The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes-Chapter 48-revenge

Charles arranged for two servants from the main residence to be sent to the North Garden. With Derrick away, the pressure seemed to ease. Although Charles lived in the villa on the west side, he still made it a point to go to the North Garden to have meals with Janet. Philip simply watched them quietly, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Charles felt at ease entrusting Janet to Philip. As soon as Derrick returned from France, he planned to confront him directly. Even if it meant betraying Philip, this was the only time he would err. Whatever he owed Philip, he was willing to repay by other means. But Janet—he was determined to claim her.

"How’s your health?" Now with two people to care for at home, Janet sat in the backyard garden. Philip was pushed beside her in a wheelchair by Robert. His gaze was as caring as ever, making her blush unconsciously. She nodded gently, holding a book and reclining in a lounge chair. She couldn’t stand for long and spent most of her time resting in bed. The doctor’s advice was etched firmly in her mind. Though the child was unexpected, she was slowly coming to accept this new life inside her.

She still remembered the sudden heartbeat she felt that day when she saw Callum. At that moment, she realized she already had a child of her own growing inside her. Looking at the adorable baby, she felt truly blessed.

Her ten years living with the Louis family had been filled with misfortune. After marrying Philip, she had swung between gratitude and formal respect. Only Charles had given her a heartbeat—a stirring of real emotion. Now, perhaps it was finally time for her own happiness.

Janet glanced up at Robert standing behind Philip. From the very first night she came—the night of the milk—perhaps everything had been planned. From that moment on, she and Charles became entangled, accompanied by this gift from heaven. She felt lucky.

"Don’t stare too long. The kitchen made some tonic, remember to drink it later!" Philip’s tone was brotherly and warm, much like how Ternence made her feel. Like Charles, he cared about her daily needs. To Janet, Charles was like summer—bringing intense passion; Philip was like winter—offering a gentle, warming kindness.

"Okay!" Janet replied obediently. Philip saw more smiles on her face than ever before, and with them, she looked more radiant and beautiful.

"Janet, are the meeting materials ready? The meeting starts in ten minutes!" Charles habitually pressed the speakerphone button and gave his instructions to the other side of the call. Then he suddenly realized he’d made a rookie mistake.

"Yes, boss, it’s ready!" Novia didn’t correct him but responded with a supportive tone. Charles had already hung up. His fingers tapped the edge of his coffee cup. Even though the coffee beans were the same black roast, Novia simply couldn’t brew Janet’s flavor.

Before, the place Charles wanted to be most was the company—because he could see her at any time. Even if she wasn’t right in front of him, just knowing she was there, feeling her presence in the air, gave him peace. Now, the moment he looked forward to the most was after work, when he could be by her side every night. This life felt like home, and he found himself falling deeper in love with it.

"By the way, I heard the Louis Group recently got involved in a foreign enterprise investment. I happen to be interested as well. Giles, check which company it is. BlackRock Co., right? They’re buying shares!" Charles slammed his palm on the table and stood up. Giles and Novia stood before him as he spoke with dark intent. Elvira, Harold—he would make them pay for how they had treated Janet.

"Yes, sir!"

This was the fierce, ruthless Charles everyone spoke of—the invincible legend no one dared cross. But since Janet appeared, that cold, merciless expression of his had become a rare sight. During meetings, Giles always followed closely behind him. Giles and Novia were his most trusted aides. Even if Charles wasn’t around, no one could pull off sabotage without them catching it first.

"What about August?" Charles took his seat at the head of the conference table, glancing at the empty chair opposite him. He asked the question more out of formality than genuine concern—August’s whereabouts hardly interested him.

"Yes, August had to leave suddenly. He asked me to report in his place!" The male assistant next to August stood up, speaking nervously. Charles didn’t even bother to look up. With two sharp words, direct and decisive, he cut him off: "Meeting starts!"

Derrick had planned to stay another week before returning home. There was a world academic conference in France he was attending. But suddenly, his schedule changed, and he came back earlier than expected. Neither Philip nor Charles knew Derrick would return so abruptly.

"Lord, Master August is here!" Just as Derrick arrived at Snowpeak Villa, the voice of housekeeper reached him. Derrick, just about to head upstairs and rest, turned around with a mixture of surprise and displeasure on his face. "What’s he here for?"

After Allison, Derrick had remarried a beautiful woman named Sienna Quinn—a gentle and obedient wife. Though Philip and Charles were Allison’s children, she treated them as her own, especially Charles. In Charles’s young mind, the image of his birth mother Allison had long since faded, replaced by a stronger bond with his stepmother. But Derrick never expected that Sienna was secretly involved with his own brother, Norman. At the time, Derrick and Norman were bitter rivals over company control. Having repeatedly caught Norman and Sienna meeting in secret, Derrick was on the edge of losing his temper. In the end, Norman traded the company for Sienna, and Derrick agreed without hesitation. Even after gaining control of the company, Derrick couldn’t let go of his feelings for Sienna, which eventually led to tragedy.

He never imagined the woman he loved so deeply would choose to die with Norman rather than stay by his side.

They betrayed him first. He had given Sienna chances—but this path, this choice, was hers alone.

After Norman and Sienna died, Derrick took August back under his wing. When August turned nineteen, he was sent off to the United States. Now, staring at that face—so much like Norman’s—Derrick’s resentment only deepened. The woman he loved had died loving another man. His own son had witnessed the brutal death of his parents. Derrick knew full well he was raising a dangerous beast, but he didn’t care. Torturing August while he was alive—that was the only way Derrick could dull his hatred for Norman.

"Let him in." Derrick casually shrugged off his suit jacket, handing it to Robert. August strode in without hesitation. Derrick hadn’t seen him since that first meeting after August’s sudden return.

"Looking for me?" Derrick took the cup of tea from Robert, sipping lightly. His face remained stern, void of any warmth. August’s presence was the clearest proof of Sienna’s betrayal. How could he not hate them both?

After sending August to America, Derrick had ignored him completely—even resorted to harsh measures to make his life miserable. Now that August was back, Derrick knew exactly why: revenge.