Chapter 87 An Illusion That Charles Has Loved Her for Many Years

Worried that Anna might start overthinking, Charles kept the call going the whole time. "Anya, don't hang up. I'm on my way. Wait for me at Radiant Life Hospital. And I have nothing to do with her."

Listening to Charles, Mandy's legs started to shake a bit.

Ignoring Michael's orders, she instinctively turned to leave.

Seeing her move, Anna said, "Mandy, where do you think you're going? It's not far from Apex Holdings Group to Radiant Life Hospital. Charles will be here in fifteen minutes."

"I." Mandy stopped, really stuck.

She was caught between a rock and a hard place: staying meant facing Charles, and leaving meant facing Michael.

Anna continued, "If I were you, I'd wait here. It's not every day you get to see the one you love."

After that, Anna ignored her.

She put her phone aside, opened her laptop, and started looking at medical reports.

But after staring at the screen for a couple of minutes, she hadn't taken in a single word.

Finally, like she was possessed, she opened a web browser and typed in Mandy's name.

Two years ago, after Charles kicked Mandy out of Crystal City, almost all news about her was blocked. Now, only a few small bloggers had articles about Mandy and Charles's past.

When Charles showed up at the door of Room 308, Anna instinctively glanced at her phone. Only nine minutes had passed.

Charles didn't even look at Mandy at the door. He walked straight past her and headed towards Anna.

His face showed a hint of panic. He was scared that this thing with Mandy would ruin the trust and bond he had built with Anna.

"Anya, listen to me. I have nothing to do with her," he said.

Anna met Charles's eyes, and they stared at each other for a moment.

She pointed to Mandy at the door. "She's still here. Aren't you going to say something?"

"There's nothing to say. I don't know her well," he said.

Hearing this, Mandy bit her lip. "Not well? What about the child we had?"

A trace of coldness appeared in Charles's eyes. He tightly held Anna's hand and glanced at Mandy. "Child? Are you so sure that child is mine?"

Meeting Charles's gaze, Mandy's face turned even paler as if she had thought of something.

She shook her head and stepped back, looking like she was losing it, saying, "Impossible! Impossible!"

She turned around and quickly ran out of Room 308.

Charles was busy comforting Anna and had no time to deal with her.

After Mandy left, since it was already the end of the workday and there were no more patients, Anna packed up her things and got ready to go home.

Charles kept a close eye on her expression as they walked to the parking lot.

Just as Anna was about to get into the car she had driven that morning, Charles grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms with a gentle but firm grip.

He held her slender waist, not letting her break free.

With his other hand, he cupped her cheek, making her look up at him. "Honey, are you mad?"

"No." Anna tried to pull his hand away. "There are people around. Let go."

"No." Charles held her tightly. "I'm holding my wife. It's legit. Who's gonna say anything?"

Then, looking into her eyes, he almost promised. "Anya, I really have nothing to do with her. Believe me, okay? Not to mention a child; I haven't even touched her hand."

Seeing him so eager to explain, the frustration that had been building up in Anna's heart since seeing Mandy started to fade.

In the past half hour, the weight pressing on her chest miraculously vanished under Charles's anxious explanation.

Her hand, which had been trying to pry his arm away, relaxed and wrapped around his waist.

"So nervous?" she asked him.

Hearing this, Charles's panic subsided significantly. "Of course, I'm nervous. Afraid you won't want me anymore, think I'm dirty, and treat me like you did Michael--just toss me aside."

The arm around her waist tightened.

Hearing this, Anna blurted out, "You're known for your flirtatious nature and countless scandals. Who in Crystal City doesn't know that? Even if I mind Mandy, there are so many others."

Charles stared at her intently.

After she finished speaking, he was silent for a moment, as if contemplating something.

Two seconds later, he looked into her eyes and asked, seemingly casually yet seriously, "What if I said that all the past scandals, including Mandy and Tina, were fake? From beginning to end, I've only had you, Anya. Would you believe me?"

Anna's eyelashes trembled slightly.

When he said this, the deep affection in his eyes was like a confession.

Anna instinctively looked away, avoiding his burning gaze.

"Let go. Don't hug me like this. It's not appropriate," she said.

Charles's eyes dimmed slightly.

But soon, his Adam's apple bobbed.

He quickly reverted to his usual slightly roguish demeanor. "Anya is so easily embarrassed. But as long as you believe I have nothing to do with her, that's enough."

On the way back to Regal Retreat, she watched the neon lights outside the car window,

Anna couldn't help but recall Charles's expression when he said those words in the parking lot.

His cherishing, sincerity, and deep affection, almost like a confession to someone he deeply loved.

For a moment, she even had an illusion that Charles had loved her for many years.

But how could that be?

Even with their first meeting abroad eight years ago, the time they had truly spent together was only a month.