Chapter 292 Frederick, Don't Touch Me
Frederick had been hitting up a lot more social events lately.
He was in a foul mood and ended up knocking back a few too many drinks, feeling all kinds of woozy when he slid into the car.
The driver, clueless about his personal drama, casually said as he opened the door, "Mr. Hawkins, you've had too much! Ms. Russell's not gonna be happy; women hate it when guys get wasted!"
Frederick slumped back in the rear seat. He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and blew out a slow puff of smoke, chuckling. "She doesn't give a damn."
Charlotte was ice-cold towards him.
She wouldn't let him touch her at all.
She moved to another room, and not only were they not sleeping together, but it was also tough to even get a word in with her.
The driver, sensing the vibe, kept quiet and was about to start the car.
A soft voice called out from beside the car. "Mr. Hawkins."
Frederick turned his head and saw Brenda!
Brenda was hobbling over with a crutch, struggling a bit.
Following his gaze, Brenda looked at her leg and said, "The doc said it'll be back to normal in two months, no lasting damage."
After she finished, she put on a pitiful look.
She had always thought Frederick would come to see her. But she waited for ages, and he never showed!
Whatever, if he didn't come, she'd make her move.
Frederick nodded and told the driver to start the car.
The driver nodded, turned the car around, and hit the main road. Brenda watched the fancy car drive past her, a cold smile creeping on her lips.
She tossed her crutch and collapsed to the ground.
Frederick saw this and frowned, then said, "Stop the car."
The driver was a bit puzzled.
Frederick, still a bit tipsy, rubbed his forehead. "Help her into the car and take her home."
The driver hesitated and said, "Ms. Russell's not gonna be happy if she finds out."
Frederick, somewhat drunk, rubbed his forehead. "If you don't spill, she won't know."
The driver had no choice but to get out and help Brenda into the car.
Brenda sat next to Frederick.
He closed his eyes to rest and didn't say a word to her, but she could smell his nice cologne.
She quietly turned to look at him.
His profile was perfect, with sharp features, looking all handsome and classy.
Brenda almost greedily took it all in, her face blushing as she leaned closer, inhaling his scent and imagining getting it on with him.
Would Frederick pin her down, and would his face be all twisted with passion?
Just thinking about it made Brenda's heart race.
She looked at his white shirt. On a whim, she leaned in to plant a kiss on it.
The light orange lipstick left a mark on the white fabric, noticeable if you looked closely.
Frederick frowned and opened his eyes, and Brenda quickly sat up straight.
Half an hour later, the car pulled up in front of a swanky apartment building.
The driver helped Brenda out of the car.
Frederick stayed put, not even thinking about getting out. Brenda softly said, "Mr. Hawkins, thanks for the ride. If you need me to explain to Mrs. Hawkins, I'll make sure she knows nothing happened between us."
Frederick gave a faint smile but didn't say a word.
As the car started moving again, Frederick didn't close his eyes to rest.
He had noticed when Brenda leaned in earlier. A young woman who looked so much like Katherine, showing such affection towards him.
He knew very well that if he just held her lightly, he could have her. Make her a stand-in.
He admitted that the brief moment of intimacy was a test for himself.
He wanted to see how much he cared about Charlotte.
But when Brenda leaned on him, he thought of Charlotte, of her vulnerability when she played the piano with her eyes closed. The feeling he had at that moment couldn't be matched by Brenda.
Frederick chose his family, chose Charlotte.
They arrived at the Hawkins Mansion.
Frederick got out of the car. It was late, and most of the lights were off, but the light in Charlotte's bedroom was still on.
He slowly walked up to the second floor.
After checking on Lola and Kingsley, he opened the door to Charlotte's bedroom.
It wasn't locked.
Charlotte was lying on the sofa, wearing a soft silk nightgown. The exposed skin glowed under the light, and she was holding a novel, asleep.
Frederick loved her body. He leaned in and embraced her, kissing her.
Charlotte didn't wake up.
She was more docile in her sleep than usual.
Frederick kissed her for a while and then felt a strong desire, his hands roaming over her.
Charlotte woke up. She opened her drowsy eyes and looked at his handsome face up close.
And then she saw the orange lipstick on the collar of his white shirt.
She knew whom it belong to..
Charlotte looked at him quietly, while he remained passionate, already pulling open her nightgown.
"Let go of me." Charlotte said.
Frederick thought she was still upset and didn't want to make love, so he gently bit her ear. "Are you still mad?"
Charlotte lay on the sofa, her body full and tempting, but her words were cold. "You saw Brenda, didn't you?"
Frederick's movements paused.
After a moment, he looked up at her. "I ran into her by chance and gave her a ride."
Charlotte adjusted her nightgown. Her slender fingers deftly unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt, revealing the red mark to him.
Frederick frowned, "We were just in the same car, and the driver was there too. What could have happened?"
He didn't like having another woman's scent on him, so he slowly unbuttoned his shirt completely, took it off, and threw it directly into the trash.
He turned to look at Charlotte. "I didn't betray our marriage."
Charlotte sat quietly, her eyes moist, and said calmly, "Yeah, you didn't do anything. You just helped her get her school enrollment back, rented her an apartment, paid her tuition, and found her a great job. Frederick, how is this different from keeping a mistress?"
Frederick frowned. "I don't have those intentions."
Charlotte didn't want to look at him.
She got up and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the night outside, and said softly, "Frederick, you let her get close to you and provoke your lawful wife. Your relationship with her has already crossed the line! If the driver hadn't been there today, you would have further tested yourself. You would have gone to her apartment, let her tenderly take off your coat, and you might have indulged her closeness, let her kiss you. If it felt good, she would become your mistress, a substitute for Katherine!"
Frederick lit a cigarette, the tip burning his fingers.
After a while, he spoke, "Charlotte, there's no need to say it so harshly."
Charlotte didn't argue with him.
She just said, "The truth is always harsh. Frederick, you came home tonight only because we're in a cold war. If our relationship were smooth and Brenda appeared, I think you wouldn't refuse her."
As Charlotte spoke, her heart ached.
Frederick, having drunk a bit too much, had a headache.
He looked at Charlotte's back, feeling that nothing could be resolved tonight. He rubbed his forehead. "Let's talk tomorrow. You should get some sleep."
Charlotte stood still.
As he held the doorknob, she spoke softly, "Take your shirt with you."
Frederick turned around, seeing only her distant back.
He couldn't help but wonder, 'Did she ever really love me? Did we ever really love each other?'
Frederick left, and Charlotte slowly walked back to the sofa and sat down.
She had never forgotten how passionate Frederick and Katherine's meeting was years ago.
Charlotte knew exactly what Frederick was thinking.
If she were single and unmarried, she might still fight for him, but she had Kingsley and Lola.
She wouldn't allow herself to live in uncertainty, setting a bad example for the children.
Charlotte opened the drawer of the bedside table and took out two agreements.
One was a separation agreement, and the other was a divorce agreement.
Early morning, Charlotte, as usual, was taking care of the two kids.
Recently, their marital relationship had been strained, but they tried to hide it from the kids. However, Lola was a sensitive child and could sense that her parents were not as close as before.
Lola couldn't help but ask Charlotte, "Mommy, are we moving?"
Last night, she overheard her mom on the phone, saying she wanted to find a big house with five rooms.
Charlotte was taken aback.
She pinched Lola's little cheek and smiled. "Would you like to live with me? The place is super close to your preschool, and I can hold your hand and walk you to school."
Sometimes, she could even push Kingsley in the stroller and pick up Lola.
Frederick came downstairs and happened to hear this.
Charlotte was planning to take the kids and move out?
Frederick walked over and sat down next to Charlotte. He didn't want to argue in front of the kids, so he said softly, "Let the driver take Lola. Charlotte, we need to talk."
Charlotte wiped Lola's mouth and after a while, responded indifferently.
She remained cold.
After Lola went to preschool, Frederick grabbed the car keys. "I'll drive you to work, and we can talk on the way."
Charlotte agreed.
Charlotte took out the two agreements from her briefcase.
She said softly, "If you sign the separation agreement, we can divorce in two years. If you sign the divorce agreement, we can divorce immediately. The difference is mainly the visitation rights for the kids over the next two years."
Frederick casually flipped through them.
The contents of the two documents were not much different, and there was no mention of property division.
Vertex Innovations Group was originally under Charlotte's name.
She didn't ask for anything else.
She only wanted the two kids!
Frederick closed the documents and threw them on the center console, then lit a cigarette.
Charlotte silently opened the car window, and Frederick spoke, "Do you think my dad will let you take the Hawkins family's two kids?"
Charlotte's eyes reddened slightly. "He has already agreed!"
Frederick's hand holding the cigarette trembled slightly, and after a while, he asked softly, "Just because of what happened last night? Charlotte, I didn't sleep with her. I didn't even kiss her!"
Frederick didn't agree to the divorce, nor did he want to separate.
He also felt that there was a big problem between them and wanted to solve it, so he gently held her hand and said, "Let's go on a trip, just the two of us."
Charlotte pulled her hand away. She leaned back in the seat, looking tired. "Frederick, let's separate and divorce!" After saying that, she opened the car door and got into another car.
Frederick chased after her, knocking on the car door. "Charlotte, come out; let's talk!"
He still didn't want a divorce.
The driver felt quite awkward.
Charlotte said calmly, "Drive."
The car slowly drove past Frederick, and Charlotte thought she wouldn't feel anything anymore, but she couldn't help but tear up.
She was utterly disappointed in him.
But she knew in her heart that she had once loved this version of Frederick.
Just a different beginning naturally led to a different ending.
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