Chapter 181
Chapter 181
Charlotte had used her actions to tell him that if something like that happened again, she would not hesitate to die for him.
Shane put down the phone, his long fingers played with her hair. "Why are you being so silly because I'm taking care of someone else?"
He murmured to himself.
He seemed to ask the question of her and himself.
Charlotte's sleep-steady breathing answered him.
He had to protect that person. Otherwise, he would betrapped in his memories forever.
Shane's gaze became deeper and deeper.
Rick's words became clearer and clearer in his mind.
Would a future him blame himself again? Was he now doing Charlotte wrong by not being responsible for what he did?
The next day.
Charlotte woke up and walked to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Only then did she realize that she had been brought home by Shane.
It was only when she saw the hickeys on her neck and collarbone that she belatedly realized what had happened yesterday.
She gazed at herself in the mirror. She did not feel any fear. On the contrary, she felt humiliated.
What on earth did she do yesterday?
She held on to her toothbrush. Her fingers went stiff.
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The bathroom door opened.
Cold fingers landed on her shoulder. A face that she was so familiar with appeared behind her.
"I've prepared breakfast. I'll take you home after you eat it."
"Yesterday, we..." Her voice was very hoarse. She must have been able to control herself last night, she had used her voice too much.
"As you can tell."
Shane had already gotten ready for her interrogation.
He had even prepared a script.
Anyway, Tiffany was abroad now. It would be difficult even if he wanted to protect her. He didn't necessarily have to sacrifice his marriage.
Perhaps, he could tell Charlotte that he already knows everything, that she was the woman he encountered five years ago... and that Sheryl was his daughter.
Charlotte simply laughed. "Forget it. Pretend that I wasn't here."
"What?" Shane frowned.
"I helped you just to return the favor. Yesterday, I drank too much, so I didn't refuse..."
"Charlotte, it's best if you think clearly about what you're going to say to me." His voice deepened.
Charlotte put down her toothbrush and looked into Shane's eyes through the mirror. "I said, I didn't turn you down yesterday not because I have feelings for you. I was drunk and confused. I apologize if I've misled you."
She was very clear-headed.
She had never been so clear- headed ever before.
The veins on Shane's jaw protruded. He gnashed his teeth forcefully. He spoke through clenched teeth, "Charlotte, are you playing with me?"
"I wouldn't dare, it's precisely because I wouldn't dare that I have to make it clear. I didn't manage to control myself, and I even meddled in your affairs. In the future, I'll try my best to control myself, I..."
Bang-
Shane turned around and slammed the door shut.
Charlotte's eyes turned red.
She could not convince herself to accept him.
He treated the Allen sisters so well. He had been the one to bring up divorce. It wasn't that he needed her by his side.
However.
Rick was different.
It had to be her by his side.
Charlotte hurriedly brushed her teeth and washed her face. She left the bathroom and walked to the living room. The food that had been prepared was in the trash can. Shane was sitting on the sofa, his fingers nimbly handled the laptop on his knees.
She didn't say anything and left with her head lowered.
The moment she closed the door, she knew that she could no longer do anything like go to him like a moth to a flame in the future.
Everything was over.
After returning home.
Charlotte asked the kitchen for a bowl of plain porridge.
The Jane siblings and Braden didn't seem to be there. Sheryl had also gone to kindergarten. Charlotte was sitting alone in the sunroom.
It was clearly warm, but she felt cold and lifeless.
"Did you get back alone?"
"Rick," She answered.
Rick came to sit beside her and pulled her into his embrace. He pursed his lips as he pulled open Charlotte's collar. Charlotte struggled, but her collarbone still felt a chill.
She looked down.
At some point, Rick had opened a tube of cream and he was now smearing the ice-cold transparent cream on her hickeys.
"Does it hurt?"
"No..."
"If it's red and swollen, it means that there's inflammation. You'll have to apply this on other parts of your body."
"Rick, I'm sorry. I..."
"We're not in a relationship, and I never proposed to you. Why should you be sorry?" Rick interrupted her. "It's none of my business who you choose, but there's a need for me to protect you when you're back here."
Charlotte lowered her head.
Rick carefully applied the cream and said, "You chose to help Shane, which proves that you are a loyal woman. I love that. Why would I say anything bad to you or need you to apologize?"
"Isn't this considered betrayal?" she asked him in a low voice.
"It's human nature."
She suddenly did not know what to say.
Rick said, "If I were a woman, I wouldn't be able to resist Shane either. He is young and promising, but cold and proud. How many people would dream to have a physical relationship with him, much less be doted upon by him?"
Charlotte became more and more silent.
"I'm not so shabby myself. If I said that I want to get married, there may be countless women who will fight to come to my side. You don't have to worry about how sad I will be
after you leave me."
"I'm sorry."
She repeated the words.
Rick sighed and handed the cream to her. "Have a good rest."
He remained calm and gentle.
Charlotte's heart felt as if it was being compressed by a rock.
About that night.
Only she, Rick, and Shane knew.
However.
When Anne and Braden's eyes fell on her, she still felt that there was nothing she could hide.
She spent the entire day hiding in her bedroom.
And then she had gotten a high fever.
Rick got the family doctor to come. He finally concluded that she had a fever of 39.8 degrees, which was already very dangerous. The normal human body temperature was 37 degrees. Generally speaking, she should be hospitalized in this case.
If the fever was not managed in time, she might have pneumonia at anytime.
When emergency services arrived at the door, Sheryl was very anxious, but Rick did not let her follow in the ambulance. He said that it was not good for children to go to places like hospitals too
often.
Sheryl had no choice but to call Shane.
After the matter with the programmer, Shane had been very busy, spinning non-stop like a top.
When he saw Sheryl's phone number, he didn't immediately answer it.
Sheryl called him several times, but she didn't get any response. She muttered, "Daddy is a liar..."
She was so angry that she wanted to smash her phone.
Suddenly, her phone rang, and she immediately picked it up. "Daddy!"
"What's wrong?" His voice was tired but gentle.
"Mommy was taken away by emergency services. A very tall man said that she had a high fever and she was going to be cooked soon." Sheryl sounded like she was about to cry.
"I'll be right there."
"I want to see Mommy."
"You should wait for news at home. That kind of place is not suitable for children."
Humph!
Sheryl threw the phone into her soft pillow.
Every one of them said the same thing. This was child abuse.
She had to grow up fast, and then Uncle Rick and her father would not be able to bully her.
Humph!
Big meanies.
All men were big meanies.
The word "men" had somehow become the synonym of "evil" in Sheryl's mind.
At the hospital.
Charlotte was not in a coma. She was still conscious and could hear Rick's voice.
Suddenly, she heard a cold voice that was both familiar and strange.
Then Rick raised his voice. There was the sound of fighting.
"Stop fighting..." She said in a rush.
At that time.
Rick, not wanting to retaliate, pressed Shane against the wall. Before his fist landed on Shane, he heard the sound of Charlotte's voice.
He gritted his teeth, raised his hand, and finally hit the white wall. "Shane, she hasn't said a word all the way here. You'd better know what you are doing!"
Shane lowered his eyes.
The supreme deity of the NC Company was now like a witless wandering soul.
Rick gave Shane an angry look before he pulled the door open and left.
Shane came to Charlotte's side. He gently stroked her forehead, and said in a rare gentle voice, "If your eyes are closed, how do you know that Rick was bullying me?"