Victoria made excuses to leave. Wanting to stay longer at home, I suggested, “I’ll stay to pack some clothes and return on my own tomorrow.”
Alexander insisted on staying with me: “I’ll help you pack.”
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“No, that’s my private room,” I objected.
“Your husband isn’t worthy of entering your room?” he questioned.
Reluctantly, I led Alexander into my pink girlhood sanctuary.
Sitting on my bed, Alexander surveyed my room–the lace–trimmed bedspread, photos on the walls capturing my youthful vitality. I wasn’t focused on packing clothes but rather nervously observing his every move.
“Charlotte,” he asked directly, “what exactly is your relationship with Jason?”
“We were desk mates,” I answered.
“Desk mates know each other’s parents?” he asked skeptically.
I considered telling him that Jason was my “underling” who I forced to do homework, but I worried Alexander would think I bullied his nephew. I fabricated an excuse: “We often went out together, so he gradually got to know my parents.”
“What did you do together?” he pressed.
Using my activities with my friend Lily as examples, I replied, “Watched movies, drank bubble tea, went shopping, looked for good restaurants, even traveled…”
Alexander seized on the last point: “You traveled together? How were the sleeping arrangements?”
Without thinking, I blurted out, “Together, of course–wait, no! Separately! We stayed separately!”
I had almost described my travels with Lily as if they were with Jason. Alexander moved closer to me, intimidating: “Charlotte, what exactly is your relationship?”
his presence
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