The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes-Chapter 139- Charles… I’m sorry…

Janet dared not raise her head, afraid to meet his furious gaze.

Now, no words could explain her rejection of him.

She was his woman, his wife—and yet, she had pushed him away with her own hands.

The silence stretched long and heavy until the sound of a slamming door shattered it.

Janet knew he had left—this was the second time he stormed out without looking back, anger blazing like a wildfire.

The last time had been because she crossed his bottom line.

The roar of a sports car engine sounded downstairs, but this time, Janet didn’t chase after him.

"I’m sorry, Charles... I’m sorry..."

She stood by the window, watching the black Bugatti Veyron disappear beyond the gates.

She lingered there so long her legs went numb, and only then did she wearily sink back onto the bed.

The room was brightly lit—but to her, it was as if darkness had swallowed everything.

Since that night, Charles deliberately avoided her.

He managed the Louis family affairs alone.

Elvira’s scandal broke out, and it was said she was about to marry the son of Vice President to avoid jail—a man who was disabled.

Janet didn’t know if Charles had arranged this, but hearing Elvira’s fate left her unsure whether to feel relief or pity.

If Elvira had agreed to marry Philip back then, perhaps today would have been a different story.

"Manfred, where are you?"

With nowhere else to turn, Janet called Manfred.

No matter where she went, a shadow seemed to follow her.

Even if Charles didn’t come back, he always knew where she was.

And maybe... she needed to be ruthless enough to cut him out completely.

"I’m at the office. Want me to come get you?"

Hearing her trembling voice, Manfred’s brows furrowed deeply.

He knew these days she hadn’t been living well.

Even if she said nothing, he could feel it.

"No, I’ll come find you."

Janet felt a little guilty at how easily Manfred agreed, wondering if she was taking advantage of him.

"Manfred, would you regret it if you offended Charles for me?"

"No. Consider it a debt I owe you."

Manfred felt a pang of tenderness for her foolish kindness.

No matter when, she never forgot to consider others.

How could he not love such a good woman?

He didn’t know what was wrong between her and Charles,

but if she needed him, he would stand by her without hesitation—

even if just as a substitute, just being near her was enough.

When Janet arrived at ZT Group, it was her first time at Manfred’s company.

She could hardly imagine how, through the efforts of Manfred and August alone, the company had grown so large in just six years.

Without the hatred forced upon them, perhaps Manfred would be as proud and ambitious as Charles.

"I have to leave him.I must leave him!"

Seeing Manfred, Janet grabbed his arm fearfully, her large eyes flashing reluctance before drowning in deep despair.

"Janet, why?" Manfred suddenly felt confused.

He had thought their conflict was between them, never expecting that Janet wanted to leave him.

He knew how deep her feelings for Charles were.

That day, when she fell into his arms, disoriented and lost, she still called out Charles’s name—making it impossible for Manfred to take advantage of her.

"I’m losing my sight. I’m going blind. What am I supposed to do?"

A sharp headache hit Janet again, and her whole body began to sink, but Manfred tightly pulled her into his embrace.

It was the first time he saw her so helpless and broken.

He always thought Janet was delicate but never weak—yet today, he saw her grief and despair in a way that shook him deeply.

"What did you say?" Manfred gently pulled down the hand she had covering her eyes.

Her large, crystal-clear eyes were still beautiful and enchanting, but something was missing.

Later, Manfred realized what it was—her soul.

"Your eyes..." Manfred held out his hand before her eyes, but Janet suddenly grabbed his hand.

Those eyes had carried so much sorrow and tears—and it was those very eyes that had etched her into Charles’s memory ten years ago.

"I’m going blind. I don’t have much time left. I want to leave Charles. Please help me, Manfred!"

Lately, Janet’s vision had become increasingly blurry.

Sometimes she would just sit there for hours, waiting for darkness, trying to prepare herself for that kind of blackness.

But never seeing Charles again... it hurt her deeply.

"How could this happen?" Manfred looked into those crystal-clear eyes—still beautiful but no longer carrying the spirit they once did.

Now all that was left in those eyes was deep pity and despair.

His heart plummeted alongside hers...

Janet stayed at ZT Group for half a day, knowing that the shadow downstairs never left.

As long as she didn’t leave, he would guard the place.

Charles was well aware of her every move.

"Where did she go next?"

Charles hadn’t noticed the pen in his hand had deeply pierced his finger; he felt nothing.

When his driver reported Janet’s whereabouts, his dark eyes turned even more terrifyingly cold.

Janet had met Manfred again.

She had promised him she wouldn’t see Manfred alone anymore.

"Keep watching! Report to me immediately!"

Charles angrily threw down his phone, his fury reaching a breaking point.

Even if she made him angry before, at least she still cared—she would come find him, cling to Shaun, ask about him.

But now she had thrown herself into another man’s arms.

Was she really determined to divorce him?

No.

He wouldn’t allow her to roam free outside.

Janet must be his woman.

"Janet, don’t be afraid. I’ll find the best doctors for you. You will get better!"

Manfred couldn’t believe the words coming from her mouth.

At such a young age, so beautiful—he refused to believe fate would be so cruel.

"I know my condition, Manfred. Only you can help me now. Don’t tell Peggy, don’t tell August, don’t tell anyone, okay?"

She had no family now.

She couldn’t tell Peggy, and she absolutely couldn’t let Charles know.

If he knew she might leave him one day—he loved her so much—how could he bear to be left alone?

And the little life inside her—maybe she hadn’t come at the right time,

but because of her, Janet didn’t want to trade her life for her own.

Even if she had to leave this world, she wanted to leave a bloodline for Charles...

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