CHAPTER 185: CHAPTER 185- ARE YOU JEALOUS?

Janice couldn’t shake Harold’s pleading voice and those hopeful eyes from her mind, even after she got home. The sadness lingered, wrapping around her like a heavy fog.

Charles came back to find her dazed, sitting on the living room sofa. Trista was on the carpeted floor, playing with her blocks, her sparkling eyes full of focused innocence — so much like Janice’s own.

"What’s on your mind? You look lost..." A strong arm slipped around her waist. Janice felt a chill on her cheek before Charles lifted her up and carried her upstairs. He hated seeing her like this, as if she forgot he existed.

Janice gasped, surprised by his sudden action, clutching his neck. "Put me down! Trista’s still downstairs..."

"There’s someone there. We’ll have them bring Trista up later," Charles answered without missing a beat, striding up to their bedroom. He kicked the door open with his foot, then shut it behind him, tossing Janice onto their soft, inviting bed. His body followed swiftly.

He was restless, shedding their clothes with a hunger Janice wasn’t quite matching today. When he entered her, her skin was dry and unfamiliar beneath him — only fueling his possessiveness. He wanted her eyes, her heart, to belong to him alone.

"No more, Charles... I’m tired," Janice pleaded after a while, blinking those bright eyes and pushing him away gently. Charles stopped, brushing hair from her face and kissing her cheek softly. "What’s wrong?"

"I saw my dad today," she murmured, turning to lie on her side, one hand resting on his chest, hesitating.

"And?" Charles twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers, waiting patiently. He knew Harold wasn’t just a stranger to Janice.

"Ternence’s getting married..." Janice’s gaze met Charles’s deep, endless eyes, feeling dizzy.

"I know. He sent me the invitation," Charles replied, catching her off guard. Janice’s fingers, once soft on his chest, clenched into fists, her eyes flashing with anger. "When did you find out? Why didn’t you tell me?"

That sly fox had kept it from her too. If she hadn’t stumbled on the news by accident, would she have learned after the wedding? Or maybe never at all?

"No need. Didn’t you say Louis family had nothing to do with you anymore?" Charles caught her restless hand, not because it hurt, but because her teasing stirred dark thoughts in him.

"That’s different. I never said I wanted to cut ties with Ternence," Janice muttered, pulling back her hand and lying flat, thoughts spinning.

"Are you going?" Charles asked, reading her turmoil. He didn’t plan to tell her that Ternence only gave him a heads-up. He had no face to show himself around Janice — after all, he was Anila’s son too.

"I don’t know. He asked me today..." Janice’s mind was torn between two voices. Going would mean accepting Harold again. But now he was alone. Besides Ternence, who else did he have?

Janice saw that Harold hadn’t let go of Cornelia. Every time she visited the garden, she spotted him there. Did he go even when she wasn’t? Maybe every day...

"Forget it. Neither of us will go. He has his way, you have yours. Let it be," Charles said, pulling her close. His other arm cradled her head gently. He couldn’t forgive the pain those people had caused her — not even Ternence. He vowed to sever all ties. Janice shouldn’t have anything to do with them anymore.

Because of his tender gesture, Janice considered his words. Then suddenly, a mischievous smile curled on her lips as she squinted, propping herself up and leaning closer to him.

"My brother invited you, and you’re not going?" she teased softly.

"If I’m not mistaken, my future sister-in-law was once your fiancé," Charles said with a sly grin.

Janice hadn’t forgotten the scandal when Zoey returned with Ternence and her brazen intentions toward Charles. She had even heard him say they nearly became husband and wife.

"You said nearly — it never happened!" Charles pinched her bare skin playfully. Janice recalled Peggy’s words — Zoey was wealthy and beautiful, so why did Charles want to call off the engagement?

"Didn’t you have feelings for her? She was pretty eager back then," Janice teased. That Easilir makeup ad? Zoey had taken it specially for him.

"That’s a lie I don’t want to hear. Do you think I have bad taste?" Charles raised an eyebrow, displeasure clear on his handsome face. He tugged her closer, their bodies pressing so tightly there wasn’t even a gap. It was oddly serious for such a playful moment.

"Hey, what do you mean? Are you saying Ternence has no taste?" Janice narrowed her eyes, catching the disdain in his tone.

"I didn’t say that — that’s all your imagination!" Charles whispered before his lips trailed down to her delicate neck, his hands roaming her curves. Holding the beauty he loved in his arms, his desire only grew stronger.

"Charles, I’m trying to talk business — where are your hands going?" Janice tried to resist the sudden tickle, but it was too late. He kissed lower, nibbling possessively on the tempting scar on her chest.

"Charles, honestly—have you ever had feelings for Zoey? She was your fiancé, after all. Did you..." Janice’s words were cut off as Charles pressed a finger gently against her lips.

"Baby, are you jealous?" he whispered near her ear, voice serious. "I swear, apart from you, I want no one else." That silly girl — back when he and Zoey were merely engaged by name, he didn’t even know what she looked like.

Before meeting Janice, no woman caught his eye. But Janice — ordinary Janice — had him hooked like an addiction he never wanted to quit.

Janice’s cheeks flushed as Charles’ words sank in. She nestled closer, feeling the steady beat of his heart against hers. "You better mean that," she murmured, her voice soft but full of promise. In his arms, doubts melted away, replaced by a fierce certainty they belonged to each other—no matter what the past held.