CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 100- ANSWER ME

Charles sat on the edge of the bed, the sound of water running from the bathroom filling the quiet room. He absentmindedly set down the finance magazine in his hands. These past few days, he had deliberately been cold to her. But every time he caught sight of her shimmering eyes, he couldn’t help but want to pull her into his arms. He wanted her to feel how much she needed him—to truly understand that he was an irreplaceable part of her life.

Sure enough, Janet’s reactions didn’t escape his notice. They confirmed what Shaun had said—she had feelings for him. Maybe not as deep as his for her, but as long as she carried him in her heart, he was satisfied.

Charles habitually touched the ring finger of his left hand, surprised to find it bare. A few days ago, when they grew distant, he had purposely taken off the ring. From the hurt in Janet’s eyes, he knew she cared.

That was enough. He couldn’t bear to see her sad—that would break his heart even more.

He suddenly remembered leaving the ring on his desk in the study. Getting up, he rushed there, searching everywhere but couldn’t find their matching wedding bands—the symbol of their marriage.

Had she taken it?

Back in the bedroom, Charles flung open the bathroom door. Janet, bathing inside, was clearly caught off guard. Her cheeks flushed bright red as she scrambled to cover herself, unsure how to hide.

"Where’s my ring?" Charles’ gaze instinctively scanned her body. His voice softened, the anger he’d felt earlier melting away after these days of distance.

"Oh, I put it in the drawer!" Normally, the study was off-limits, but she often tidied it for him. Seeing the ring left there, she thought he’d forgotten it on purpose.

"Hmm... hurry up and finish, I’m waiting," Charles said, the subtle hint in his tone making Janet’s cheeks blush even deeper. Was he really not angry anymore?

Janet could feel it too—behind his coldness were complex emotions, pain even greater than hers.

But then, a sudden thought struck her like lightning. Panic filled her pretty face. She quickly wrapped herself in a towel, barefoot and without clothes, and rushed out of the bathroom, silently praying he wouldn’t find out. Please—don’t find out.

Even though she hid the pills deep in the drawer, if he discovered them, he would misunderstand.

The more she feared, the more inevitable it seemed.

Janet hurried out, only to see Charles standing arrogantly with his back to her, radiating an icy chill. Hearing the movement behind him, he turned, his face cold as ice—not holding the ring, but a far more shocking secret in his hand.

"What’s this?" His grip suddenly tightened around her slender wrist. His eyes flared with volcanic anger—burning and searing like molten lava. The pain was so intense Janet’s vision blurred.

"Answer me! Why are you taking birth control pills?" Charles demanded.

She stayed silent, but those damned tears fell like stones sinking into his heart, stabbing him with unbearable pain.

She didn’t want to have his child.

This realization nearly broke him. Charles had never imagined she would secretly take pills behind his back. He never went through her things—not because he didn’t care, but because he trusted her. So was she really trampling on his heart again and again, so shamelessly?

Now it all made sense. The strange behavior that night, her calm facade despite taking pills in secret... even every time he mentioned having a child, her eyes would dart away. So it was like this...

"Charles, please don’t be angry, okay? I didn’t mean to!" Janet struggled to explain. She had been so careful to keep it hidden, but now she couldn’t find any good reason to justify it. He desperately wanted a child—a family of his own. Janet suddenly felt so cruel. She didn’t know what she was doing. Her fear and hesitation were only pushing her and Charles further apart—and that was the last thing she wanted.

"Is this your answer to me? Janet, you’re ruthless!" Charles clenched the pill bottle tightly. Raising his hand to strike her face, Janet shut her eyes, bracing for the pain that never came. Instead, he slammed the bottle hard against the wall behind her. His gaze locked on her beautiful face—the one that haunted his dreams—and grew colder, more distant.

Without another word, he walked away. Janet, gathering every ounce of strength, suddenly crashed into his back. Her small hands wrapped tightly around his waist, hot tears soaking through his shirt, but still, they couldn’t melt the chill in his heart.

"Don’t go, Charles, please don’t leave me! If you don’t like it, I won’t take them anymore. I’ll do whatever you want, okay?"

"I won’t let you go, Charles. I really won’t take them! We’ll have a baby—I’ll give you a child. Please don’t leave me..."

She was terrified of this feeling. That night, he had left her without a word, making her wait alone all night. She wasn’t afraid of waiting. She was afraid that this time, he wouldn’t come back.

"Are you really so unwilling to be with me?" Charles was losing his mind, driven crazy by her tears. Seeing her cry stabbed his chest like needles, sending waves of pain that drowned his reason.

He couldn’t tolerate lies and betrayal—not because he didn’t love her, but because he loved her too much. Janet knew exactly how to break his heart.

"It’s not like that, Charles... I’m just scared..."

"Don’t say another word!" Charles cut her off sharply. She was scared, he was scared—scared she’d say something that would shatter him again. He couldn’t bear the truth that she was provoking him for another man. Suddenly, all the hopes he had been holding onto dissolved into nothing. To him, it was a fatal blow.

Charles pried apart the fingers tightly curled around his waist. Without much force, she collapsed to the floor. Her voice, pleading and sincere, called out to him—but still, he walked away without hesitation.

The heavy slam of the door echoed like a massive boulder crashing down on Janet’s heart. Yet, she didn’t even have the courage to chase after him.

He wouldn’t forgive her. Not ever again.

Her heart felt hollowed out—like it had been ripped apart. For the first time, she truly cared about a man. That gut-wrenching pain hit her like a storm, and in that moment, Janet finally understood: she had fallen in love with him long, long ago...