Chapter 235 Frederick Can Be Vulnerable Too
Charlotte was caught off guard.
Then she gave a small smile. "Having a kid changes everything! We can't be as loud as we used to."
Her face was all soft and calm as she said it.
Frederick always dug that look on her. It was late, just the two of them, with their kid snoozing next door.
He couldn't help but feel a tug at his heart.
He looked at her with that pure, admiring gaze, the way a guy looked at a girl.
Charlotte noticed.
She smoothly switched topics. "You should have a good chat with Lola these days! It's getting late."
She meant for him to come back in the morning to pick up the kid.
Frederick checked his watch.
He looked at Charlotte. She clearly wasn't planning on letting him crash there, but he wanted to, so he said softly, "I'm pretty beat, and I have a big meeting in the morning! I'll crash in the guest room; I won't bother you!"
Charlotte nodded.
She led him to the guest room but didn't go in herself.
Frederick tossed his coat at the foot of the bed. When he turned around and saw she hadn't come in, he smirked. "What? Scared of me?"
Charlotte dodged. "I'll grab you some toiletries!"
Frederick watched her, saying nothing.
After Charlotte left, he sat at the foot of the bed and loosened his tie.
Feeling frustrated, he reached into his suit jacket but didn't find his smokes. Instead, he found a small hard box, the gift he had bought for her from Lumina.
Charlotte hadn't taken it.
Frederick held the small box, his gaze flickering.
When Charlotte came back in, Frederick was sitting at the foot of the bed, smoking.
One hand propped on the bed, the other holding a cigarette, his chiseled features looking rugged. Seeing Charlotte come in, his blue eyes narrowed slightly. "Got a razor?"
Charlotte said softly, "I don't have one here."
He slowly blew out a puff of smoke and extended his hand. "Hand me the stuff!"
Charlotte handed him the toiletries without a second thought, but Frederick didn't take them. Instead, he grabbed her slender wrist and gently pulled, causing Charlotte to fall onto the bed.
Then, a warm body pressed down on her.
"Frederick!"
Charlotte was pretty mad, but she didn't dare raise her voice, afraid of waking Lola next door.
Frederick grabbed her restless hand, pinning it to the bed with one hand while putting out the cigarette with the other. Then he had something small in his hand.
Charlotte lay helplessly on the bed, her golden hair spread out, her face pale.
Frederick let go of her hand but trapped her with his body, making it impossible for her to move.
He clumsily put something on her.
It was the pair of pearl earrings.
Frederick's movements were awkward, and he accidentally poked her ear, causing her to bite her lip and whimper, "You're hurting me! Frederick, do you even know how?"
Such suggestive words made his gaze deepen.
If he weren't concerned about her feelings, he would have already given in to his desires and taken her.
Frederick lightened his touch, carefully putting the earrings on her.
After he finished, he spoke in a low, hoarse voice, "Remember that time at the hotel? After we were done, you left first, but you left an earring at the foot of the bed. It was this style. Charlotte, you look especially beautiful in these!"
Charlotte was actually quite speechless.
Frederick really missed her.
Although impatient, he didn't want to miss tonight's chance.
He was too busy and usually didn't dare to go too far. Now that she was under him, he still didn't dare to go too far! He lowered his body, burying his face in her neck, and asked softly, "Charlotte, after all this time, haven't I won even a bit of your affection?"
Charlotte tried to push him away but couldn't.
She bit her lip lightly, then turned her face away, speaking softly, "Frederick, I'm not lying to you! Your conditions are indeed the best, and we have a past together, and now we have Lola. But right now, I just want to take good care of Lola. I really don't want to think about anything else."
As she spoke, her eyes grew moist, and the faint blue vein at the end of her brows became more noticeable than usual. It was very endearing!
Frederick couldn't help but caress that spot, his long fingers touching it bit by bit, making Charlotte almost unable to bear it. Her voice fragile as if burned. "Frederick."
He suddenly chuckled softly. "Your voice is so beautiful!"
It took Charlotte three seconds to realize her situation now was extremely dangerous, and she couldn't help but kick him. "Let me go!"
Surprisingly, Frederick let her go.
He rolled to the side, his jaw tight, his Adam's apple moving enticingly, his voice even more hoarse. "Go to sleep!"
Charlotte bolted out of there.
Just as her fingers brushed the doorknob, Frederick's voice came soft, "I've really missed you all these years!"
When Lola woke up early in the morning, she didn't feel as happy as usual, even when she saw the limited edition teddy bear on her bedside table.
She hugged the teddy bear and ran to the guest room to find Frederick. Frederick was still out cold, and little Lola crawled under the covers.
He opened his eyes and patted Lola.
Lola pressed her cheek against his chest, silent. Frederick pinched her cheek. "Did you miss me?"
Lola still didn't speak.
Frederick didn't push her, just held her little head in his arms.
Lola was different from other kids; she had a tendency towards autism. So when she didn't want to talk, he never forced her. As a dad, it broke his heart, and he'd do anything to make his Lola happy.
But sometimes, happiness couldn't be bought with money!
Charlotte had whipped up breakfast, hoping to cheer up little Lola. She found Lola hiding under the covers, only a bit of her golden curls peeking out.
Frederick gave her a reassuring look.
He held Lola from 7 AM until almost 9 AM.
During that time, Cherie called, and Charlotte answered for him, pushing the meeting to the afternoon.
After hanging up, Charlotte looked at Frederick.
He looked back, his gaze deep.
Luckily, Lola finally came out from under the covers at 9 AM, clutching the teddy bear and insisting on going to school.
Charlotte and Frederick took her together.
After dropping Lola off at kindergarten, Charlotte couldn't bear to leave, kissing her repeatedly.
When they got back in the car, both of them felt heavy-hearted.
Frederick lit a cigarette and murmured, "This is still mild."
Charlotte leaned back in her seat.
She felt powerless. It was the first time she had seen Lola like this because Lola had always been lively and adorable, not at all like a sick kid.
She silently wept.
Frederick put out his cigarette and handed her a tissue. "Don't cry."
Charlotte wiped her tears, but more fell.
She felt super guilty. How many times had Lola been isolated in her own world without her knowing? Only Frederick had been there for her, while she was healing in Vienner, completely unaware.
Charlotte gently closed her eyes.
Frederick didn't disturb her; he knew she needed time to accept this.
After a long time, she calmed down. He gently held her hand. "Charlotte, it's not your fault."
In the afternoon, Charlotte got a call from Frederick.
His tone was calm. "Charlotte, come to the villa."
Charlotte was pouring coffee, and her hand shook at his words. The hot coffee spilled on the back of her hand, turning it red. She didn't care and immediately took a cab to Frederick's villa.
The vibe in the villa was super tense.
Dana walked carefully because Lola hadn't spoken again since she came back from kindergarten. She had been hiding in a closet for a long time. Frederick had rushed back from the office to be with her.
When Charlotte arrived, Dana said softly, "Frederick and Lola are upstairs."
Charlotte quickly went upstairs.
When she opened the door to the kids' room, she saw Lola hiding in a pink wardrobe, holding the teddy bear and not speaking.
Frederick, dressed in a suit, was slightly hunched over, sitting in the small wardrobe with her. He had a storybook in his hand, reading softly to Lola.
When Charlotte came in, he glanced at her but kept reading the story he had read a thousand times.
This scene hit Charlotte hard!
At that moment, she realized how much Frederick had sacrificed over the years!
No matter how much emotional baggage they had, she was Lola's mom. She couldn't just stand by and do nothing for Lola!
That would be too selfish!
Charlotte slowly walked over, took off her shoes, and said softly, "The wardrobe is too small. Let me stay with her."
Frederick's dark eyes focused on her. After a moment, he handed her the storybook and climbed out of the wardrobe.
Charlotte sat next to Lola.
She couldn't help but kiss Lola, and then started reading the story to her.
But as soon as she started, her voice was trembling!
Frederick walked outside, stood in the hallway, and lit a cigarette. He took a few deep drags. He could have not called Charlotte today, but maybe after experiencing tenderness, he didn't want to be alone anymore.
When Charlotte showed up earlier, he realized how much he needed her.
Not just for love, but because she was the person he had emotionally relied on all these years.
Lola was like a piece of Charlotte.
The more he loved Lola, the more he loved Charlotte.
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