The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes-Chapter 40- rivals

That man, so lofty and godlike, actually apologized to her. It was the first time in his life—and it was because of this little woman before him. The moment he spoke those words, no matter how much resentment he held inside, something within him was moved. Janet lowered her head, not meeting his pained and apologetic gaze, but a certain part of her heart slowly began to warm...

All afternoon, Janet didn’t go to Charles’s office, and he, as if seeing clearly through everything, didn’t call for her either. Until the end of the workday, he deliberately delayed leaving, hoping to go home with her. He knew she hadn’t forgiven him yet, and he wasn’t the type to defend himself—he just wanted to see her a little longer.

As Janet stepped out of Black Rock Co., she saw a black Bugatti Veyron parked right in front of her. No matter how she tried to avoid it, he seemed to purposely block her path, honking the horn repeatedly.

With many colleagues coming and going behind her, Janet didn’t want to become the topic of gossip again. In a huff, she got into his car—but saw the slight curl of his lips, and the sunset’s glow settled on the sharp lines of his profile, making him look incredibly captivating.

"I’m going home tonight. You’re coming with me," Charles said carefully when he noticed the change in Janet’s expression. Because of the family she represented, he had been going home more often lately. But watching her stand beside Philip made his heart ache...

Janet buckled her seatbelt without looking at him and ignored his words. She knew he had his own villa—the home he rarely returned to. After seeing his frightening side, she had lowered her expectations of him. She feared disappointment, and even more feared that she was only fooling herself.

He gave her wrong signals time and again, and in the end, she was the one hurt...

As the car neared the estate, Janet suddenly received a call from Terrence. He sounded disoriented, muttering Zoey’s name over and over. Janet immediately sensed something was wrong.

"I want to go find my brother. Can you take me there?" Janet anxiously grabbed his arm, inexplicably relying on the man beside her.

"What’s wrong? Where are you?" Charles looked at her with worry and immediately turned the car around, driving down the mountain.

Janet gave him the address and hung up, her heart heavy with unease. Terrence was always charming and gentle—she had never seen him act so strangely before.

Half an hour later, the Bugatti Veyron stopped in front of a colorful pub. Janet didn’t wait for him to park properly; she hurriedly opened the door and rushed out. Charles, alarmed, parked haphazardly and followed closely behind her.

Besides the Hell Bar that he shared with Brian and Shaun, Charles rarely came to places like this. Upon entering, he immediately smelled the sharp stench of alcohol and perfume—a nightmare for someone with his cleanliness obsession.

Janet ignored the trendy men trying to chat her up, scanning the room until she spotted Terrence at the bar, surrounded by two women. He held one in his arms, flushed and allowing the scantily clad woman to grope him freely.

"Move aside!" Janet stepped forward and pulled the woman on the right away. The red-haired woman hadn’t expected Janet to appear so suddenly. She looked at Janet with a fake innocent face, blowing smoke rings that suddenly puffed into Janet’s face, eyes full of mockery. "Little girl, are you talking to me?"

Women here were not to be trifled with. Janet coughed twice and turned to grab Terrence, but the woman on the left shoved her backward, muttering, "Who’s this girl? Don’t you see we’re having fun?"

If not for Charles catching her waist in time, Janet would have fallen. The familiar presence gave her a strange sense of security in the chaotic pub.

The two women, sensing Charles’s cold, menacing glare, quickly backed off.

"Bro, you’re drunk, stop drinking!" Janet swiftly grabbed the wine glass from Terrence’s hand. As she approached, the strong smell of alcohol filled her nose, making her feel nauseous.

"Janet, you’re here? I’m not drunk. I’m wide awake—awake enough to remember how that woman humiliated me!" Terrence shook his head and, spotting Janet, grabbed her tightly. His bloodshot eyes were full of pain. He didn’t understand what was good about Zoey, but he liked her—so much that he now despised himself.

Can love and sex really be separated? She was sleeping with him while loving another man!

Why wasn’t Zoey like Janet, who was gentle and endearing, or like Elvira, who was spoiled yet kept herself pure? But Zoey—even if she was fickle—still had qualities that attracted him. As Terrence muttered, Janet gradually understood—was Philip’s downfall caused by Zoey’s self-destruction?

Charles placed one hand firmly on the multicolored glass bar. Seeing Janet in Terrence’s arms, he calmly stepped forward and pulled Janet away. Grabbing a nearby wine glass, he splashed its contents onto Terrence’s face, his gaze cold as a blade. "Awake now?"

"Charles?" Wine dripped from Terrence’s forehead into his neck. Seeing the man responsible for the rift between him and Zoey, his pride wouldn’t allow him to lose face in front of Charles.

Seeing this, Janet quickly stepped forward and stood in front of Terrence, grabbing some tissues from the table to wipe the wine off his face. "Bro, what’s going on between you and Zoey?"

That woman—Janet had disliked her at first sight. Such a seductive type, she believed Zoey was unworthy of Terrence!

"Janet, sorry if I scared you, okay? It’s nothing—just some woman. I don’t care!" Terrence pretended to be calm, but in front of Charles, his bravado was somewhat weakened. Even his speech was laced with curses he normally wouldn’t say.

As he spoke, Terrence pushed Janet aside and fixed a cold gaze on Charles. Now he finally understood why Elvira liked this man—and why Zoey did too. Charles just stood there, radiating an indelible brilliance, like a soaring red eagle—dangerous yet irresistibly alluring.

The more Terrence acted indifferent, the more Janet knew Zoey held an important place in his heart.

"Charles, you’re something else!" Terrence staggered drunkenly toward Charles, but Charles grabbed him by both arms, pressing his tall frame against the bar behind him. "Act like a man. Don’t make me look down on you!"

When rivals meet, jealousy flares fiercely. Terrence’s hostility toward Charles was clear, but Charles merely looked at him with disdain.