🔥 Charles 🔥
I froze.
"Rose," I called.
She didn't answer.
She was just standing there, staring at me like she wasn't really there.
Her lip was split.
Her cheek was bruised, angry, raw.
Her eyes were glassy, haunted, unfocused, like her soul hadn't caught up with her body yet.
"Why do you look like…" I started, but the words died in my throat.
She didn't speak.
Didn't cry.
She just collapsed into my arms, as if her strength had been hanging by a thread, waiting for someone to see her before it finally let go.
I carried her to my car and drove straight to the hospital.
The drive was a blur.
I paced the waiting room like a caged animal, every second stretching into forever.
When they finally let me in, she was lying on the hospital bed, pale and still.
I stood at the edge, unsure of what to say. What could I say?
Then her eyes fluttered open.
"Rose," I whispered, stepping closer.
She blinked slowly. "Water…"
Her voice was cracked, dry like broken glass.
"Yeah. Got it. I'll get some."
I rushed to the hallway, grabbed a bottle from the nurse's station, and hurried back.
I helped her sit up and held the bottle to her lips.
Then her eyes locked onto mine. Vulnerable. Bare.
"Thank you," she whispered.
I nodded. "You don't have to…"
"Don't tell Tyla. Or Claudia."
I froze.
"What?"
"Please. Not yet."
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
She leaned back slowly, eyelids already dropping.
I waited until her breathing steadied.
Then I stepped out for air, just five minutes.
But when I returned…
The bed was empty.
Only a folded note remained:
> Thank you.
I stared at it for a full minute, shoved it into my pocket, and left the hospital.
I drove to Mei's to get Lily her stupid coconut rice.
Then swung by Chan Chao to pick up my mom's Thai noodles.
Went home. Dumped the bags in the kitchen.
Headed upstairs.
But my mind? Still stuck on Rose.
Why the hell did she look like that?
Should I investigate?
No.
Not my business.
Right?
I changed outfits, grabbed my keys, and drove to Williams Enterprise.
I needed a distraction.
And Shane? Was always good for one.
Scene: Williams Enterprise
I pulled into the underground garage of Williams Enterprise and parked.
If there's one thing I've always loved about this place, it's the building.
Sleek. Tall. Expensive. Like it knew it was the alpha of the block.
As I walked in, I caught the whispers. The sidelong glances. The not-so-subtle stares.
Yeah, yeah. I'm used to it.
What can I say? I'm a handsome man.
"Hey, beauty," I said to the receptionist, flashing my best grin. "First time seeing you. What's your name?"
"Nora," she said, blinking up at me.
"Nora," I echoed. "Beautiful name for a beautiful woman."
"Charles, stop flirting with her," came a voice behind me.
Daniella.
I turned with a grin. "But she *is* beautiful. And you? Stunning."
I took her bag. "My lady."
I winked at Nora. "If we meet again, I'm marrying you."
Nora laughed.
We stepped into the elevator.
"Shane's been in a bad mood since the gala," Daniella said, pressing the button for the top floor.
"Still mad about Tyla?"
"Yeah." Daniella grinned. "But… it was kinda hot."
I chuckled.
"Today's gonna be fun."
We walked into his office. Black walls, massive desk, floor-to-ceiling windows, the whole place reeking of control and ego.
He didn't look up. Just flipped a page in some file like he hadn't even noticed us.
"Don't you have a company to run?" he muttered.
"Oliver's handling it," I said, dropping into a chair.
He ignored me.
Perfect.
I loved poking the bear.
"So…" I dragged out the word. "Still sulking over Tyla's stunt? Or is this a new mood?"
Shane's pen paused mid-signature.
Bullseye.
Daniella glanced between us like she was watching her favorite drama.
"Spill. Now," she said, leaning in.
Shane exhaled slowly, as if trying to keep himself from snapping. "It's none of your business, Daniella."
"Oh, please. Everything is my business," she replied, perching on the arm of the leather couch like it was a throne. "I'm your sister. I was born to be nosy."
I laughed. "She has a point, bro."
"Did she say something?" Daniella asked, eyes lighting up like she'd just caught a whiff of drama. "Oh God, tell me. Tell me everything."
Shane exhaled like the weight of the entire Williams legacy had settled on his shoulders. "No."
"Oh, come on," Daniella whined, grinning. "What did she say? Did she roast your haircut? Your ego? Your inability to commit?"
"She embarrassed me in front of half the city," he said.
"We know about that," Daniella and I said in unison.
Shane glared at both of us. "And gave me the middle finger."
Daniella gasped so dramatically I thought she might faint. "SHE DID NOT."
"She did," I said, grinning. "It was beautiful. The orchestra stopped playing. I think someone dropped a champagne flute. I almost stood up and clapped."
Shane's voice was low.
"Drop it."
But I didn't. I couldn't.
Because behind the anger, his eyes betrayed him.
He was stuck.
Not on the insult.
But on her.
Daniella caught it too. "Wait… don't tell me you care."
Shane didn't answer.
Didn't deny it. Didn't bite back.
And that was all the answer we needed.
"Oh my God," she whispered, eyes wide. "You're obsessed with her."
"I'm not."
"Sure wasn't convincing," I added.
Shane stood abruptly, pacing to the window.
"She humiliated me. In front of everyone. And for what?"
"I wasn't ready for…"
"That kind of fire?" Daniella said, eyes gleaming.
"She hates me," Shane muttered.
"Yeah, but why do you sound *disappointed* about that?" I asked.
Silence.
Thick. Raw.
And then…
"Both of you, out"
I blinked.
"You heard me."
Daniella raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"I have work."
"Sure, like sulking by the window," I said, grabbing my phone.
"Charles…"
"Alright, alright," I said, throwing my hands up. "We're leaving."
As we walked out, Daniella whispered just loud enough for him to hear:
"Obsessed."