Farewell To My Endless Love

Scarlett's POV:

Charles pulled me into the elevator, ignoring my rejection of his advances. He did not press a floor number immediately. He reached out and felt my forehead. He was standing close enough for me to smell tha cool fragrance he was fond of wearing.

"What happened? Why do you have a fever again?" Charles asked in a slightly annoyed tone.

He eyed me carefully, and I turned away. I really did not want to explain myself to him. So what if I was sick? Rita was also sick, but she was not getting this kind of badgering from him. "Answer me." Charles grabbed my arms and forced me to face him.

"I drank and had a little too much fun in a different city." I looked straight into his mesmerizing eyes and continued, "Seattle had amazing views, and I was with a very nice man." A muscle flickered in Charles's jaw after I made a reference to Abner. He narrowed his eyes at me and pinched my chin a bit harder than usual. "You are still married to me. You should've asked for my permission first before you went out partying."

The moment he played the husband card, I felt even more exhausted. I just wanted to get inside my house and pass out on my bed. I shook off his hand and jabbed the elevator button to my floor. "I didn't need your permission. My work life is none of your business."

After saying that, I kept silent. I just watched Charles from the corner of my eye. He had put on that frosty expression that he wore whenever he was provoked, and I felt inexplicably happy about it.

I walked out and dragged my suitcase behind me the moment the elevator reached my floor and its doors opened.

I ignored Charles completely and strode away as if he was not there to begin with.

He was on my heels as I made my way to my place. While I dug for my keys in my purse, he said, "I don't like the way Abner looks at you. Why did you go out and have a drink with him? Aren'tyou afraid that he'll take advantage of you?" The jealousy in his voice rang so loudly in my ears. He spoke as if he was the only man who was right for me, and it made me stop.

I turned my head and looked up at him. He was wearing an all-black suit with the top two buttons of his shirt undone, revealing a bit of his chest. He looked handsome and elegant as usual. There were still times when I found myself catching my breath whenever I looked at him.

"First of all, Abner is a decent, respectful man. He'll never take advantage of anyone. Second, he and I went out with the whole team to unwind. It wasn't just the two of us. Third and most importantly, are you jealous?"

I asked pointedly.

Charles looked at me for a few seconds. I could tell that he was caught off guard by my question because a little color rushed to his cheeks.

"You think too much. I'm just worried about our family's honor and reputation. You're still bound to me and the Moore family. You're still expected to behave well while you're still my wife," Charles answered coldly.

"Of course I am." I lowered my head and went back to digging for my keys. I could not help feeling a little disappointed. Why did I expect my soon-to-be ex-husband to tell me that he was indeed jealous? Of course he was not. What was I thinking letting my wishful thinking set me up for yet another self-humiliation?

I did not face Charles the entire time I was looking for my keys and even after I opened my door and got in. I was afraid that I would break down in front of him.

After dragging my suitcase into my house, I stopped Charles at the door and said, "You should go now. Thanks for helping me with my luggage."

"I'm not here to help you with your luggage," Charles said and stopped me from closing the door on him.

"Then why are you here?" I backfired. Was it appropriate for him to keep pestering the woman who was going to be his ex-wife?

"Did you go on a business trip or an out-of-town date with Abner?" Charles asked with a frown.

Even when his face was twisted by negative emotions and his words cut me like a knife, I still found him unbelievably charming, which was ridiculous. I was getting more and more unwilling to talk to him, especially on the subject of Abner.

"It's a simple question."

Seeing that I had no intention of replying, Charles squeezed through my door and then shut it behind him.

I took two steps backward and snapped at him, "Why do you always insist on wasting your time on me? Rita's the one who needs you."

I was getting a little tired of his pattern. He always showed up for me at the right place and time and then strung me along. And just when I thought that he truly cared about me, he would turn around and run back to Rita.

Charles did not say anything and just stared at me. After a few moments, he started walking toward me and then snaked his arm around my waist. He pulled me close and then whispered in my ear, "Can we talk like normal adults now?"

Suddenly, he was speaking in a gentle, almost pleading tone.

"But answer my question first." He looked down at me and leaned closer. The tips of our noses were almost touching. "Hmm? Was it a business trip or an out-of-town date?"

I could feel his warm breath on my lips, and I smelled a hint of spearmint.

And right then, my pride and will to resist were extinguished like a candle in the wind.

I backed away, shook off his grip, and avoided his gaze. "It was a business trip. Can you please leave now?"

Before I could push Charles far enough away, my back was already against the wall. He braced one hand on the wall beside my head and leaned in until our breaths mingled.

He said in a hoarse voice, "Why did you go out drinking with Abner? You know you can't handle your liquor." His tone was now tinged with anger. "How could you go out with someone you were not familiar with?"

He put a resentful emphasis on the words "not familiar".

Since I could not get rid of him, I just decided to explain, "I already told you, it was a team celebration, and I didn't drink to get wasted. I drank with my colleagues to celebrate the success of our work. And Nina was there to take care of me when I had a little too much to drink. She helped me get back to my hotel room."

"And where was Abner that entire time?" Charles asked and then added, "Did he swingby your hotel room after Nina was gone?"

"No, but he didn't want to let me fly home without getting checked by a doctor first. He was kind enough to bring me to the hospital to make sure I was okay. And then we flew home together and he gave me a ride here." After that whole lot of explanation, I started coughing. I was getting dizzy. I really needed to get some rest, but Charles just would not leave me alone.

After listening to my explanation, Charles's face softened a lot. Tenderness slowly replaced the coldness in his eyes. He leaned in closer and touched the tip of his nose with mine. My heart leapt to my throat, and I swallowed to shove it back down. My scalp tingled as I breathed the air he exhaled.

"Back away, Charles," I blurted out, desperately trying to keep my voice steady.

But he just drank up my refusal like a bee

slurping up nectar.

"Scarlett..."

After uttering my name, Charles crashed his lips against mine.

My mind instantly imploded. I tried pushing him away, but the more I resisted, the tighter he held on. I found the warmth of his mouth against mine a bit surprising.

"Are you crazy?" I managed to murmur during a brief moment of separation. I was caught so completely in the perfect harmony of his gentleness and strength that my brain could not process anything else anymore.

"Scarlett..." Charles let go and called out my name again. Then, he pecked at the corner of my lips and whispered, "I'm not crazy."

I made the fatal mistake of looking into this dark eyes that were framed with thick, luscious eyelashes. Next thing I knew, he was kissing me again and more passionately this time.

After a while, Charles grabbed my thighs and picked me up without his lips leaving mine. He started taking me to my bedroom.

I tried everything I could to break free from his kiss, but his tongue empowered the small part of me that did not want to let him go.

When we stopped to catch our breaths, Charles patted me on the buttocks. "Be a good girl."

Then, he started kissing me again.

Slowly but surely, my defenses melted down like butter on a hot pan.

Charles's deep, urgent kisses turned me into an animal that had fallen into a trap.

Next thing I knew, I was on my back on my bed with my shirt unbuttoned and bra unfastened. My bra straps were hanging off my shoulders, and my skirt was pushed up to my hips, revealing my underwear. Charles was on top of me, and the moment he kissed me again and pressed his body against mine, blood rushed to my cheeks, and I started throbbing in sensitive places. I was completely turned on. But then, I thought of Rita. Was Charles this aggressive with her? Or did he handle her more mindfully and carefully?

As Charles worshiped me with his mouth, I realized that even if I had him now, he would never truly belong to me. He belonged to Rita, and I was just a chapter waiting to be finished.

I braced my hands on Charles's chest and pushed him away with all my might. Beads of sweat rolled down the side of his face to his Adam's apple. The wildness in his eyes was unmistakable. He wanted something to happen between us.

Once again, he ignored my objection and sealed my lips with another hungry kiss. He gently spread my legs and started rubbing against me.

"No, Charles. Stop it." Tears started streaming down my face. I choked out, "I beg you. Please stop. We can't do this."

Hearing my stifled sobs, Charles paused and then wiped my tears with his thumb. He narrowed his eyes and whispered, "Don't you love me anymore?" His eyes were brimming with affection, and once more, I found myself crumbling beneath him. No woman could resist that kind of look.