The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes-Chapter 119-goodbye

After waking up, Charles took another shower and felt refreshed as he came downstairs. Suddenly, he noticed an unexpected figure in the living room. His step faltered just as he was about to move forward, and then he heard August’s voice, sounding as if it came from across centuries: "Charles!"

That single call of "Charles" stirred a torrent of mixed feelings inside him. It wasn’t the first time August had called him that, but after the layers of their past had been peeled away, the word now carried a different weight.

"Hmm, when did you get here?" Charles’s expression remained stern, but the faint curve of his lips betrayed his pleasure at seeing August.

"I just arrived. Janet told me you guys only returned to the country today." August searched Charles’s eyes and glimpsed the true feelings beneath. The man he once hated had now become his admired elder brother. He had once said that if they weren’t enemies, he would respect Charles greatly. Now, the man he admired was his own brother — a contradiction that left him torn between joy and sorrow.

Charles looked toward the small figure in the kitchen and felt a profound sense of peace. That solid feeling was something he truly savored.

Striding forward, Charles took a couple of steps and sat beside August. The shadow cast by the dim light made August feel a flutter of nervousness — never had he imagined a day would come when he could calmly sit and talk heart-to-heart with Charles.

He had never thought it possible before.

"Are you still with Manfred?" Charles asked, knowing a little about August’s situation, including the six years with Manfred and the peculiar habits shared between two grown men. He didn’t want to interfere with Manfred, but August was different — he hoped August could forget the past completely and start anew.

"As long as Manfred needs me, I’ll always be by his side," August said, uncertain himself of the feelings behind his words. He had once depended heavily on Manfred, trusting him unconditionally and never hesitating to follow whatever Manfred believed was right. But now, freed from the chains of hatred, he no longer wanted to hate anyone from the Elwin family, not even his biological father Derrick — because it wasn’t worth it.

Now, he wanted to let go of Manfred and let him live a normal life. To love him meant no longer holding him back.

"You should come back to Black Rock Co. I haven’t signed off on that fifteen percent share yet. It still belongs to you," Charles said thoughtfully after a moment of frowning, then looked at August with a calm tone.

"Charles?" August was surprised at Charles’s determination. It seemed inevitable that he wouldn’t be able to refuse. Compared to Charles’s confidence, August knew that if he rejected the offer, Charles would find a way to make him comply. Once Charles made a decision, it was final.

"Since you carry the Elwin name, you should take back what’s rightfully yours. I don’t like mixing personal feelings with business. You understand that, don’t you?" Charles leisurely rested his fingers on the back of the sofa, fully expecting August’s reaction.

August’s silence was enough to signal his tacit agreement. Charles nodded in satisfaction and turned his gaze toward the kitchen, where Janet suddenly blurred in his sight and walked straight into the half-open sliding door.

"Janet, are you okay?" August hurried over, concerned, catching her before she could fall. Janet rubbed her forehead with a faint smile. "I’m fine. Maybe it’s the long flight; my head’s a little dizzy."

"Then let me help you!" August said, placing his hand gently on Janet’s shoulder. Just as he was about to turn around, a large shadow suddenly blocked his view, and a pair of big hands separated him from Janet. Charles’s calm voice came from behind, "You should call her Second Sister-in-law."

"Hmm?" Janet and August looked up at the same time, only to see someone wearing a sullen expression, clearly jealous.

August immediately caught on, awkwardly withdrew his hand, and took a couple of steps back. Trying to save face, he said, "Well, then I’ll cook!"

"You can cook?" Janet was surprised as she watched August enter the kitchen. His practiced movements made her quite amazed — a big man who could actually cook?

"Yeah, when I was in Australia, I always cooked for myself. Manfred only eats what I make!" August’s eyes darkened with a complicated look as he spoke about the past. Upon hearing this, Charles tightened his hold on Janet and walked out, a trace of guilt crossing his usually angry face.

"The woman who marries August will definitely be very happy!" Janet watched the figure busy in the kitchen, and suddenly thought of Peggy — bright and warm-hearted, surely she would thaw the icy temperament of this iceberg named August!

"And what about you? Wouldn’t you be happy marrying me?" Charles raised an eyebrow unhappily, deliberately twisting Janet’s words. One hand slid to her waist, pulling her whole body into his embrace as he greedily inhaled her scent.

"That’s a totally different matter! I’m talking about someone else right now!" Janet frowned at him, trying to pry off his hands that were misbehaving on her body. Why was he so clingy whenever he wasn’t acting like the boss?

"No way. Your eyes should only see your own husband," Charles said, placing the hand he had just been pushed away from between her legs again. Even through the denim, he could feel her silky smooth skin and found himself unable to stop.

"I don’t ignore you, okay?" Janet protested, but before she could get free, Charles grabbed both her hands. As he bent down to kiss her, Janet spotted August walking out. She quickly tilted her head, jumped off Charles’s lap, and with calm composure greeted August, "Are you ready? Let’s eat!"

The three of them sat at the same dining table for the first time. Although their words were few, the warm atmosphere and Janet’s occasional caring glances, mixed with Charles’s random bouts of jealousy, made August feel a true sense of home. Janet had always felt like family to him, and now, finally, she was his sister-in-law — their relationship had grown closer.

"Charles, I’m heading back now. I’ll seriously consider the suggestion you gave me," August said earnestly as he left.

Charles nodded, watching August turn away. Then August looked back and waved at Janet behind Charles.

"Janet, goodbye!"

"Okay, drive safely!" Janet cautiously reminded August, watching him leave. When she looked back at Charles, she realized he had kept his usual cool demeanor the entire time. Even though he clearly cared deeply about August, he never said a single word of concern.

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