Chapter 25: There's Nothing Between Her and Me

Anna couldn't help but hold her breath.

She reached for her waist, trying to break free from his grip. But then, Charles suddenly touched her earlobe. The tassel earring on it swayed silently from his touch.

A smooth, teasing voice whispered in her ear, "Just like you said, our marriage is fake in every way, except for the sex. So, since that's the case..."

His voice paused, and he unexpectedly kissed her lips while holding her chin. Unlike their usual deep make-out sessions, this time, he just sucked on her lips briefly before letting go.

His voice was huskier, carrying a hint of seductive tenderness. "Can I exercise my rights as a husband?"

Anna knew exactly what he meant.

She held his mischievous hand and reminded him, "Charles, it's daytime."

Charles lazily lifted his eyes. He glanced at the bright daylight outside the window. "So what if it's daytime? You also said we should take what we need from each other."

Anna was about to say no. But Charles seized the moment she opened her lips and suddenly lowered his head, sealing her lips again with his.

The curtains automatically closed, blocking out the light.

Anna found it hard to breathe from his kiss.

The next second, for some reason, a rumor about him spending the night with Tina at a hotel flashed through Anna's mind.

Her eyes suddenly cleared, and she looked at him, "Charles, didn't Miss Green satisfy you?"

Her tone was no longer as cold as before; it seemed tinged with a bit of anger.

Charles pecked at the corner of her lips, looking at her eyes. His deep eyes reflected her current expression.

"Anya, I know what you're concerned about. There's nothing between her and me," Charles coaxed.

Bedroom.

Anna curled up under the blanket, only her slightly closed eyes and fluffy head visible. Charles stood by the bed, looking refreshed.

He picked up the phone from the bedside table, found the photo Thalia had sent him that day, and handed it to Anna. He sat at the head of the bed, pulling the almost-asleep Anna into his arms.

"Anya, I want to show you something."

Anna couldn't open her eyes, and her arms were weak. She instinctively turned her head, her red lips parting, her voice losing its usual coldness and becoming softer. "Take it away."

She wanted to lie in bed and have a comfortable sleep.

But Charles was persistent, insisting she look. "Anya, open your eyes, just take a look."

Anna, annoyed by his persistence, forced her eyes open. But when she saw the photo on the phone screen, her drowsiness dissipated significantly.

Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Charles spoke at the right moment, "I had someone investigate; Thalia sent it."

Anna's eyes narrowed slightly. Her gaze turned icy without her even realizing it.

Thinking back to Charles's weird behavior that day, Anna started piecing things together. She looked up at him, "So, this was bugging you that day?"

Charles didn't answer. Instead, he looked into her eyes and gently asked, "Will you go back to Michael?"

"No," she shot back quickly. "I don't have a masochistic tendency."

Hearing this, Charles felt a lot better. While Anna didn't know that her offhand comments could easily mess with Charles's mood.

Right in front of her, Charles deleted the photo. Tossing the phone aside, he pulled Anna into his arms.

"Anya, wanna hear about what went down with Tina and me?"

"No," she replied bluntly, without a second thought. As she spoke, she gestured to his arm, "Can you let go? I wanna sleep."

"Nope. You haven't eaten all day. Eat something first," he insisted.

The stomach is a weird organ. When you're hungry, it screams at you. But once you get past that phase, you don't feel like eating anymore.

Anna was at that point where she was too hungry to feel hungry anymore.

"Not hungry, too sleepy. I'll eat after I nap."

Charles wasn't having it. If she slept now, she wouldn't wake up until the next morning.

Charles got up, carrying the half-asleep Anna to the kitchen downstairs. He pulled up a chair and had Anna sit at the kitchen door.

Charles then started cooking.

"Anya, think about what you wanna eat."

Sometimes, Anna couldn't wrap her head around Charles's persistence. Especially when it came to food. How could someone born into a wealthy family be so into cooking?

Anna wasn't someone who cared much about food, so she wouldn't waste her precious time cooking. During her eight years abroad, she rarely cooked herself, mostly relying on various takeouts. Plus, she didn't like the idea of slaving away in the kitchen only to eat alone in the end. She'd rather order takeout and eat while reading papers.

Anna yawned, casually running her hand through her slightly messy hair, "Anything's fine. I'm not picky."

The ingredients at Regal Retreat were delivered daily by a dedicated person, and the fridge was always stocked.

Charles asked Anna, "How about pasta?"

Anna had no objections, "Sure."

Anna sat on the chair, rubbing her sore waist. After all this fuss, she wasn't sleepy anymore.

Her phone was in the bedroom, and she didn't feel like going upstairs to get it. Sitting there, she naturally felt bored, and her gaze unknowingly fell on Charles.