Chapter 4

Charlie pressed his lips together and glanced at me before walking over to Audrey, whose eyes were red but chin still raised high in defiance.

"You should go."

Audrey's eyes flushed crimson as she called out, "Mr. Charlie."

Charlie didn't look at her again. He lowered his eyes, his voice quiet.

"I'll have someone take you home."

Audrey removed the apron and slippers, then walked away in her heels.

Charlie's parents' house fell into silence. His mother tiptoed upstairs.

Charlie walked up to me, his voice gentle as he explained.

"I didn't know she was coming. You know my mom has a soft heart. When Mom had her surgery, Audrey stayed by her bedside for an entire week."

"So when Audrey said she wanted to visit, Mom didn't think it through and said yes."

I looked quietly into his eyes.

He didn't look away.

"Charlie, this is the second time you've allowed her in front of me."

Charlie sighed. "Laura, I told you I didn't invite her here."

"You didn't invite her. You just allowed it."

"You got here half a day before me. You weren't blind when you walked in, were you? You saw her bustling around your parents' house, and you let her stay."

I looked at him. "What were you waiting for?"

He said nothing.

I smiled, though the smile didn't reach my eyes. "Charlie, there won't be a third time."

I didn't go inside Charlie's parents' house that day.

As I was leaving, Charlie chased after me and blocked my way.

"If you leave now, what will my parents think? You only see them once a year. Do you really have to humiliate them like this?"

I didn't stop walking.

His voice finally lost that calm composure.

"Fine. I apologize, okay? Is that enough?"

I stopped, my voice colder than his.

"When you let Audrey through that door, did you think about the consequences?"

His face turned ashen as he stared at me.

I let out a cold laugh and got into the car without looking back.

No one in this world had been born yet who could make me swallow my pride and suffer in silence.

He was overestimating himself.

Charlie stayed at his parents' house that night.

He didn't come home for three days straight.

It wasn't until my family's estate hosted a New Year's party that he finally showed up.

My friend Rosen stood beside me and whistled, his tone full of schadenfreude.

"Showing up right when the party's about to start—looks like President Laura's lost control of her prize horse. You've let him run wild."

I stared coldly at Charlie's car, though my voice remained calm. "If he's gone wild, that means he needs to be disciplined."

Rosen raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.

At the dinner party, I held onto Charlie's arm with a gentle smile, as if there had never been any rift between us.

Charlie, on the other hand, seemed uncomfortable. The arm I held was tense with rigid muscles.

I turned my head, pretending to adjust his tie, and whispered,

"Relax. Smile."

He looked down at me and forced his lips into a curve.

It looked terrible.

My eyes went completely cold.

He hadn't even reached the top yet, and he already thought he had enough skill and confidence to defy me.

I tightened my grip.

Just as I was about to threaten him, Rosen's lazy voice drifted over.

"Well, well, well, who do we have here? If it isn't Mr. Charlie himself."

Charlie turned his head and nodded slightly. "Mr. Rosen, it's been a while."

Rosen's smile was absolutely genuine.

"My old man's been singing your praises for years now. Mr. Charlie's impressive—being able to build up a subsidiary to this level isn't something just anyone can do."

Charlie smiled but didn't respond.

Rosen winked at me.

"But you know, talent sometimes comes down to luck."

"Some people claw their way up for decades and never make it. Others hook up with the right person and reach the top in five years."

The air went still for a moment.

Charlie's jawline went rigid.

Rosen acted like he hadn't noticed and kept talking.

"Of course, hooking up with the right person is a talent in itself."

"You've got to know how to read the room, when to push forward, when to pull back. And most importantly, you've got to remember who you are and whose boat you're standing on."

He tilted his head, swirling his drink with a smile as he looked at Charlie.

"Oh man, was that too harsh? Don't take it personally, Mr. Charlie. I didn't mean anything by it. Just making an observation."

"After all, these days it's pretty rare to see someone ride their wife's coattails as successfully as you have, Mr. Charlie."

Charlie's face turned dark. He looked at me.