The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes

Chapter 18: Chapter 18- unforgivable

He has a cleanliness obsession?

That was Janet’s first thought. She stood frozen, watching him wipe the same spot over and over again. The cold indifference in his face was a stark contrast to the man she had met yesterday—the one with the gentle, winter-sun smile. It was like he had become someone entirely different.

"How long do you plan on standing there?"

The low voice above her snapped her out of her thoughts. Before she could respond, August had already reached out and pulled her into the office.

Her eyes widened in surprise. His hand was still on her arm, and she stared at him, trying to read his expression. But his face remained calm, even with the hint of a smile at the corners of his lips. Janet felt confused. Just moments ago, he had looked at another woman like she was a contaminant—yet here he was, touching her without a trace of disgust.

"I’m allergic to women," August said suddenly, as if reading the question on her face. He let go of her arm with a cool, offhanded manner.

Janet’s lips parted slightly in shock.

"But you’re an exception."

The calm that followed her surprise left her a little unsettled. Looking at the faint crease between his strong brows, Janet felt an inexplicable sadness. A man with a smile as dazzling as a diamond—what kind of shadows was he hiding? What had made him this way? She had never heard of someone being allergic to women.

"These are the documents the CEO asked me to bring you for review," she said, her voice somewhat strained as she turned her gaze away from his.

She placed the folders on his desk. August had already taken his seat in the executive chair, his tailored Armani suit in muted linen yellow perfectly accentuating his crisp white shirt. The subtle folds at the cuff added to his elegance. His features were chiseled and sharp, radiating an aura of command and control. In that moment, she couldn’t help but notice—sitting there, he bore an uncanny resemblance to Charles.

As he leaned forward and reached out, seemingly to place a hand over hers, Janet instinctively pulled back.

There was something hidden behind that warm smile of his—a mask she couldn’t quite touch, couldn’t quite see through. But it felt far too familiar.

"I’ll take my leave now," Janet said quickly. She glanced at him once more before turning around to leave.

And in that final glance, she noticed something. A crescent-shaped platinum earring glinted on his right ear.

If her memory was correct... it matched the one she had seen last night—worn on the left ear of Manfred.

Janet found it odd—two grown men wearing matching couple’s earrings? But last night, she had clearly sensed that they didn’t know each other. Could it really just be a coincidence?

"Ah!"

Lost in thought as she stepped out of the elevator, Janet accidentally walked straight into something soft and solid—a wall of flesh, warm and unyielding. She looked up, only to find herself locked in a pair of deep black eyes.

"IVANKA, are you alright?" came a voice laced with concern.

Charles.

IVANKA?

The name struck a chord of familiarity. Janet instinctively recalled the recent buzz in the entertainment industry—a rising starlet named Ivanka who had shot to fame almost overnight. She had worked with Black Rock Co. not long ago, and if she remembered correctly, that commercial had been personally overseen by Charles himself.

"Janet, what were you thinking? Watch where you’re going."

Charles’s tone carried a hint of reproach as his eyes settled on her distracted expression. Without hesitation, he pulled Ivanka into his arms protectively—shielding her as if Janet had done something unforgivable.

"Charles, I’m fine. This must be your secretary, right? She’s beautiful!" Ivanka said gracefully, her voice soft and pleasant. She wore a white chiffon-trimmed dress, her delicate features lightly made up. Yet unlike most starlets, she exuded a pure, gentle aura—something rare in the entertainment industry.

Janet heard the affectionate way Ivanka addressed Charles and met his slightly annoyed gaze head-on. She offered the woman a polite nod of apology, then quietly stepped around them and walked away.

She had done nothing wrong. There was no reason for her to apologize.

Charles clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to turn around. He hated the way she looked at him—so calm, so indifferent. Outwardly soft and quiet, Janet had a stubbornness and pride that showed in subtle but undeniable ways.

"You go on ahead," he said suddenly, pushing Ivanka gently away. Without waiting for her to step into the elevator, he turned and strode off in the opposite direction.

Janet had just settled back at her desk when a familiar voice broke the silence.

"What happened to your eyes?"

Startled, she looked up to see Charles standing in front of her, his handsome face unreadable, both hands braced on her desk. He leaned forward slightly, like a predator closing in on its prey, his sharp eyes locking onto hers.

Why was he back so soon? Hadn’t he just left with Ivanka?

"I asked you a question, Janet," he said again, his tone low and insistent. His brows furrowed slightly, lips pressed into a tight line.

"My eyes..." Janet faltered. She had noticed the slight swelling in her eyes earlier—probably from crying the night before. Even now, they still felt a little dry and irritated. What surprised her was that Charles had noticed it too.

"You’ve been crying?" he asked, gazing down at her pale, porcelain-like face. He could practically imagine what her skin would feel like under his fingertips—soft and warm. That thought alone stirred something in him, something he wasn’t sure he wanted to feel.

"N-No... it’s nothing," Janet mumbled, shifting uncomfortably under his heated gaze. She scooted her chair back and lowered her eyes to avoid his, trying to suppress the confusing flutter in her chest.

"As the chief secretary of Black Rock Co., you should be mindful of your appearance and your mental state. This... disappoints me." Charles straightened up with a cold huff and walked away without another word.

Janet stared after him, her lips curling slightly in frustration. Just moments ago, he seemed genuinely concerned, and now he was scolding her like a superior. Was it her choice to be in this position? If he found her so unsatisfactory, why keep her here?

With a quiet sigh, she opened her drawer, pulled out a small bottle of eye drops, and administered a couple of drops. The relief was almost immediate. Ever since she’d stopped wearing glasses, her vision hadn’t been quite the same—everything seemed just a little less clear.

"From now on, Janet will be the only one handling matters related to August. Make sure they don’t have any direct contact."

Charles tapped his desk firmly as he spoke, his tone cool and calculated. Novia, who had just entered the room, nodded quietly at the unexpected instruction.

"Yes, I understand."

Novia stood poised in a light blue business suit, exuding sharp competence. Beside Charles, she was a force to be reckoned with—impossible to overlook.

When she heard Charles casually refer to Janet by name, she froze for a brief second, a flicker of something unreadable passing through her eyes. Then she nodded quietly.

It was clear—Charles knew Janet’s every move.