The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes-Chapter 114- perfect

Janet felt Charles’s heartbeat like a searing iron pressing into her palm. She couldn’t help but draw her hand back, her cheeks flushing an even deeper crimson. But Charles wouldn’t relent—in one fluid motion he reclaimed her little hand, watching with a wicked grin as her blush climbed up her neck. His wife was always so adorably shy.

"I belong to you completely—what’s there left to be shy about?" Charles murmured, lips curving into a mischievous smile. He loved seeing her with nowhere to hide—her helpless innocence had its own irresistible charm.

"Stop it!" Janet pouted, shooting him a mock glare. The dazzling sparkle of her wedding ring on her left hand only made her all the more captivating. When Charles pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek, she playfully dodged, batting her big, innocent eyes at him.

"You said we were here for our honeymoon—so let’s not waste any more time!"

Seeing his mock-defeated frown lifted Janet’s spirits—even the earlier twinge of annoyance over that Australian girl vanished as Charles led her through the bustling streets. Compared to Paris, Australia had offered less romance and more scenic beauty. But New York pulsed with a different kind of magic—its skyline seemed to sing in tight, thrilling rhythms. The late-autumn sun draped the clouds in fiery hues, casting a soft, glowing light over everything. Together, they darted through crowds like joyful fish, faces alight with the kind of happiness they hadn’t felt in ages—free as kites riding the wind.

Over the next few days, Charles whisked Janet off to Times Square, then indulged her childlike wonder at Coney Island. Though a grown man strolling through an amusement park might seem childish, he didn’t complain once. He sat with her on the Ferris wheel, clung beside her on the carousel, and even braved the roller coaster. When their gondola at the wheel’s peak paused mid-air, they shared a fervent kiss—legend said couples who kissed atop the Ferris wheel would stay together forever. That moment’s sweetness imprinted itself on Janet’s heart, so that even in later despair, she believed her life belonged wholly to Charles.

From New York they flew to Hawaii, where Charles guided Janet to a tranquil little town blanketed with vibrant hibiscus blooms. The air was perfumed with their delicate scent. Janet fell in love at first sight—the serenity felt like a hidden paradise. She’d always dreamed of a life where she and her beloved watched sunrises and sunsets together, basking in simple, blissful moments.

"I can see you love this place," Charles said, reading her eyes like an open book. All he saw was her smile, and that was enough.

"Mm-hmm," Janet nodded, her small hand warm in his. From the crowded streets of New York to this secluded Hawaiian haven, he never once let her go.

After checking into a seaside inn, they drove toward the beach. The ocean stretched endlessly before them, the horizon a seamless union of sky and sea painted in sapphire and teal, each wave glittering with golden light.

The water was inviting, and gulls wheeled overhead. Charles watched as Janet, engrossed in gathering shells along the shore, let her long hair tumble freely in the breeze, framing her small, delicate face. Her sky-blue sundress matched the sea itself. He followed in her footprints, letting his own large steps cover hers. When she finally turned, she met his gaze with a radiant, laughter-filled smile.

"Let’s go swimming," Janet said, pointing toward a quieter stretch of water where couples waded hand in hand.

"Are you sure?" Charles arched a brow, eyeing her lightweight dress with feigned concern.

"Come on—I brought my swimsuit!" she whispered, a playful sparkle in her eye. Tugging him toward a deserted spot, she didn’t want other women oogling her husband’s perfect physique.

Her possessive protectiveness only amused him. When she slipped behind the car to change into a modest but flattering swimsuit, he gave her an approving nod. Finally, he wrapped his arms around her and led her into the warm Hawaiian surf, two lovers adrift in their own perfect world.

"You think if the tide rises right now, would we get swept away?" Janet teased, caught firmly within Charles’s gaze, letting her mind wander to wild, impractical scenarios.

"Definitely!" Charles played along without missing a beat, knowing full well this wasn’t the answer Janet wanted to hear.

"Ah? Then... if that really happened, what would you want to do the most?" Janet’s curious eyes locked onto his deep, dark ones, sensing an inexplicable spark flickering inside them that made her heart race.

"I’d want to eat you up!" Charles’s eyes darkened with desire as he lunged toward her, ignoring the tide or anything else. Even if the sky fell down, he’d protect her.

"Ah! Pervert!" Janet struggled, flailing her arms as she was pulled into his embrace, gasping for air after swallowing some seawater. Her face burned bright red, while the culprit gazed at her with such fierce passion it was as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

"Stop it! So many people are watching!" Janet’s cheeks flushed even deeper as she glanced nervously at nearby couples. Around them, bare bodies clung tightly together, some twisting and moving intensely—anyone could guess what was happening beneath the waves.

"Why don’t we imitate that underwater feeling ourselves?" Charles’s mischievous eyes traveled from the softness pressed against his chest downward, taking in the tempting curves that looked like ripe fruit ready to be picked. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his hands slipped inside her dress, silencing her protests with a hungry kiss.

"Ah, it’s raining!" Suddenly, cool droplets splattered on their skin. Charles, who was holding Janet’s slender waist and lost in their kiss, looked up in surprise as heavy raindrops fell into the ocean, instantly dousing his fiery passion.

Screams echoed nearby, and waves splashed higher, leaving Charles with no outlet for his frustration. He scooped Janet up in his arms and headed back toward the car.

"What kind of freaking weather is this?!"

Even after getting into the car, Charles was still visibly frustrated. He slapped the steering wheel and cursed under his breath before handing Janet her change of clothes.

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