The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes-Chapter 21-The Return of Jane

Janet turned her face away and didn’t answer his question. Silence settled over the car.

Charles glanced at her profile—elegant, yet tinged with a pale, almost sickly fragility—and to his surprise, a flicker of sympathy passed through him.

All the way to the company, neither of them spoke a word.

Perhaps Janet didn’t want to face him now, not with the weight of their new reality between them.

Or maybe Charles still hadn’t figured out how he was supposed to deal with her.

"I’ll get off here."

When they were still a short distance from the office building, Janet suddenly spoke up.

Even at work, she didn’t want to invite gossip—especially now, knowing there was something unspoken tying her to him.

It made it all feel suffocating.

Charles didn’t respond, but he did slow the car, pulling over to the side of the road.

Before the vehicle had even come to a full stop, Janet had already opened the door and stepped out in a hurry.

He watched her slender figure retreat, the scent she left behind still lingering faintly in the cabin, mixing with a quiet tension in the air.

At work, everything between them seemed unchanged.

The same coordination, the same distance.

As if nothing had shifted.

But that growing familiarity—the way they’d begun to silently adapt—left Janet feeling a little lost.

His coldness.

His allure.

His mystery.

His depth.

Each side of him stirred something in her that she couldn’t quite define...

"Let’s go."

Charles appeared at her desk in a sleek suit, suddenly reaching down to grab Janet by the arm.

She had been organizing files for the next meeting, completely unprepared. Before she knew it, she had been pulled into the elevator with him.

He pressed a button. The doors slid shut.

"Where are we going?"

Janet glanced at him, uneasy.

They were standing shoulder to shoulder, surrounded on three sides by mirrored glass, and something about it made her feel off balance.

It wasn’t even the end of the workday.

Normally, if Charles was heading out for meetings or site visits, he’d bring Giles or Novia along—not her.

"To where we need to be."

Charles didn’t turn to her, but from the gleaming surface of the elevator wall, he could see the confusion clouding her face.

He didn’t let go of her hand—not when they stepped out of the elevator, not when she tried to pull away a few times as they crossed the lobby.

Even with a few feet between them, he still held her tightly.

Janet didn’t understand why he’d suddenly brought her to a styling salon.

But from the way he moved with ease, she could tell he was a regular here.

And when a long-haired man with an air of artistic flair spotted him walk in with a woman, his eyes flicked from Charles to Janet with a knowing gleam.

Nervously, she followed Charles in.

The man gestured for them to enter one of the styling rooms.

What was he bringing her here for?

Half an hour later, Janet stepped out wearing a strapless white mini dress, and Charles couldn’t help but be stunned.

He had always known she was beautiful, but he never expected her beauty to be this breathtaking.

The pale complexion that had dulled her features was now touched with a soft pink blush. Her eyes were adorned with lavender shadow, framed by long, delicate lashes. Her skin was smooth as porcelain, glowing like snow under soft light.

Her hair, cascading in loose waves, fell casually over her bare shoulders. Her slender frame, delicate and ethereal, resembled a blooming lily—fragrant, elegant, and completely otherworldly.

"Perfect."

Admiring glances followed her from around the salon, but Charles possessively slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her tightly into his side before leading her out.

Even after getting into the car, Janet remained dazed, stealing glances at Charles as he focused on the road. Her pink lips parted slightly, as though she wanted to ask something—but no words came.

It wasn’t until the car stopped in front of a familiar villa that the realization struck her.

He’d brought her to the Louis family’s house?

Charles opened his door calmly and stepped out. When he saw Janet still sitting there, frozen in shock, he tapped on her window and issued a firm command:

"Get out."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and began walking toward the villa.

"No—no, you can’t!"

Janet realized what he was trying to do and rushed out of the car, hurrying to catch up with him. With a surge of panic, she grabbed his arm from behind and held him back.

"You can’t go in!"

What was this supposed to mean?

How could they show up like this—together—at her family’s house, just like that?

"Why not?"

Charles frowned, visibly annoyed. When he saw her small hand clenching his sleeve, his gaze turned cold and unreadable.

"No. Please don’t. I’ll go in by myself."

This wasn’t right.

Last night, she had asked Philip to come back with her. She had hoped for his support. But now, he’d sent Charles in his place?

They might be brothers, but Philip was her husband.

"Janet, don’t get it twisted. I’m here on Philip’s behalf. What are you getting so worked up about?"

Charles’ temper flared as he looked at her anxious face.

No woman had ever made him go to such lengths before—and now she was still being difficult?

With a decisive motion, Charles pried her delicate hand off his sleeve and strode up the steps toward the house.

"Charles, you’re not allowed to go in!"

Suddenly, Janet wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, trying to stop him. But the moment she called out his name for the first time, it made his heart skip a painful beat.

"Janet’s back?"

Just as Janet was holding him and trying to step back, a familiar voice came from behind. Both she and Charles turned to see Harold and his wife Anila arriving from the company. They froze momentarily at the sight of the strikingly handsome man standing before them.

At that moment, Charles and Janet were still locked in that intimate embrace. Janet’s eyes widened in shock, and she quickly stepped away from Charles, her expression stiffening.

Charles noticed every subtle reaction.

"Mr. Louis, Mrs. Louis, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Charles."

Charles stood his ground, a faint, inscrutable smile tugging at the corner of his lips as Harold approached. With a poised gesture, Charles extended his long, strong hand toward him.

"Ah... Mr. Elwin!"

Harold, of course, had heard of Charles—the legendary CEO of Black Rock Co.—though he had never met him before. He hadn’t expected this imposing, elegant man standing next to his daughter to be such a perfect match.

"I’ve heard much about you!"

Harold stammered slightly as he shook Charles’s hand, but within seconds, Charles withdrew his hand.

"Mr. Elwin is a distinguished guest—please, come inside!"

Anila immediately recognized Charles’s formidable status, like a noble warrior cloaked in midnight, and eagerly ushered him inside.

With one arm casually draped over Janet’s shoulders, Charles pulled her close and led her into the grand hall, while Anila watched on, visibly stunned.

Wait—wasn’t Janet married to Philip, the eldest son of the Elwin family?

Why was it Charles—the legendary business titan—who had accompanied her back today?

Anila watched the two perfectly matched figures walking inside, her gaze tinged with confusion and anxiety.

"Janet’s back?"

Just as Janet stepped into the hall, she saw Ternence descending from upstairs, dressed in a sleek black knit sweater. Beside him stood a stunning woman with large, wavy hair.

"This is zoey, my girlfriend!" Ternence said, holding the beauty close as they came down the stairs.

When Ternence reached Janet, he couldn’t help but notice the dazzling figure standing by her side—Charles—who drew all eyes and outshone everything around.