The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes-Chapter 112- Good night baby

Charles only received Shaun’s message when he was about to leave Chicago—Janet had come all the way to Australia looking for him.

"Where is she now?" Charles’ voice held a trace of urgency. That silly girl—didn’t she promise to stay put and wait for him to come back?

"I don’t know. We just got to New York. I heard you left two days ago. Janet went after you alone." Shaun’s normally easy tone carried a hint of worry. She left by herself—would she really find Charles?

"I got it. You go back home first. I’m going after her!"

Without another word, Charles hung up and rushed out of the hotel. She must be in Chicago by now. She knew he left New York but didn’t return home—she’d have to come here, right? How thoughtful was his Janet!

Even though Charles was about 80% sure Janet would come to Chicago, he couldn’t help but worry about her—was she scared being alone in a foreign country?

Nervous and restless, Charles kept glancing at the clock, watching the minutes tick by. When he arrived at the airport, the flight from New York hadn’t landed yet.

He stationed people at every exit, ready to find her the moment she appeared.

Janet had been on the plane for hours. The moment she stepped off, two staff members approached, speaking English to her. That’s when she realized—it was him!

He knew she was coming and had mobilized the entire airport staff to keep an eye on her flight, so he’d know the second she arrived.

From a distance, Janet spotted his outstanding figure in the crowd. Even after ten long days apart, his tall, proud posture and sharp features struck her like a lightning bolt.

Seeing him, she suddenly understood just how deeply she had missed him.

Charles noticed the slender figure approaching him too—the face he’d been dreaming about day and night.

He thought about her every day he’d been away. Just as he finished organizing everything to come back to her, she had shown up first.

Janet had truly given him a surprise.

"How did you know I was here?" Charles stretched out his arms and pulled her into a tight embrace. For a moment, the familiar scent of each other filled their noses—an unspoken bond that only made them fall more deeply in love.

"I just knew!" Janet tightened her hold around his neck, listening to his strong heartbeat. She whispered softly, "I’m not too late."

"I missed you so much!" Charles squeezed her a little tighter, greedily breathing in her hair’s fragrance and kissing her pale neck. He whispered affectionately into her ear.

"This time, I’m the one chasing you, Charles. From now on, you’ll be the one chasing me!" Janet suddenly pulled away from his arms. Her rosy cheeks held a serious, stubborn expression.

She was willing to put aside pride, willing to wait, willing to take the initiative to find him—because she had given him too much freedom, so much so that he left without a word. Janet couldn’t help but feel a little unfair about that.

"Alright, I’ll chase you. I’ll always be where you can see me, okay?" Charles’ heart warmed like a gentle tide.

His little wife was so accommodating, traveling all the way to Australia to find him. He was deeply moved and content.

He had promised her: if one day they were ever apart, she only had to stand still, and he would come back to find her.

That promise was for a lifetime.

"You’re so mean, just leaving without a word. Do you know how worried I was about you?" Janet’s eyes were red as she threw herself back into his arms, tears wetting his expensive suit. Charles watched her cry, but smiled warmly inside. He swore to himself—never again would he let her worry. He would cherish her, love her, protect her.

Charles took Janet back to the hotel. He had come to Chicago not only to see the city August once lived in, to breathe the same air he did, but also to close down those nightclubs and people who had tormented August back then.

It was a kind of compensation for August. The cruel wounds Derrick had inflicted were scars that would never fully heal.

"August’s charges have been dropped, and your father returned the company to Manfred!" Janet’s bright eyes sparkled as she snuggled in his arms, filling him in on what he already suspected. Derrick’s feelings for August now were nothing but guilt—deep, endless guilt. The person he owed the most wasn’t Charles, nor Philip—it was August.

"Hm. Is he still with Manfred now?" Charles asked quietly. He knew August might never forgive Derrick, no matter how much Derrick tried to make amends. The pain was too deep. Derrick’s next life might only be spent drowning in regret and suffering—that was his true punishment.

"Manfred helped him a lot. August needed someone like him the most," Janet said, understanding the complicated bond between August and Manfred—more than friends, but not quite lovers. Maybe they both disliked women, which made them care even more deeply for each other.

August had suffered too much. He deserved a good girl, someone to replace Manfred by his side and love him properly.

"Charles, when are we going back home?" Janet felt settled now that she had found him. But Black Rock Co. still needed him. Whether or not he accepted Derrick as his father, the company was now fully his. And Philip was awake—he must be eager to see him.

"Let’s stay a few more days. Do you like it here? How about we go to New York tomorrow?" Charles played with her soft hair, the delicate touch warming his heart. They hadn’t spent much time together since he learned the truth about his origins. He knew he hadn’t treated her well enough.

"Why? Weren’t you here in Chicago for August?" Janet’s sharp intuition guessed right—he came because he cared about August. That city held too many painful memories for August, and even now Janet felt a sting thinking about it.

"Yeah... everything that needed to be done is done. And I owe you a honeymoon. Or if you want to go somewhere else, we can do that too. Let’s take advantage of this moment," Charles said apologetically, kissing her forehead as she looked at him with curious eyes.

"Then let’s go to New York. Anywhere with you is fine!" Janet closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his lips lingering on her skin. The comfort she felt finally broke down all her defenses. She fell deeply asleep in his arms.

Charles gazed at her tired, peaceful face, long lashes resting on her cheeks. He bent down and gently kissed her half-open lips. His eyes were filled with profound adoration.

"Good night, baby."

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