The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes-Chapter 45- business gala

"Come on, honey, can you even drive with your skills?" Shaun immediately blocked her path. She hadn’t even gotten her driver’s license yet, and he’d only taught her a bit. When it came to real situations, of course, he wouldn’t let her take the risk.

"Shaun, move out of my way and go find your pretty teacher!" Angela stomped on his shoe, her tone stubborn and defiant. Shaun didn’t get angry—he just smiled and wrapped his arms around her. "No teacher is as pretty as my wife. I only want you!"

"Daddy, all the kids in my class say the teacher is pretty!" Little Callum cut in at just the right moment, throwing cold water on Shaun’s smugness. Shaun was angry but didn’t dare show it in front of Angela. Instead, he scolded Callum sharply, "You little brat, always snitching on me! Why did I have to raise such an ungrateful kid?"

"Mommy, look! Daddy’s bullying me again!" Callum pouted, looking pitifully at Angela.

"Shaun, whose ungrateful kid are you? Get out of my face—I’m still mad, so don’t provoke me!" Angela burst out with a roar. Deep down, she knew Shaun loved her to the bone. She was just upset that he kept things from her and bullied their precious son a bit, so she was throwing a little tantrum.

"Wifey, I’m innocent! That brat’s framing me—I’m completely clean!" Shaun whispered teasingly into Angela’s ear, knowing all her sensitive spots better than she did. As expected, once he whispered, Angela had no defense.

"Mommy, let’s take Janet home. Don’t listen to Daddy—he’s a big bad meanie!" Callum grabbed Angela’s hand and pulled her out of Shaun’s arms. Only then did Shaun notice Janet standing there with them.

"Well, my son really has talent—he snagged such a gorgeous beauty!" Shaun teased with a sly grin, making Janet’s face flush red down to her neck. Angela shot him a sharp side glance, and Shaun sheepishly put away his smile. "Try saying that again. Janet is my sister!"

Angela was a year older than Janet, but hearing Shaun call her "sister" made Janet’s heart ache a little. This kind of care—from Peggy, from Angela—made her feel warm and comforted.

Shaun wasn’t comfortable letting Angela drive, so in the end, he took the wheel himself. At Angela’s insistence, he drove Janet back to her company. When Janet gave him the address, Shaun couldn’t help but blurt out, "No way, it’s that place again?"

When they arrived at the Black Rock Co. headquarters, Shaun jumped out of the car in an instant. His sharp eyes locked onto Janet. "What’s your relationship with Charles?"

"What’s wrong? I’m his... secretary!" Janet replied, surprised herself, carefully keeping their other connection under wraps. Yet, from Shaun’s gaze, she caught a flicker of amusement. She hadn’t expected that Shaun and Charles were actually good friends.

"Charles is finally wise! He’s got potential now. Looks like my daughter-in-law’s future is settled!" Shaun turned and patted Callum’s head, then glanced at Janet’s belly with a teasing smile full of hidden meaning. Charles was known for never letting any woman get close to him—Shaun knew that well. But now there was a stunning beauty by his side. Seems like Shaun was a little late to the party. This was getting interesting...

Janet was a bit surprised—Charles still hadn’t returned to the office. When Shaun left, he gave her a meaningful smile, deep and familiar. Later, Janet realized that same inscrutable smile had appeared on Charles’s face before. They were definitely the same kind of man—their temperaments almost twins.

Today, Janet learned about Charles’s relationship with Zoey, and unexpectedly met Angela and Callum. Watching that little family of three, Janet finally understood what true happiness looked like: a beautiful woman, a handsome man, and a lovely child...

Charles didn’t come back to the office all afternoon. By the end of the day, his car was nowhere to be seen. Janet wondered why he had suddenly gotten so angry earlier but couldn’t find a good reason to call him.

The next day at work, Charles was as usual—dressed in a black suit, white shirt, graceful and reserved. His face showed only coldness, no other expression.

"Tonight, come with me to a gala," he said—the only words he spoke all day. Janet couldn’t stop thinking about that invitation. As his secretary, it was only natural she’d accompany him to social events.

When night fell and day turned to dusk, Janet followed Charles out of the company cautiously. He first took her to the styling salon where he’d brought her before—last time was for the visit to Louis’s home. So this gala must be important too.

Janet sat like a delicate porcelain doll as the stylist worked on her hair and dressed her in a cool white cocktail dress. White suited her perfectly—elegant, refined, utterly unique.

Her hair was casually pinned back, loose strands framing her face and chest, adding a hint of allure without losing her youthful charm. In that instant, Charles felt an overwhelming urge to hide her away. She was so beautiful—he didn’t want any other man to glimpse her radiance.

This kind of business gala was really just a stage for wealthy people of status to network and form connections. Since it was Charles’s first public appearance, all eyes naturally gravitated toward him. Yet he only briefly introduced Janet as his secretary, seemingly reluctant to drag her into the public spotlight. In truth, it was his way of protecting her.

Charles quietly stepped away, leaving Janet to watch from a distance as he stood gracefully among the crowd—like a crane among chickens, radiant and commanding attention. He was a natural spotlight, understated yet undeniably the center of it all.

Silently, Janet retreated to the secluded back garden. She didn’t notice the burning gaze that had been quietly following her the entire time.

Standing by the spacious pool, watching the cascading fountain, Janet’s heart stirred with restless anticipation—she had a feeling something was about to happen tonight.

Before she could calm her thoughts, an unexpected voice broke through her reverie.