Chapter 28 Get Money From Him
Charles’s fingers worked at the buttons of my blouse, but I pushed back again. “Please, can you transfer it now?” I pleaded. “Soon he murmured against my neck, his voice low and promising. “You have my word.”
I trusted him completely, but time was slipping away from me.
I pressed my hands against his chest, gently creating space between us. “Could you transfer it now?” I whispered urgently.” I really need it right now because…
I watched Charles’s expression shift instantly, the warmth in his eyes replaced by something colder.
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “Anna, do you have any idea what we were just doing? And you keep pulling away. All you can talk about is money. Is that really all that matters to you?”
“It’s not like that, Charles. I’m just in a difficult situation and I need-”
“Enough” Charles said, moving away from me with a bitter laugh. “If money is all you care about, then there’s no point in continuing this.”
“Charles…” I whispered, tears gathering in my eyes.
He wouldn’t even look at me, his features set in a hard mask. Lighting a cigarette, he took a long drag before speaking. “You‘ Il get your money. I keep my promises.”
Then he pulled out his phone, and moments later, mine vibrated with the notification.
Without another word, he grabbed his jacket from the chair and walked out, leaving me alone in the silence.
My heart ached as I watched his retreating figure, knowing he must view me as completely shameless.
Checking my phone, I saw Charles had transferred 3.5 million–half a million more than I’d asked for.
Even while clearly despising me, he’d never been stingy, and his unexpected generosity only made me feel guiltier.
I transferred the money straight to my father.
My father called instantly. “Oh, sweetheart, I knew you could do it. I knew Charles wouldn’t say no to you.”
I smiled bitterly. It wasn’t my doing, just Charles being his generous self.
I used to dislike him, but now I saw how decent he was. Too bad I wasn’t the one he loved.
My father sighed regretfully. “Since you already asked, why not get more? He would’ve given you ten million without hesitation.”
His words made me laugh bitterly, and I didn’t want to talk to him anymore.
I said in a calm, resigned voice, “Just pay back the money you owe, and you really should stop gambling altogether.”
“Okay, I’ll stop,” he replied. “But maybe you could ask Charles for a bit more. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind-”
I hung up the phone, too angry to continue the conversation. I couldn’t understand why my father thought he could keep getting money from Charles.
Charles didn’t owe him anything–the whole expectation was completely unreasonable.
Remembering how angrily Charles had left made my heart ache all over again.
He must really despise me now. Maybe it was better this way–he’d probably end our relationship early, and I’d finally be free. Even as I tried to comfort myself with that thought, I still felt so sad that tears threatened to fall.
That night, sleep wouldn’t come. Charles’s final look kept replaying in my mind–so cold, so disappointed, and filled with bitter mockery.
Feeling restless, I sat up and reached for my phone, thinking I should message him. But after staring at our conversation screen for a long time, I still couldn’t find the right words to say.
Having upset him so deeply, I knew that anything I said now would sound completely insincere.
He was probably with his precious Cheryl by now anyway, so I decided not to disturb them.
I stayed up all night, gazing sadly out the window until morning light finally appeared.
Exhausted from the sleepless night, I curled up listlessly in bed and had no appetite when Bella called me to eat.
Worried I was still unwell, Bella hurried off to fetch the medical supplies.
I smiled weakly and reassured her I was fine–just tired after the fever had passed.
Relieved, Bella gently advised, “Ms. Thompson, you really should ask Mr. Bennett to come back. Show him your vulnerable side more often if you want him to care about you.
“Men want to feel needed and respond to vulnerability. But you always act so strong and independent around him.”
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Chapter 28 Get Money From Him
I shook my head with a faint smile. Bella meant well, but my vulnerability meant nothing to him–yesterday at the hospital made that painfully clear.
He only had affection for women like Cheryl–those sweet, gentle souls who understood him. Someone like me, coming across as pushy and materialistic, would never earn his care or attention.
Every time I remembered what happened at the hospital yesterday, an uncomfortable weight settled in my chest.
I made my way to the vanity and looked in the mirror. The reflection showed sunken eyes, dull skin, and a face that had grown thin and weary.
I couldn’t help but laugh at myself. Was I really letting myself fall apart over a man who didn’t return my feelings?
I knew I had to pull myself together and find a job. This whole situation made me realize how hard life could be when one didn’t have enough.
I needed to save up properly so that if my family ever faced difficulties again, we wouldn’t feel so powerless. And I had to pay Charles back.
*****
That afternoon, I got ready and went out. After stopping by the hospital to see my brother, I found an internet café where I
sent out some resumes.
Actually, there was a computer in the study, but it belonged to Charles, and I didn’t feel right about using it without his permission.
I scrolled through the endless job postings online until my head began to spin.
I had no work experience to speak of, no particular skills, and a university degree in acting that felt utterly useless.
My mother had advised me to study something else, arguing that with our family’s money, I certainly didn’t need to act for a living.
But I loved it, so I enrolled in the acting program at the arts academy with Diana.
I never wanted to be a famous star; I just liked the idea of taking on roles I enjoyed, living freely between gigs without a care
in the world.
Then, not long after graduation, everything changed with Charles. We got married, and I spent the next three regrettable years making his life a misery.
Looking back, I suddenly realized I had achieved nothing. Now, staring at the screen full of opportunities, I truly had no idea what I could possibly do.
Diana always said administrative work was about as easy as it got–just basic computer skills needed. So I found a few office jobs and sent out my applications.
After submitting the applications, I leaned back in my chair, staring blankly. The worry began to set in–what if nobody wanted to hire me? A quiet sense of uncertainty and disappointment slowly settled over me.
I straightened up and sent out several more applications, this time including some sales positions too.
*****
I didn’t make it back to the villa until the evening.
Bella was preparing dinner in the kitchen. When she saw me, she quickly said, “Ms. Thompson, I just called Mr. Bennett to see if he’d be home for dinner.”
I paused, feeling my heartbeat quicken. “So… is he coming home?”
Bella shook her head. “He said he has to work late at the office tonight.”
“I see,” I replied softly, lowering my head as I headed upstairs.
Bella called after me, “Ms. Thompson, you just never take the initiative. Since he’s working late, you could bring dinner to him.”
“Bring him dinner?” I shook my head quickly. “Maybe that’s not the best idea.”
Bella looked at me with affectionate exasperation. “You never learned how to charm him. Just show up with dinner as a surprise. It’ll make him happy.”
I kept shaking my head. “Let’s not do this.”
But Bella was already in the kitchen packing the food container, telling me she’d made all of Charles’s favorites. She went on about how takeout wasn’t healthy and lacked proper nutrition..
She worked so efficiently that the food was packed before I could protest. Pressing the warm container into my hands, she smiled brightly. “I packed enough for both of you. You can eat together.”
I didn’t have the heart to disappoint her, so I finally agreed. Still, I wondered whether Charles would actually be pleased to
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Chapter 28 Get Money From Him
see me, given how much he seemed to dislike me.
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