Chapter 100 From Getting the Marriage Certificate, I Never Thought About Divorce

Anna stared for what felt like forever, totally stumped.

She didn't even realize that ever since she found out about the baby, she was mostly just confused and unsure.

Her first thought wasn't to get an abortion.

Actually, the idea of abortion never even popped into her head.

After hanging out with Charles for the past month or two, she had kind of gotten used to having him around.

Charles had already prepared lunch in the kitchen downstairs. He stood at the bottom of the stairs for a bit, trying to keep his cool, then headed up to the second floor.

As he pushed open the bedroom door, his heart was pounding.

He was terrified that the first thing Anna would say to him would be: "Let's get an abortion."

Charles held the doorknob for a few seconds before finally opening the door.

But when he walked in, he saw Anna standing by the window, holding a condom up to the light.

Luckily, he had just gotten rid of those punctured condoms in time.

Otherwise, there'd be no way to explain this mess.

He walked over, wrapped his arms around Anna's waist from behind, and gently pulled her close. "Anya, what are you looking at?"

Anna had already torn open two or three condoms, checking each one carefully. There were no scratches or tears, so how did she still get pregnant?

"The quality is really crap," Anna said, lowering her arm and looking at the condom with a complicated expression.

Charles coughed lightly at her words.

His eyes flickered for a second.

But luckily, Anna was facing away from him and didn't catch the look on his face.

"Anya, maybe my sperm is just too strong?" he joked.

Anna threw the condom in her hand and glared at him, "Get out!"

Seeing her reaction, Charles felt a bit relieved. "Anya, I made lunch. How about we go downstairs and eat something?"

Anna touched her still-flat belly and shook her head, "The smell of food makes me nauseous. I don't want to eat right now."

Charles turned her around, holding her waist.

His broad palm gently rested on her belly.

He sighed softly, "Anya, whether we keep this baby or not, you still need to eat. I feel sorry that you're starving yourself."

Looking into his tender eyes, Anna remembered the sweet words he had just said.

She pursed her lips slightly and asked directly, "Did you just say you like me?"

Charles didn't expect her to ask so bluntly.

But beyond the surprise, he felt more joy.

"Yes." He held her waist with one hand and cupped her neck with the other, looking into her eyes, and repeated, "I really like you."

For the first time, Anna didn't avoid his intense gaze, "What do you like? Sleeping with me?"

Charles's hand on her waist tightened slightly.

He said, "I do like sleeping with you, but more than your body, I like you as a person."

Anna said, "But we've only known each other for less than two months."

"Anya," Charles kissed the corner of her eye and smiled, "It's you who has known me for less than two months."

Anna looked up at him, puzzled.

Charles took her hand and placed it over his heart. And then his deep voice filled the room, "You've been here for years."

Anna felt a warmth spread through her palm.

Charles held her tightly, "Anya, do you remember the story Mom told when we first visited the old house?"

Anna nodded.

Charles continued, "From the day you were born, we had already met. You were such a cute kid, and just one look at you made it impossible for me to look away. Since then, I've always kept an eye on you, silently watching you grow up from a distance."

Anna felt her eyes well up with tears.

Before she could say anything, Charles went on, "Anya, maybe for you, our first meeting was at the coffee shop a while ago, the start of our story. But for me, it was a long-awaited reunion. Anya, as I said, I'm a very selfish person. Once I fall in love, I don't want to let go. So from the moment we got our marriage certificate, I never thought about divorce."

Charles paused for a few seconds, letting the silence settle in.

Holding Anna close, he spoke again, "Anya, I know you like Michael. I was late back then and missed your toughest eight years. But Anya, I want to be with you for the rest of your life. For countless days and nights to come, I want to be with you, help you forget him, and create new memories to overshadow those eight years."

He lifted her chin gently, making her look up at him.

Looking into her clear eyes, he asked softly, "Anya, give me a chance and give our marriage a chance, okay?"

Anna's eyes trembled slightly.

After a couple of seconds, she looked away.

She glanced to the side. "Charles, as you said, I might not be able to respond to you so quickly."

This answer was already more than Charles had hoped for.

At least she didn't reject him outright.

"Anya, I can wait." He added, "Even if you can never love me, it's okay. You don't need to feel any pressure. Liking you is my own business. Liking someone doesn't always need a response. For me, just having you by my side is enough."

Maybe he was afraid of scaring her and making her run away again.

Charles gently cupped the back of her neck and said, "Anya, we have a long life ahead of us. In the future, we need to find someone to spend the rest of our lives with. Instead of finding someone new, why not consider me? I can promise you that in this lifetime, there will only be you."

Anna looked at him and blurted out, "Then what about all those rumors about you before?"

Charles kissed her on the lips and said, "Anya, give me ten minutes, I'll explain everything to you."

Anna didn't understand what he meant.

Ten minutes later, Tina arrived at Regal Retreat.