Chapter 184 All for Naught
Daphne gave him a look. She wanted to snap at him, suggest that he get his brain checked if he was honestly out of his mind.
But in the end, she said nothing, just silently looked out the window, completely shutting out everything about Charles.
They travelled in silence. Charles dropped her off at the hotel.
Daphne got out of the car swiftly, without even a glance at him, and made her way into the hotel.
Charles stayed put for a while, only driving away to return to Marcus's place after she entered the hotel.
He had just returned to the hotel, upon entering, he spotted Roger still sitting in the same spot as before.
Roger stood up and walked over as soon as he saw Charles, his eyes scanning behind him then speaking up when he did not spot the person of his interest, "Charles, where's Daphne? Didn't she come back with you?"
Charles stopped in his tracks, his eyes turning a deeper shade.
Feeling unsettled by his stare, Roger asked, "What's... what's wrong?"
"Do you like her?" Charles, being taller, loomed over him with an imposing presence.
Roger hesitated. Like a young man who had just encountered his crush, he scratched his head, slightly embarrassed, "Yeah, a little. She's beautiful, nice, and has a great personality."
Charles fiddled with his phone, the tension around him building to a peak.
"Do you even know who she is?" Charles felt suffocated, his voice colder than before.
Roger looked puzzled, "Huh?"
"She's my ex-wife," Charles declared, asserting his dominion in a tone that conveyed one clear message, Daphne was his, and any other man better not even think about getting close.
But he was facing Roger, he had always been the type to go out and have fun without ever grasping the deeper meanings in a person's words. When Roger heard this, his knee-jerk reaction was, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of her."
Charles's eyes grew even colder. Was this kid lacking some real-world experience?
"If you're not convinced, I can make a promise to my parents," Roger said, thinking that Charles was worried about his partying past. "If I go out again, I'll transfer everything I own to Daphne."
"She doesn't like men who have entanglements with a lot of women," Charles said, his cold gaze shimmering and his words heavy.
"I was just playing around with them," Roger quickly denied, terrified of losing Daphne. "I swear, I've only ever hugged them. I haven't done anything else!"
He prided himself on his self-restraint despite his fun-loving ways. He wasn't the kind to spread his seeds all over town.
Charles looked at him with a cool, piercing stare.
Roger, thinking he wasn't believed, emphasized, "Really! You can ask Jasper if you have doubts."
"She likes mature and stable men," Charles struck with another blow.
Anyone with a shred of insight would understand that all these remarks had one purpose, it was to make Roger back off. But poor Roger was truly clueless.
"Likes can be cultivated. If she prefers mature and stable now, it's only because she hasn't experienced the thrill of youth," Roger said with a dimple-flashing smile. "Charles, don't worry. I won't back down just because of a little challenge!"
Charles was speechless. Where was his knife when he needed it? He felt like getting rid of Roger for his foolishness.
His chest felt tight as he fixed his deep gaze on Roger, "Is that so?"
"Yes," Roger confidently replied.
"What if your rival was Evan?" Charles asked.
At that, Roger paused.
Sorting through his memories, he ventured a cautious question, "Evan Winston of the Gedserthe Winston family?"
"Yes," Charles's thin lips parted slightly.
"Oh, that's no problem. Evan is your type," Roger blurted out thoughtlessly, secretly rejoicing, "If you failed, Evan probably doesn't stand much of a chance. I might as well give it a shot."
If Charles had been merely hinting before, now his chilling aura was practically whistling around him.
He took a step toward Roger, his intimidating presence almost engulfing him, "And what if I were to compete with you?"
Roger froze on the spot. Suddenly, it was hard to breathe, his heart banging in his throat.
"Do you think you'd still have a chance?" Charles asked, his thin lips parting, and his profound eyes glinting with a cold light.
Roger wanted to reply, "Just because Daphne divorced you, doesn't that mean you've already lost? Competing with a loser doesn't require any effort. it's a guaranteed win!"
But he dared not say it out loud. Charles's presence was too imposing, leaving him feeling overwhelmed. Oh, how he wished someone would come to his rescue.
"Perhaps my previous words were too vague for you, Roger. Let me clarify," Charles said, his cool voice devoid of warmth. "I'm telling you straight up. Daphne is mine."
Roger felt the urge to cry with the way Charles imposed on him with enormous pressure.
"Even though we are divorced, I'll eventually win her back," Charles continued unabashedly. "You stand no chance, do you understand?"
Roger's heart shattered, "Then... why would Marcus..."
"Ask him yourself," Charles dismissed the question, offering a final piece of advice, "Better to pull back now before you're in too deep and end up with nothing."
All of Roger's joy crumbled at that moment. He had finally met a girl who made his heart race. He had everything planned out; from the food they'd eat in Gedser to the presents he'd give her. He had even mapped out how he'd woo her.
Seeing the impact of his words, Charles felt a slight release from his pent-up frustration, though his eyes remained icy.
"Wait!" Roger called out just as Charles turned to leave.
Charles paused and looked back at him.
Roger's palms were sweaty with fear. But he desperately wanted an answer, "Can I ask why you two divorced?"
If one truly loved someone, cherishing and adoring them seemed more appropriate than divorce.
The chill around Charles grew more pronounced. ‘Was this Roger still not giving up?’
"I just want to see if I truly do not have any chances," Roger said, trying to keep his composure under Charles's cold gaze.
In life, chances to find someone to hold hands with forever are rare. If he didn't seize this opportunity, he feared future regrets.
Charles didn't provide a direct answer, only saying, "If you truly want to know, go ask her." With that, he left, cutting off any chance for Roger to ask more questions.
Roger wanted to know where she was now, why she hadn't come back with Charles.
But as he watched Charles's indifferent figure fade away, his words stuck in his throat, a mix of complex emotions rooted him to the spot, and it felt like all hope had suddenly slipped away.
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