The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes-Chapter 39- apology

Janet’s delicate face contorted in pain, and Charles felt like slapping himself. What had he just done?

"Don’t be afraid, I’ll take you to the hospital!" Hearing her cry out, his heart clenched tightly. Her pain was like a thousand times worse than any wound he could suffer.

He grabbed his suit jacket and draped it over Janet, then scooped her up into his arms and rushed toward the elevator.

"Get out of the way!" Usually calm and composed in front of employees, Charles shocked everyone by roaring across the lobby. It was the first time anyone had seen the usually icy boss lose his temper. But when they saw Janet cradled in his arms, all of them were stunned into silence.

"Move aside!" Charles barked impatiently at someone blocking his way, but when he looked up and saw Derrick’s cold, winter-like face, some of his anger softened.

"What do you think you’re doing?" Derrick’s sudden appearance at Black Rock Co. surprised everyone. The noisy lobby quickly cleared out, sensing the tension between the two men.

"Dad, Janet fell. I’m taking her to the hospital!" Charles didn’t expect Derrick to show up now, but he didn’t care about objections. His only focus was easing Janet’s pain.

A sharp pang in her lower abdomen almost stole Janet’s breath. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Hearing Derrick’s voice made her realize how this situation with Charles might look—and how easily it could be misunderstood.

"Is she really that fragile?" Derrick’s eyes blazed with anger as he took in their still-close posture. Anyone could tell from Janet’s disheveled clothes and Charles’s jacket around her shoulders what kind of scene had just occurred.

"Put me down!" Feeling Derrick’s sharp gaze, Janet slid off Charles’s arms, clutching his shoulder for support. She looked up timidly and whispered, "Dad!"

"Everyone, get in the elevator!" Derrick barked loudly and strode toward the elevator without looking back.

Charles ignored him and tried to pick Janet up again, but she pushed him away. "I’m fine now. It doesn’t hurt anymore. Dad seems to be misunderstanding something. Let’s just go!"

"No way. You were screaming in pain just now. I’m taking you to the hospital!" Charles was determined. To him, Janet had already become more important than Derrick.

"Stop embarrassing me. Please, I’m begging you!" Janet threw his jacket back at him and tightened the ripped clothes over her body, looking at Charles with pleading eyes.

Her tears stabbed at his heart like needles, causing unbearable pain—but he couldn’t refuse her request.

One hand still pressed gently over the fading ache in her abdomen, Janet followed Derrick into the elevator. Charles watched her stubborn figure and felt a fresh wave of frustration.

"Go back to your office. I’m going to see Dad." Janet had just stepped out of the elevator when Charles grabbed her arm from behind. His grip was no longer rough, but Janet instinctively took a step back, saying nothing, and walked straight to her desk.

Charles sighed, casually draping his jacket—still warm from Janet’s body temperature—over his hand, then headed toward the VIP conference room.

The conference room was a mess. Documents and a tablet Charles had thrown were scattered everywhere. Janet knelt to pick up the scattered papers, pressing her hand lightly against her abdomen where a dull pain lingered. She stood up and went to the pantry to pour herself a cup of hot water. After drinking it down, she finally felt some warmth return to her cold body.

Meanwhile, as Charles entered the conference room, Derrick’s sharp slap landed on his cheek. His face reddened slightly, but he didn’t flinch. Instead, he licked his bloodied lips calmly and took a seat at the head of the table.

"Do you even realize what you’re doing? That woman is your brother Philip’s wife!" Derrick said coldly. He had long suspected Charles and August had designs on Philip’s wife, but he never thought his most reliable son would betray him like this.

"Dad, have you seen us in bed together?" Charles sneered. Derrick had never struck him before. He wasn’t sure if his anger was over Janet or Philip. Charles didn’t dodge the slap because he felt ashamed of what he had done to Janet, but he didn’t regret it either. He cared for her deeply, but had inadvertently hurt her.

"What are you implying?" Derrick’s anger flared. He had always been proud of Charles, admiring his talent and trusting him to run Black Rock. freeweɓnovel.cøm

"I’ll take that slap. Just don’t trouble Janet anymore. There’s nothing between us." Charles met his father’s gaze, steady and calm.

Now wasn’t the time. Before Philip and Janet officially divorced, Charles couldn’t let Derrick hurt her. If Derrick knew Charles’s true feelings for Janet, the barriers between them would be far greater than just family ties.

"If there’s really nothing, then send her back to Philip. She doesn’t belong here." Derrick looked disdainfully out the window, and his words tightened the tension inside Charles like a drawn bowstring.

"So, Dad, do you think I’m fit to be the boss?" Charles slammed the table and stood, his aura no less imposing than Derrick’s. A company without strong leadership was an empty shell. Though Charles had stayed behind the scenes all these years, under his control, Black Rock had reached a new height. With August now in the company, Charles wasn’t going anywhere.

"Are you threatening me?" Derrick’s anger surged. What kind of spell had this woman cast on Charles to make him defend her like this?

"I’m just asking you to be fair. Janet has done nothing wrong. She doesn’t need to leave. At least in my eyes, she’s an indispensable secretary." Charles stepped back, offering Derrick a way out. Derrick couldn’t argue further—but the scene he had just witnessed had already taken root in his mind, and he felt powerless.

Janet had originally expected Derrick to say something to her, but when he came out, he only gave her a meaningful glance and then left without a word.

Her tense emotions immediately relaxed, but when she saw the comforting look Charles gave her, she turned away in irritation without acknowledging him.

"Is your stomach still hurting?" Charles wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. The sudden gesture startled Janet. When his palm touched her waist, a strange sensation flickered between their eyes. Once she collected her thoughts, she brusquely pried his hand away, creating some distance between them. Her tone grew somewhat distant, "Thanks for your concern, boss. It doesn’t hurt anymore!"

It was just a fall; Janet didn’t take it to heart.

"Janet..." Charles looked hurt by her guarded gaze. He stepped forward, but Janet took a step back. Frustrated, he reached out his hand, but it hovered mid-air without touching her skin. His eyes were filled with deep helplessness, and finally, it all boiled down to a brief, three-word apology: "I’m sorry."