CHAPTER 150: CHAPTER 150- UNDERSTOOD

The early winter wind carried a lingering chill, a subtle emptiness that clung to the air. The lake shimmered under the pale sunlight, its rippling surface a mirror of the vast sky above. Behind it, a stretch of lush green rolled across the hillside. And amidst it all stood a woman—delicate yet striking—wrapped in a black knit sweater that clung to her petite frame.

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Janet.

She had been here for over a month.

This place—peaceful, secluded—was no stranger to her. She had once lived here for nine long years, before Cornelia passed away. Back then, it was just her and her mother. This hilltop retreat had nearly been reduced to ash in a fire a decade ago and was later abandoned. She never thought she’d return. And yet... here she was.

Even with her eyes closed, Janet could feel every blade of grass, every whisper of the wind.

It was the only silence in the world that didn’t feel empty.

She was now over four months pregnant.

The loose clothes she wore hid the slight swell of her belly well enough, but standing there, surrounded by blooming winter flowers, her figure still held a quiet, graceful beauty.

Every now and then, she would gently press her palm to her belly, soothing the restless life within.

"Miss, the wind’s picking up a bit... let’s go back inside," came a gentle voice from behind.

A thick coat was draped softly over her shoulders.

Janet turned and offered a grateful smile. "Alright."

The voice belonged to the caregiver Manfred had arranged before he left. She had impaired vision now, and only agreed to the nurse after Manfred pleaded repeatedly.

With the nurse’s help, Janet began her slow walk back to the house.

The wind brushed against her face, but she didn’t feel cold.

Even without her sight—perhaps especially without it—her heart had never felt more still.

Pregnancy had limited her medication.

Despite her worsening condition, Manfred had gone through enormous trouble and cost to find a painkiller that wouldn’t harm the baby. He cared for her. He gave everything for her.

And yet... she had nothing left to offer him in return.

Her complexion had improved slightly in recent weeks. Only then did Manfred finally allow himself to leave the city. Still, every time her migraines came, they left her unconscious for hours.

She worried it would hurt the baby. So she endured.

Just six more months.

If she could hold on for that long, she would try again—for Charles’s sake.

To live. No matter how little time she had left.

Just as they returned to the villa, her phone began to ring.

The nurse helped her sit on the sofa before hurrying to fetch it. Only one person had this number—Manfred.

"Janet?"

His voice came through the speaker, calm and gentle.

Her fingers clenched slightly.

She knew Charles must still be looking for her.

And he must have seen that abortion certificate by now.

He was probably furious.

Forgive me, Charles.

I lied to you again—just to make you give up.

"He’s still looking for you," Manfred said quietly. "I won’t come by these next few days. Just focus on resting, okay?"

He reminded her to take her medication. To eat. To take care of the child.

Janet’s heart ached at the kindness in his voice.

Her eyes burned with unshed tears.

"...I will. I promise. Don’t worry about me. Just focus on your own work," she said softly.

Manfred asked to speak with the nurse next.

He had hired her with an incredibly high salary, just to make sure Janet would be cared for with the utmost diligence.

Every day, he called—tirelessly—reminding her about her pills and her supplements.

But now... he had to be cautious.

Charles was still in the city.

And if Janet remained here, it was only a matter of time before Charles found her.

Maybe fate worked like that—

When Charles had searched the world for her, she’d vanished.

And just when he was about to give up,

Fate would find a cruel way to bring her back to him.

"Boss, we’ve secured the land near the coastal resort. Should we begin development?"

Giles stepped into the office.

The man in the large leather chair said nothing. He sat with his back to him, cloaked in silence.

It was a long moment before Charles finally spoke, voice hoarse and flat:

"Start the work."

It was a promise he had once made.

That night, when he brought Janet to Brian’s celebration for the Golden Bay Resort, he had promised to build one of his own—for her.

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Even if she was no longer here.

A promise was a promise.

"...Understood. We’ll begin construction next week."

Giles turned to leave, then hesitated.

"There are still some residents on the site. They’re refusing to vacate. Should we... use force?"

Charles spun his chair around with a slow, deliberate motion.

The sharp lines of his face were partially obscured by the dark stubble along his jaw—

not so much a sign of desolation as it was a rugged, weary sensuality.

His hand tapped rhythmically against the desk as he stared at the tablet in front of him.

"...Forget it. Leave that section alone."

Had this been before, his decisions would’ve been driven purely by profit.

But not this time.

This place...

was once Janet’s home.

Somewhere deep in his mind, Charles still wanted to preserve it—

a piece of her world, untouched.

The construction would proceed, yes, but only according to his vision.

He would build something beautiful.

Something worthy.

But would she... ever come back to see it?

"...Understood," Giles replied calmly, not at all surprised.

Anything involving Janet, and Charles always grew hesitant.

"Oh, and one more thing—

put the search for her on hold."

Charles pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaustion buried in every crease of his brow.

That furrow had been there since the day she left—never once smoothing out.

He knew very well:

if she didn’t want to be found, it didn’t matter how deep he dug—

she would never let herself be caught.

Right now, his priority was this—

building the fairytale she once dreamed of.

Maybe, just maybe, it would become a path to bring her back.

He refused to believe she had disappeared from his life forever.

A week later, Charles drove out to the coastal resort himself.

This place...

He had read about it in Janet’s background report before.

Years ago, Harold had sent Janet and her mother here, abandoning them without a second thought.

Then came the fire that destroyed it all—

and perhaps, that was when fate began intertwining their lives.

He remembered it vividly.

Ten years ago.

Those eyes.

So clean, so bright.

When he handed her a handkerchief, her gaze had been like that of a startled fawn—

pure and clear.

Now he understood.

It was this land, this mountain and sea, that had nurtured such eyes.

He lit a cigarette, leaning against the car door, his figure cold and aloof against the vast emptiness of the land.

The hillside stretched before him like a wild prairie. Endless. Untamed.

His two assistants stood behind him in silence, following his gaze, waiting.

Elsewhere, Manfred had already arrived.

He’d changed vehicles multiple times en route to shake off any possible tails.

Only when he was certain that no one was following did he drive up the quiet road to the resort.

Janet knew he was coming.

They’d spoken the night before.

When he saw her again, he pulled her into a hug without hesitation—

gently, but tightly.

"...Still getting headaches?" he asked, voice low.

"Can you still see anything at all?"