Farewell To My Endless Love novel Chapter 101

Scarlett's POV:

I was alone on the sofa when I woke up. But I got the sense that Charles slept next to me last night. Maybe it was a dream, but I could not be sure.

"Good morning, Mrs. Moore. Mr. Moore just went upstairs," the servant who was cleaning said to me.

I took a deep breath and nodded. I kept my face neutral, but deep inside, I felt ashamed and flustered.

"He told me to tell you as soon as you wake up to go upstairs and take a shower," the servant added.

I did not understand why Charles always had to use such ambiguous words that easily gave other people the wrong idea. As blood rushed to my cheeks, I lowered my gaze and made my way upstairs.

I ran into Charles just as he was stepping out of the bathroom. He was drying his hair with a towel. He was naked from the waist up. The muscles on his torso were well-defined, and his collarbone, for some reason, looked sexy and inviting. When he raised his head, his Adam's apple slightly bobbed.

I averted my eyes and swallowed. "Will you please put a shirt on?" "No. It's hot." Charles put down the towel and glanced at me. "Why is your face so red?"

"It's stuffy downstairs," I snapped, feeling a bit embarrassed by how defensive I sounded.

"Why aren't you looking at me?" Charles asked, confused and a bit annoyed. He pinched my chin and forced me to look at him.

Standing close to him now, I could see that his skin was still slick, and for reasons I could never fathom, he looked a hundred times more handsome to me when he was fresh out of the shower.

We looked into each other's eyes for a long time. In the end, I lost the little staring contest and shook off his grip on my chin. I suddenly remembered that his arm had not recovered yet, so I walked past him and grabbed the hairdryer from one of the drawers in the bathroom. "Let me help you dry your hair."

Charles beamed and nodded.

"Sit down. I can't reach your head." He was way taller than I was. I could only reach up to his shoulder.

He sat on a chair obediently, and I started to blow -dry his hair, which was short and soft. It was the first time that I helped him dry his hair. It felt a little unnatural to me. From time to time, I grazed the back of his ear with my fingers, and when I did, I felt some sort of tingle. I clenched my jaw and shoved down my emotions until I was done.

"There. You're all good," I said after making sure his hair was all dry.

Charles stood up and raised his eyebrows at me. "How should I thank you?"

"No need for gestures of gratitude. You're always welcome. We should help each other and build a harmonious future," I joked, but at the back of my mind, I wished that our relationship could be much, much simpler.

"Well, I don't want to owe you anything," Charles pressed.

Why did I get the feeling that he had used that tone with me before? I knitted my brows.

"How about I repay you with a kiss?" Charles suggested smugly.

I pushed him away, feeling repulsed by his behavior. "I said there's no need for you to thank me."

"No, I insist. I have to pay back what I owe you. That's what you do with me. And didn't you say we're strangers? A kiss shouldn't be an issue with us, should it?" he teased.

I raised my head and glared at him. I resented that he was using my own words to get me to do what he wanted.

"Relax. I'm kidding," Charles laughed after a brief pause and then looked into my eyes.

I heaved a sigh of relief, but next thing I knew, his lips were a hair's breadth away from mine, and before I could draw another breath, he was already kissing me. He sucked on my lower lip and then traced my teeth with the tip of his tongue. For once, he was not being aggressive. He was being so gentle that I considered kissing him back despite my mind's objections. Before I could completely get lost in his intoxicating kiss, I raised my hand, put it on his chest, and pushed him away. My knees threatened to buckle as he let go but put a finger under my chin and tipped my head up.

He gave me two soft pecks on the lips before flashing me a satisfied smile.

I sat there awkwardly and considered defending Charles. Charles turned his head toward Alice, dissatisfaction so obvious on his face. "Mom, I've bought Scarlett hundreds of clothes. She never wears them."

"I have my own clothes, Mom," I interjected.

Alice just rolled her eyes and shook her head as if she was done with the conversation about my wardrobe.

After breakfast, Charles and I prepared to leave. On our way out, Christine pulled me aside.

"Remember what you promised me, dear. If we confirm that Rita's child isn't Charles's, you won't divorce him. I don't want you to leave this family. Anyone with half a brain can see that Charles cares about you very much. You should give him a chance."

I pursed my lips and said nothing. I did not know how to respond. Charles and I's problems were not only about Rita's unborn baby.

"What are you worried about, Scarlett?" Christine asked.

"I need more time to think, Grandma. I..."

"What else do you need to think about? Charles loves you, and you love Charles. You love each other, so be together. Don't worry about Rita. I'll take care of her," Christine butt in.

I knew that she was doing this for me and Charles, so I decided not to argue anymore. So far, I had no choice but to let nature take its course.

After our short conversation, Christine let me go.

"What did Grandma say to you?" Charles fell into step beside me and asked nonchalantly.

"It's a secret between women. You don't have to know," I answered casually. As I spoke, I quickened my pace and left Charles behind. I could not help blaming him in my heart. If he had not entangled himself with Rita for so long, I would not be in such a dilemma now.