Chapter 80
Charles’ gaze, as deep and chilly as a winter lake, lingered on Evelyn’s lips. He noted how they had turned a frosty shade of purple before he finally let her go. “Turn around!” Evelyn shot him a frosty look.
Charles chuckled quietly, amusement dancing in his eyes as he took in Evelyn’s serious demeanor. His look seemed to say, “I’ve seen and touched every inch of you, so what’s the point of turning around?”
Evelyn didn’t say a word; she just kept her eyes on Charles until he eventually turned his back. Only then did she start peeling off her drenched jeans. She was still sneaking glances at him at first, but seeing his back gave her the confidence to continue. The jeans clung stubbornly to her skin, and as she bent to wrestle with them, her coat slipped from her shoulders.
Unbeknownst to her, the car window offered a reflection of her. Even blurred, Charles was all too familiar with the silhouette of Evelyn’s body. Through the foggy glass, he caught glimpses of her, and memories flooded back of Evelyn’s long, pale legs wrapped around his waist countless times. Soft and compliant, Evelyn would let him mold her into any position he desired, completely at his mercy.
Charles’ eyes darkened, his desire barely restrained as his Adam’s apple bobbed. His look turned predatory as if he could consume her whole in the next moment. Just as Evelyn managed to tug the soaked jeans from her legs, she sensed something and glanced up quickly. Seeing Charles still turned away, she thought she must have imagined it. But as she sat up, her eyes caught something in the window reflection-her own wide eyes and another hungry and intent pair-Charles’.
Their eyes met in the reflection, and Evelyn’s eyes sparked with anger. In his desire-laden gaze, Charles’ eyes also held a hint of amusement. He turned around leisurely, his handsome face unruffled, his gaze as frank and unapologetic as ever. He had never bothered to hide his desire for her.
Evelyn burned with frustration. The thought of having stripped down to her underwear in front of Charles was infuriating. Asking him to turn around looked like a joke. She flung her wet jeans at him in exasperation. “Charles, have you no shame?”
Charles caught the jeans easily and tossed them aside, his gaze returning to Evelyn, darkening as he recalled the brief glimpse of her bare skin. Evelyn, following his gaze,
realized her coat had loosened net
revealing a swath of her skin. She quickly pulled it tight, trying to shield herself from his bold stare. But the coat could only cover so much, leaving her ankles and feet exposed to the cold air and making her toes curl from the chill. Her gaze remained defensive.
Charles’ eyes swept over her, and he reached for a blanket, tossing it over Evelyn to envelop her completely. The warmth wrapped around her, gradually thawing her from the cold. The whole ordeal had left Evelyn exhausted. She fought to stay awake, but the alcohol still buzzed in her system, making her head heavy. Unable to resist, she drifted off to sleep.
The car continued on its way. A bump in the road made her head knock against the window. A steady hand caught her head just in time. Evelyn’s head rested against Charles’ palm, and with a gentle nudge, he guided her to lean on his shoulder. He pressed a button to raise the partition, signaling the driver to slow down. The road ahead smoothed out.
Evelyn slept deeply, leaning on Charles’ shoulder. When she woke up, she realized they hadn’t returned to Maple Garden but instead had
arrived at Oakwood Manor, where et
arles
she and Charlie had spent five years. Charles was carrying her into the living room. As she stirred, he noticed she was awake. He noticed she wanted to get down, so he set her gently on her feet. “Go upstairs and have a hot bath,” he suggested.
Evelyn didn’t reply or look his way and just headed upstairs. She didn’t bathe. Instead, she went straight to the master bedroom’s closet, locking the door behind her. She tossed Charles’ coat onto the floor and changed into clothes she had left behind. Once dressed, she emerged from the bedroom.
Before heading downstairs, she
couldn’t resist going into Charlie’s room. As she pushed the door open, an overwhelming wave of emotion hit her, and her eyes welled up. Her gaze lingered lovingly over the room that bore the strongest traces of her daughter’s life. She took it all in
before finally turning to leave, but
something caught her eye on
Charlie’s desk.
Charlie had always been short on people who truly loved her, and Evelyn had tried her best to make up for it by always being attentive to her daughter. She had bought and sorted all of Charlie’s things. She remembered what she had taken and left behind. Now, there was a new sketchbook on Charlie’s desk.
Evelyn was sure it hadn’t been there before. She hurried over to the desk and immediately recognized the sketchbook. It was the first and only one Charles had given to Charlie. Charlie had cherished it so much she hadn’t dared to use it. Now, the packaging was gone, and it had clearly been used.
When had Charlie opened it? Evelyn hadn’t known. Unable to resist, she sat down at the desk and gently flipped through the pages. Inside were drawings of her and Charles at the amusement park. Evelyn’s heart clenched painfully.