Chapter 17 What I Did

"Don't worry, mom. Both Charlie and I have done the check-up, and everything is fine. Maybe it's just that he's too busy and not at home often, so the child is taking longer to come," I said in my heart, feeling unmoved.

That was a lie. Unfortunately, I didn't have the fortune to continue being her daughter-in-law.

"Your dad and I often see those scandalous news. We've scolded him many times, but you're his wife. You need to keep a close eye on him, you know?" my mother-in-law advised me.

Although I knew in my heart that I couldn't keep an eye on Charlie, and soon he would fall in love with another woman, I still nodded at my mother-in-law with a sincere look. "Alright, mom."

After chatting for a while, I had breakfast with my in-laws and learned that Charlie had left early in the morning.

I didn't care about it. Right now, I only had one attitude toward Charlie, indifference.

After finishing breakfast, I also drove out, heading straight to the hospital to settle the score with Dylan.

Dylan had just finished checking a room and returned to his office when I caught him off guard. With a fake smile, I asked, "Dylan, do you have a few minutes to chat?"

"No time," Dylan replied curtly, his fair and handsome face devoid of a smile.

"You're just feeling guilty and can't face me, aren't you?" I sat down next to him and started to accuse him. "I asked you to convince Charlie to get a divorce, but you ended up convincing my in-laws to come to Maple Villa."

"When did you become so concerned?" I asked curiously.

Dylan glanced at me and replied calmly, "Uncle and aunt asked me about Charlie's situation with you, and I simply answered that you wanted a divorce."

Upon hearing this, I wanted to cause a scene right then and there!

Did this guy sacrifice emotional intelligence for his looks? We have so many problems between Charlie and me, yet he chose to focus only on the "wanting a divorce" aspect. How would my in-laws think of me now?

As frustration overwhelmed me, Dylan was called away by a nurse, leaving me alone in the office. I noticed his thermos on the desk and immediately pulled out a lipstick from my bag and threw it in.

"May he be poisoned by it," I cursed silently, feeling agitated and restless as I left the hospital.

Being unemployed and having nowhere to go, I took a stroll before returning home. It was lunchtime, and the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, enticing me.

Charlie and his parents were sitting in the living room, engaged in a serious conversation. When they saw me return, my mother-in-law finally smiled and said, "Rosalie is back."

I nodded, then sat down next to my mother-in-law. As soon as I sat down, she grabbed my hand and directed her words toward Charlie, "Charlie, your father and I made things very clear today. If you have any more rumors with other women, don't blame anyone else but yourself!"

"Dad… Mom..." I looked at my in-laws, astonished.

"Rosalie, I know you've been wronged in this marriage. Charlie has had no sense of responsibility all these years, and you're the only one who can tolerate him," my mother-in-law sighed. "If you give him another chance, your father and I will supervise him together."

Did my in-laws really get so concerned just because Dylan mentioned the divorce?

In my previous life, I never noticed them caring so much for me. Even when Charlie took Lauren to the Bennett family, determined to divorce me, their attempts to persuade him were futile.

Charlie sat across from me, a cold expression on his face, his eyes devoid of warmth. He must think that I orchestrated everything.

Even if I hadn't taken out the divorce agreement last night, he would have changed his mind.

"Mom, Dad, don't worry. Most of those rumors about Charlie are fake, just acts in the business world. I believe in him," I empathetically assured them.

My father-in-law then spoke, "Rosalie, you are a well-mannered young lady, and it's a good thing that you trust Charlie. But we've witnessed how he treated you all these years. Don't be too good to him, sometimes men can be despicable."

"Yes, the better you treat him, the more he disregards you and fails to appreciate you. What you can't have and what you lose are the best things," my mother-in-law agreed with her husband's viewpoint.

My in-laws were trying so earnestly to teach me a lesson, and I found it both touching and amusing.

However, Charlie's face had turned completely dark.

"Mom, Dad, I understand," I obediently nodded.

At that moment, Elizabeth walked over. "Madam, the food is ready."

My mother-in-law glanced at Elizabeth and praised, "The dishes you made smell amazing."

I smiled meaningfully. "Elizabeth is a great cook. I gained two pounds from her delicious food. Mom, you should try Elizabeth's cooking more often."

"I'm leaving in a couple of days. How can I have more chances to taste it? But you, you're a bit too skinny. You could definitely gain some more weight," my mother-in-law said while chatting with me, heading toward the dining room.

I really wanted to tell her that there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

It was a rare family gathering for a meal, but Charlie was incredibly cold. I kept company with my father-in-law and mother-in-law, chatting and laughing, keeping the atmosphere harmonious.

Suddenly, Charlie's phone rang. He opened it, took a glance, then his gaze shifted strangely toward me.

I was a bit bewildered, but I didn't pay much attention to it.

It wasn't until we finished eating and went to take a nap that Charlie found me in the room. He showed me a photo. "Did you put this here?"

"Yes, it was me," I admitted, referring to the photo Dylan sent to Charlie, along with an accusation.

The lipstick in the thermos cup was immersed in the tea, looking very out of place.

"Because he went behind my back to complain to your parents," I confessed.

"Rosalie, have you gone crazy lately?" Charlie put away his phone, squinted his eyes, and scrutinized me. "What are you trying to do?"

In the past, I hardly had any connection with his group of friends. I couldn't join in their fun.

Now, I even threw a lipstick into Dylan's thermos cup!

"I'm not crazy, I just had an awakening," I explained calmly.

"Charlie, I've dedicated ten years of my youth and love to you, but since you won't ever develop feelings for me or give me any response, I'm going to live my own life. Is there anything wrong with that? I don't want to suppress or force myself like I used to."

"If you think liking me for ten years was suppressing and forcing yourself, then why didn't you give up earlier?" Charlie confronted me with a chilly tone, a hint of coldness in his exquisite features.

"I'll give up when I want to give up!" I replied angrily.

The atmosphere froze for a moment. Charlie stared at me for a long time, as if feeling estranged from me.

After a standoff between the two of us, Charlie finally left. I breathed a sigh of relief, slumping onto the bed, feeling emptiness in my heart.

As soon as Charlie left in the afternoon, I followed suit and left for the Meeting Cafe.

Lauren was always there whenever I visited, but on the day I had plans with Dylan, Lauren was nowhere to be found. It was truly peculiar.

"Mrs. Harrison, black coffee as usual?" Lauren always tied her hair in a high ponytail, giving off a refreshing vibe. She had a good attitude toward every customer, with a sweet smile.

"Not today. Do you have any sweeter coffee recommendations?" I asked with a slight smile.

"Yes, we have cappuccino and macchiato. Both are quite good, and they have a sweet taste."

"Love, just like falling in love," Lauren introduced enthusiastically to me.

I pondered for a moment and ordered a cup of macchiato.