The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes-Chapter 54- sharp gaze

Janet nodded, her hands wrapping around the large ones resting on her waist. From this room’s vantage point, she could see the nearby tower and the clock in the central square. She imagined how beautiful it must look at night.

Ternence had studied in France before and met Zoey here. Janet didn’t know that Charles was also quite familiar with this place. He hadn’t traveled abroad for some time since stepping from behind the scenes to center stage.

His past efforts to build strength and wait were all for someone. Now that the war had begun, he had acquired a new attachment...

"We’ll stay here for over a month. You should rest a few days first, then I’ll take you out, alright?" Charles tenderly kissed her cheek. He hadn’t forgotten the doctor’s warning — her body wasn’t ready for too much exertion, especially after such a long flight.

"Why did you think of bringing me to Paris?" Janet turned her head, falling into those deep, clear eyes. Usually dressed in sharp suits, today he wore a simple black V-neck sweater and dark jeans. The casual look somehow accentuated a different kind of rugged charm.

"Hm... I wanted to leave some kind of memory," Charles didn’t reveal the deeper reason — that to win her heart, he cared for her with all his heart, protecting her every step of the way.

He ran a hand through her silky hair, letting her nestle safely in his arms, quietly breathing in his presence.

The hotel was well-equipped, with a restaurant, club, and gym all available. During the first two days, Charles only took Janet to a few nearby sights. As she grew closer to him, she realized just how little she truly knew about him.

Charles had a strong sense of direction. When training with Shaun and the others, his best skill was shooting — aiming at targets with a rifle, almost never missing. Janet watched him from behind. Among the group of blond men, he was always the most outstanding.

"Can you swim?" After playing darts and sweating heavily, Charles grabbed a towel tossed by a waiter and led Janet toward the outdoor pool.

Janet nodded. Ternence had taught her when she was young, but she had never used the Louis family pool. Anything belonging to the Louis family was basically off-limits to her.

"Once you’re ready to get into the water, I’ll bring you here!" Charles glanced over Janet’s body — she still couldn’t do any strenuous exercise.

Janet held the clothes he had changed out of. Wearing only swim trunks, he showed the strong physique of an Eastern man, and that perfect face that drove women crazy. Several voluptuous foreign women had openly flirted with him, only to be frozen out by his cold, sharp gaze.

His eyes kept flicking to Janet by the poolside. Charles only swam two or three laps before coming ashore because he noticed many predatory looks fixed on his woman. Janet’s beauty was understated but lethal to men, exactly as it had been when he first saw her — those eyes were her greatest asset, yet hidden behind black-rimmed glasses. Perhaps it was fate that he, who usually avoided women, saw right through her disguise so easily.

Back in their suite, after changing clothes, Charles took Janet downstairs to the restaurant. When night fell, they walked hand in hand toward the Eiffel Tower.

Riding the observation elevator to the top, Janet was overwhelmed by the breathtaking halo of lights. A dazzling crystal globe was embedded in the viewing platform. Standing at the highest point, she took in the tiny city below. Her heart fluttered as she let go of Charles’s hand to stroll around the platform’s edge. When she turned back, Charles was standing patiently waiting.

The brief moment moved Janet to tears. She couldn’t imagine what she would do if she ever got separated from Charles in this unfamiliar place.

"If one day we get separated, remember to wait for me right here. I will come back for you!" Charles’s deep voice wrapped around her trembling heart. She clung tightly to his neck and nodded firmly. For the first time, she realized how wonderful it felt to have someone waiting for you.

In the following days, Charles took Janet to many places — the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, the Opera House, the Champs-Élysées. Most of the time, Charles drove them himself. Every place they visited bore the imprint of Janet’s presence. What Janet didn’t know was that while she was absorbed in admiring the romantic city of Paris, Charles had already captured many photos of her smiling face on his phone. That smile was pure and beautiful — a simple joy she had never shown before.

Every day with him was the happiest time of Janet’s twenty-year life. She finally understood what it felt like to be cherished by a man as a woman should be. Every night, they simply held each other as they slept. Sometimes Janet could sense the natural desires of a man’s body, but Charles only kissed every inch of her skin without going any further. He knew that neither her body nor her mind was ready yet.

These beautiful, happy moments later became bittersweet memories. When they recalled every second spent here after enduring countless hardships, they smiled through the pain — pain so deep it brought tears.

A month passed in the blink of an eye. Janet stood near the wishing well not far from the Notre-Dame Cathedral’s central square, watching couples close their eyes devoutly and toss coins into the water. Janet felt tempted too. The transparent water was covered with layers of coins. After searching for a while, she couldn’t find a coin of her own. Then, a kind woman handed her a French coin. Looking up, Janet saw only a beautiful profile — another woman with an Eastern face like hers, whose graceful bearing was evident even from behind.

Janet imitated the earnest manner of others, tossing the coin into the pool and gently closing her eyes, hands clasped together. The evening breeze fluttered her dress and hair, giving her an almost ethereal appearance. Charles appeared around the corner and stopped in his tracks, seeing her so serene and pure — like an angel descended. When she opened her eyes and noticed her coin had landed somewhere different from the others, she playfully stuck out her tongue, her lively and delicate face betraying her spirit.

Charles approached Janet, took off his trench coat, and wrapped her warmly in his arms. Janet’s eyes flickered away, silently keeping the earlier moment to herself.