Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game-Chapter 232 - 150 If the grass is not removed at the root, it will grow again when the spring breeze blows.
He is the man who emerged from her longing, her suspicions, and her hesitance.
As Charlotte gazed at the man’s deep-set eyes, even the long eyelashes where fine, melting snowflakes rested seemed to emit a ten-thousand-volt electrical charge when locking eyes with her, stirring a woman’s heart with irresistible tenderness.
What can she do? No amount of speculation could match the delight of seeing him face to face.
It seems she likes him more and more; if the truth is something she can’t accept, would she still feel this way?
"Dressed so beautifully, where are you off to?" Atlas Hallow looked at Charlotte’s attire, noticing it differed from her usual casual style; today, her outfit seemed more formal.
Charlotte’s mind raced; she hadn’t called the driver Atlas arranged, so she needed to suggest a place within walking distance.
"There’s a flower shop about three hundred meters on the next street. It has some books, too. I’m learning flower arranging and might finish a piece today, so I want to take a picture. The hat looks good with flowers." She made up something but truly was learning as she had visited the shop a couple of times.
Atlas’ eyes, dark as ink, revealed no emotion as he wrapped his arm around her waist, leading her inside, "I’ll change and then accompany you."
"No need; it’s just boredom that’s making me want to go. If you have time to accompany me, then let’s do something else..." She was startled but maintained a calm surface, wondering if she was talking nonsense.
"Something else? Feeling a bit greedy?" Atlas’ lips curved with an alluring smile, his gaze landing on her enticing cherry blossom-pink lips, prompting him to steal a kiss.
"What are you thinking? I meant watching a movie or something." Charlotte blushed slightly, realizing his implication, and playfully tapped Atlas’ solid chest with her fist, pretending to be annoyed.
After returning to the hall, the housekeeper had smartly gone back to her room. Charlotte changed into home wear and sat in the living room while Atlas showered. She quickly called Ethan Baird, informing him she should indeed go to the company today.
"Understood, take care." Ethan ended the call, unable to hold back a chuckle. She just wanted some work yet seemed to need to sneak around like underground operations, her anxious heart still detectable.
Of course, she would be careful, letting out a long breath of relief; how fortunate to have bumped into Atlas right before leaving if she’d been caught outside; it’d be real trouble caught red-handed.
After showering, the man changed into home wear too, likely because there was a housekeeper at home now, forgoing his usual towel or bathrobe wrap.
"Atlas Hallow, what were you doing at seventeen?" Charlotte couldn’t help but ask. She desperately wanted to know though Ethan said it wasn’t him who bought Hailey Hill’s first time, but what if Ethan was wrong?
"Why do you ask?" Atlas hugged her, his body heat always warmer than hers, like a big cozy furnace enveloping her, warming her to the point of making her unwilling to move.
"At seventeen, I decided to study abroad. What about you?" Charlotte’s face rested against his chest, feeling his heartbeat, each beat strongly echoing in her ears, providing immense safety.
"At seventeen, nothing special happened." Atlas twirled Charlotte’s silky black hair around his fingers, enjoying the smooth texture. Her hair was long and strong, always exuding a faint rose fragrance.
"Seventeen, isn’t it the age of first love? Did you not meet anyone special? Fifteen or sixteen-year-old girls are adorable." Charlotte’s eyes started closing slowly. Being close to him was so comfortable she felt she might fall asleep soon, despite having just woken up.
Perhaps due to a sleepless night, fatigue began to envelop her. She tried staying alert to hear him speak.
"No, I didn’t." Atlas couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss her lips, the lazy charm she exuded in his embrace stirred his blood, though he repeatedly warned himself not to act too impulsively.
"Liar..." Charlotte softly murmured, finding a more comfortable position as she succumbed to sleep, slowly closing her eyes and breathing evenly.
She slept until lunchtime when Atlas woke her.
Maybe his body heat transferred enough energy to her; upon waking, Charlotte’s face flushed with rosy warmth, her delicate, fair cheeks bore a blush, and even her clear eyes appeared brighter as if ready to spill over with water: "How long did I sleep?"
"All morning." Atlas remained in the same reclined posture as when she fell asleep, apologizing, "Why didn’t you carry me to sleep inside?"
Holding one pose for too long easily causes muscle numbness and joint stiffness discomfort. He just held her like that all morning.
"I like it this way." Her closeness was childishly fragile and pure, impossible to let go of.
"My parents will arrive early this year." Atlas casually mentioned over lunch. Normally, Hallow Family elders would return by the end of March, but upon hearing about Charlotte’s pregnancy, they planned to come back early, claiming there hadn’t been such joy in the family for a long time.
Also, Flix Hallow might face questioning soon. Usually, he could stay abroad without returning, but Atlas believed the case wouldn’t land his father in jail, and it’d be a colossal scandal if he didn’t return, causing company stock turbulence akin to the leaked video incident, making returning the best option.
"Oh." Charlotte sipped the soup, the broth inexplicably turned greasy and nauseating, setting down the bowl to look at Atlas, sensing he had more to say. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
"We’ll return to the villa in a few days. My mother wants to personally care for you for peace of mind." As Atlas said, Charlotte’s face changed abruptly, draining from flushed pink to a pale, weak complexion.
She really didn’t like living there, though the request wasn’t unreasonable. Ava Walker had always liked Atlas, treating Charlotte like an enemy, and the worst part was she’d be confined in the Hallow home, unable to work.
"Rest assured, if you don’t want to dine together, you don’t have to. However you want things, it’s up to you; I’m here." He knew Charlotte disliked going back to the Hallow home, but the villa environment was better, the staff numerous, meals swiftly prepared by several chefs, and its large garden suitable for post-meal walks, unlike the spacious yet comparatively limited apartment.
It’s not about liking or disliking; it’s suffocating. Wouldn’t she argue with Ava Walker daily?
Before arguing didn’t matter, but now her condition is more delicate; she doesn’t prefer excessive stress.
Though this child came by Atlas’ gentle coercion, she truly cherished little Ethan, feeling he evoked tender affection that could render her mildly heartaching, unprepared for motherhood; still, accidental outcomes aren’t wanted after Ava’s mother administered drugs, having been truly frightened.
Atlas consoled her softly, aware of her concerns.
Ava Walker couldn’t act currently; she and Ella Johnson faced confinement, oddly supported by an unknown party. As videos circulated, even with crisis control, inevitably some leakage occurred, causing minor troubles.
But who aids them? To date, Atlas hasn’t identified the orchestrator, akin to the unresolved aid for Ella before.
This urged him to uncover the culprit fully, letting no loose ends remain. Completely eradicating any lasting threats established eternal safety.
He even questioned lately if Jet Five executed assignments dutifully, considering no developments on investigations. Was Jet diverted by a peculiar masseur, thus losing the focus?
In the garden watching falling snow, Jet Five abruptly sensed itching at his ear, someone seemingly mentioning him.
A massive oilcloth umbrella was raised in the courtyard, where Jet Five sat clutching an exquisite small heater fueled by top-quality silver charcoal. Despite the snowy blanket enveloping the garden, he felt no cold, his fox fur cloak bundled tight, watching the entrance gate.
Her tardiness puzzled him, given their arranged meeting time.
The housekeeper glanced at the young master, inwardly criticizing Cecilia Wilson’s conduct for having Jet wait outdoors amidst dropping temperatures. If he caught ill, disaster would ensue.
Seizing the chance while Jet was unaware, she secretly returned indoors, phoning the lady of the house to report the day’s events.
"Understood..." On the other end of the line, a well-groomed beautiful woman had a fleeting glint of malice, daringly permitting her son to wait. Did she think the mother’s warning false?
