The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes
Chapter 14- in love

Chapter 14: Chapter 14- in love

In the next instant, Janet’s eyes widened. After hearing his words clearly, she wanted to clear up her confusion, but the elevator doors opened. With a deep, unreadable smile on his face, August stepped out swiftly as Janet turned around, leaving her with a wide view of his back. Janet stood frozen for a few seconds as the elevator doors on the 55th floor closed in front of her. She tried to make sense of what he had just said.

Could he have been the one from last night?

But the feeling he gave her was so different...

"Janet, are you a turtle or something?" As the elevator reached the top floor, before she could step out, a strong arm yanked her out.

"You’re really slow," Charles grumbled, standing by the elevator. Ten minutes had passed, and she still hadn’t shown up. He pulled Janet up, removed the laptop she was clutching protectively, and without any gentleness, slapped it onto her hard office desk. Then, he pulled her into his office.

"Is there something you need?" Janet could feel the anger radiating from him. As she reached up to adjust her glasses, his hand suddenly gripped hers. Before she could turn around, she felt a chill on her face, and her new glasses were ruthlessly crushed.

"Listen, stay away from August from now on, got it?" Charles’s eyes were filled with a mischievous gleam as his gaze lingered on her face. His eyes slid down, landing on a bright red love mark on her neck. A flicker of satisfaction appeared in his eyes, faint and hidden behind a veil of unspoken emotions.

Janet was confused by his words. She was his secretary, so why would he be telling her to stay away from August? What exactly did he mean by that?

"Yes, I understand," Janet replied, not daring to defy him, as his gaze was too mysterious, too filled with an unspoken depth.

As Charles released her from his grip, Janet let out a sigh of relief. She realized that the anger in his eyes had subtly shifted into something more ambiguous.

"Is there anything else?" Janet tucked away her unease, her tone professional as she looked at him. Her long lashes fluttered, betraying the anxiety she was trying to hide.

Charles stretched out his long fingers, circling her neck gently. He then slowly slid her loose camisole strap down, his touch sending an electric current through her body. The distinct scent of his masculinity surrounded her as he pulled her waist toward him, his clean, pale fingers brushing against her neck. A teasing smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Who taught you these skills? Not bad at all..."

He quickly released Janet after speaking, his tall figure turning away. Janet didn’t notice the smug look in his eyes as he did so.

Janet could hear the mockery in his words as she lightly touched the skin he had just grazed. She quickly opened the office door and ran out. Once she reached the bathroom, she hurriedly opened her clothes and looked into the large mirror. She gasped when she saw the faint hickey on her neck, finally understanding what he meant by "Not bad at all."

Looking lower, she saw the subtle marks across her chest—intimate traces left by the man from last night...

After washing her face, Janet stepped out of the bathroom, feeling a little off without her glasses. This was already the third pair, and she still couldn’t understand why Charles was so insistent on having her take them off.

She reflexively glanced at the closed doors of the CEO’s office. As she reported her work for the day, Charles had already resumed his usual cold demeanor. His sharp gaze felt like it was peeling away her every layer, and she couldn’t help but shiver at the chill that seemed to seep into her bones. She still hadn’t gotten used to this CEO, who changed his moods faster than the weather.

In the afternoon, Charles and Giles had gone to an external photography studio, where Charles personally supervised the filming of a new makeup commercial for their flagship company. The spokesperson for the ad was the rising star, Ivanka...

Charles didn’t return to the office before the end of the day. As Janet packed up and was about to leave the company, she unexpectedly ran into Peggy, whom she hadn’t seen in a few days.

Peggy was in the same red Lotus sports car, which suited her so well. When she saw Janet walking out, she waved excitedly, "Janet, hurry up and get in!"

As Janet climbed into the car, Peggy couldn’t help but stare at her outfit—a fitted two-piece suit with a knee-length strapless skirt underneath, and a thin blouse on top. Without her glasses, Janet’s skin looked as smooth as silk, and Peggy couldn’t look away.

"Janet, are you in love?" she asked, surprised. In the past, she would always nag her about changing out of that old, frumpy style, but now, after only a few days, Janet seemed like a completely new person.

Janet didn’t dare tell her the truth. If Peggy knew she had silently gotten married, she couldn’t imagine what kind of reaction she’d get. And she wasn’t planning on telling her just yet.

"No, you’re right. I don’t need to change who I am just for some unimportant people," Janet replied, her voice steady. She had left the Louis family behind, escaping that nightmare. From now on, she no longer had to wear a mask. After today, her life would be something entirely different...

"I’ve always said it, right? Elvira, that vixen, was just jealous of you. Janet, I told you, she’ll get what’s coming to her, and she’ll feel the pain you went through!" Peggy said indignantly. She’d never liked Elvira, the woman who always dressed like a peacock. Even though they were from the same school, no one knew she and Janet were sisters. Peggy was sure of her judgment—one day, Elvira would pay for all the harm she’d caused Janet.

Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up in front of an upscale private PUB. Janet rarely visited places like this, and it was usually Peggy who dragged her along. Sometimes, Peggy would also invite her brother Simon, trying, either intentionally or unintentionally, to set them up. Janet used to think she wasn’t worthy of Simon, but now, as a married woman, she found herself reflecting on that. Even though her husband was disabled, whenever she thought of Philip’s face, which flickered between clarity and shadow, she couldn’t help but feel a bit of pity for him.

"Janet, hurry up! My brother’s already waiting for us!" Peggy quickly parked the car and eagerly grabbed Janet’s hand, pulling her inside. As soon as she heard Simon’s name, Janet felt a headache coming on. How could she explain that Peggy was still so eager to play matchmaker for them?

However, when Janet and Peggy walked through the noisy main hall toward the private room upstairs, Janet’s gaze landed on a man unlike any she had ever seen before—he was stunningly handsome, almost extraordinarily handsome-like in his appearance, with an aura that was both dark and alluring...