The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes-Chapter 118- I’ll sleep alone

The plane took off, then finally landed. Janet could feel it—Charles wasn’t indifferent at all. In that familiar city, there were people he hated, and people he cared about. And now, by his side, there was her.

"Husband, we’re home!" Janet’s slender fingers intertwined with his large hand, their lifelines connecting in a way no one could separate. She rested her head lightly on his shoulder, breathing in the scent of his cologne as the plane touched down.

Giles was there to pick them up, as always. Charles sat quietly with his eyes closed in the backseat—not asleep, but deep in thought. Janet caught Giles’ gaze in the rearview mirror and smiled softly.

"Giles, please take us to the hospital first," she said gently.

"Yes, ma’am," Giles replied politely. Though his position in the company outranked Janet’s, he still instinctively called her "ma’am," out of respect for Charles’ wife.

Charles said nothing to Janet’s spontaneous decision—neither agreeing nor objecting. He merely lifted his eyelids briefly before closing them again.

When they arrived at the hospital, Janet placed her cool fingers over his eyes, whispering with a breath like mint, "We’re here. You’re going to have an unexpected surprise."

Inside, Charles finally understood what Janet meant. Philip—who had been confined to a wheelchair for six years—had gotten up.

The doctor explained, "When people face the brink of death, the body can sometimes activate survival instincts, allowing them to do things beyond normal capacity. Philip’s bravery in shielding the bullet before being shot activated this response. Though it nearly cost him his life, it also restored feeling to his legs."

"Charles, aren’t you going in?" Janet looked at his tall figure standing outside the rehabilitation room, watching Philip painstakingly learn to walk again. After six long years, this was the moment Charles had been waiting for.

"I’ve seen Philip. Let’s go," Charles said, careful not to disturb anyone.

Even the bodyguards stationed outside held their silence at his cold glance. They knew the man before them was still their lord—Lord Charles.

Charles pulled Janet close again, casting one last lingering glance at the sweat-drenched Philip, taking slow, steady steps along the rehab bars. He believed in Philip’s determination—that he could one day walk normally, live a real life.

Without a word, Charles and Janet headed down the stairs. When the elevator doors opened, Derrick caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette—his son of 28 years. Yet Derrick had once mistaken that son for another’s child.

Haunted by the knowledge that he had caused the death of his own grandson with his own hands, Derrick knew Charles would never forgive him. And perhaps, even Derrick could no longer forgive himself.

In the end, he had two sons, but neither would claim him.

"Lord Charles, that’s him!" Robert whispered to Derrick, watching the two disappear down the stairwell.

"Yeah, I saw," Derrick sighed. Charles was willing to show himself now. He could accept Philip as his son—but not him as a father.

After all, it was Derrick who owed his son everything.

"Boss, are we heading back to the company?" Giles asked as the car left the hospital. When Charles and Janet disappeared for over a month in Paris, the company still ran smoothly without him—thanks to his two reliable assistants. If Charles ever truly left Black Rock Co., its golden age would end.

Derrick insisted that the boss position belonged only to Charles. He even transferred 30% of Philip’s shares to him. But these compensations were not what Charles wanted. Black Rock Co. was not just Derrick’s legacy—it was Charles’s life’s work.

"Let’s wait a few more days. For now, just take us home," Charles said, rubbing his temples.

He hadn’t rested well during their time in Australia, determined to make up for all the time lost with Janet. Now, all he wanted was to return to their shared home, lie in their big bed, and have her nearby—close enough to feel with his eyes closed, and to see when they opened.

Giles said nothing more, started the engine, and drove toward the eastern part of the city.

Janet was much more excited than Charles. Since their marriage, this villa had been their home. Returning brought back a flood of sweet memories, making her giddy like a devoted little wife.

She helped Charles out of his coat and tucked him into bed, planting a gentle kiss on his cheek.

"Charles, you sleep first. I’ll make dinner."

"No, you sleep with me," Charles grabbed her waist firmly, pulling her close.

His warm breath brushed her neck, making Janet blush and try to shy away.

"I’m not tired. You sleep."

"Wife, it’s your duty to sleep with your husband!" Charles teased, his words oddly funny—like he married her just to keep her beside him at night.

Janet smiled, feeling the comfort of home and love around her.

"Charles, is my only duty to sleep with you?" Janet blinked her sparkling eyes, deliberately emphasizing the word sleep, clearly ready to burst into tears if he agreed.

"Of course not. The most important job of my wife is..." Charles’s gaze wandered all over her body but was immediately snapped back by Janet’s warning look.

"Fine, then I’ll sleep alone!" Charles said, sounding a bit aggrieved. Janet was utterly embarrassed—here was the boss of a multinational company acting like a child, saying things that gave her a headache. Yet this sweet, tender side made her love the less harsh Charles even more. Perhaps his choice was right—if he didn’t want to be the boss of Black Rock Co., he could just be her Charles.

Maybe he was really tired, because Charles fell asleep just as Janet left the room. Janet switched on all the crystal chandeliers in the living room. Outside, the sky was still dusk, but inside the villa it was bright and clear, as if a transparent world had been created.

Janet took fresh food from the fridge. Fiona had been regularly taking care of the villa during their time abroad, but now that they were back, the place would no longer feel so cold and empty.

Janet’s gaze drifted out the window, becoming distant and absent-minded. Suddenly, she remembered something, put down the vegetables she was holding, ran back to the room, grabbed her phone, and dialed a number.

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