The Cherished Wife



Charles, feeling J's arms around his waist, squinted slightly. A fierce glint appeared in his eyes. "Let go!" His voice was icy, echoing loudly in the open space.

J was taken aback for a second but quickly shook her head, desperate. "Don't go, Charles. Please?" She clung to him even tighter. "You care about me, don't you? I'm begging you, don't leave. I know you're mad at Aunt, but don't let that affect us. I haven't done anything wrong!"

"This is the last time I'm saying this. Let go!" Charles's brows were furrowed in frustration, but J's grip remained firm.

Charles's frown deepened. "Three strikes, J." He laid his hand on hers, and she beamed, thinking he was finally giving in. However, he squeezed it hard, shattering her moment of hope.noveldrama

Charles's grip was so tight it felt like he could snap her bones. There was not a shred of gentleness in his touch.

J's scream pierced the air as her face drained of color. "Charles, it hurts! Let go, please! It's so painful!"

"Let go!" Charles demanded. However, J clung on, defiant. "No! I won't let go even if you break my hand. If I let go, you'll walk away! I can't let you do that."

His eyes clouded over with a dark intensity, and he tightened his hold, twisting her hand with such force that J was flung to the ground before she could even process his movements.

She cried out, lying in a crumpled heap. Her hands and elbows were scraped and bleeding. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, "Charles, how could you be so cruel? How could you just push me away like that?"

Charles stood a few paces away, his gaze icy and disdainful as he looked down at her. He stripped off his coat with a look of revulsion, tossed it

into the trash, and then wiped

his

hands with a tissue. His face was etched with utter disgust, as if her touch had contaminated him.

J's face went ghostly white. Any self-delusion she had was shattered. She had believed that despite his disdain, Charles would at least spare a thought for the Baker family':

not care about her at all. Heavene

dignity. However, it was clear he did

despised her to the point that even her touch was too dirty for him to stand.

J forced herself to sit up, her back against the cold ground. Her fists were tight, and blood trickled from her knuckles, a stark red against her pale skin.

With her lip caught between her teeth, J looked up at Charles with hurt in her eyes. "Charles, you can't do this to me. I'm your..."

"That's enough. This is the last time I'll let this go," Charles said, his voice icy as he stood tall with his hands clasped behind him. "Touch me again without asking, and it won't just be a scare like today.