Chapter 96: Desperate for a man.
"Who the hell are you talking back at?"
"Mrs. Wales. Have you ever heard the statement that says; Respect is earned, not freely given," Charles seethed, his jaw tightening as he met Mrs. Wales’s icy gaze. "And frankly, you don’t deserve a single ounce of mine."
Charles voice trembled with restrained anger, but his words were firm. "It’s still beyond me how you can despise me this much just because I’m with your son. But tell me, as an adult, does tearing down someone else’s child really bring you any satisfaction?" He arched a brow, his chest rising and falling with the weight of his emotions, daring her to answer.
"Do you think that just because I’m an orphan, I don’t deserve respect? That I’m someone you can trample on and say whatever you please to?" Charles spat, his voice laced with defiance.
His fists clenched at his sides as he glared at Mrs. Wales, loathing the entitlement in her eyes.
She thrived to be in control, to make people cower before her commands—but Charles refused to be one of them.
’Well, if she wants to use her power to crush me, I’ll show her that life doesn’t always bow to the will of the wealthy.’ Charles thought to himself as he sigh, taking in a deep breath before continuing his phrase.
"As Augustine’s mother, if you have more hate to throw at me, then do it now and get it over with," Charles spat, his voice laced with icy defiance. "The fact that you attack me every chance you get only proves how petty and desperate your schemes are." His gaze burned into hers, unflinching, daring her to strike again.
Charles knew that his words would get him into so much trouble but keeping quiet wasn’t an option. Not after what Mrs. Wales had said earlier.
"Charles or whatever filthy thing you call yourself." Aubrey spat, closing the distance between herself and Charles as she tossed her handbag onto the sitting room couch. "Are you aware of who you are talking to? Or do you want me to spill some sense into you?" Aubrey added.
Standing just inches from Charles, Aubrey snarled, her fists clenching so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Rage flickered in her eyes, and it was clear—she was ready to strike at any moment.
Charles scoffed.
"Aubrey, you’re such a worthless fool," Charles declared, his voice sharp as his cold gaze pierced through her. "You hit me at my workplace, humiliated me in front of everyone, and yet you expect me to respect you?"
He scoffed, a smirk curling his lips as disgust flickered across his face. "I haven’t had the luxurious time to pour out my mind to you, but right now I want you to know that..."
Charles’s words trailed off for some seconds as he eyed Aubrey from head to toe. "I want you to understand something, Aubrey—you have no right to speak to me however you please," Charles coldly uttered.
"I can tolerate being treated poorly by my husband’s family, but you? You’re nothing to me. Just an entitled woman desperate for a man who doesn’t want her." His smirk deepened as he tilted his head. "Tell me, does it burn knowing Augustine chose me over you?"
"Wait, hold on," Charles purred as he replayed the previous words that had spilled out of his mouth.
’What... did I say I can tolerate being poorly?’ He questioned himself while frowning.
"Aubrey. I can’t stand being treated and spoken to like a pile of trash from anyone, and not even from Augustine’s parents." Charles seethed, correcting his previous phrase. "Life is already hard enough for me, and I’ll never again allow anyone to make it harder," he added, his eyes burning with determination.
Mrs. Wales smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement as she tilted her head to the side. "Are you done?" she drawled, her voice laced with condescension.
Charles met her gaze with equal intensity, a slow, mocking smile creeping onto his lips. "Oh, I can keep going," he murmured, his tone silkily sarcastic. "In fact, I could go on all day if that’s what you want."
Charles voice dropped, cold and sharp as a blade as he paused for a second. "But something tells me you wouldn’t like where that leads."
He adjusted his glasses, pushing them firmly up the bridge of his nose before exhaling a hoarse, weary breath.
"So, now that you’ve heard everything I have to say," Charles began, his voice edged with irritation, "do me a favor and leave. Right now."
His tone darkened, laced with warning. "Unless you’d rather I call the cops on you both. And trust me—there’s nothing you can say or do to stop me."
Baffled.
Mrs. Wales stared at Charles, utterly baffled by his words.
A flicker of disbelief crossed Mrs. Wales face before she gave a slow nod, her gaze dropping briefly to Charles feet as if searching for cracks in his resolve.
But when her eyes lifted back to his face, she found nothing but cold determination staring back at her.
"I never knew you had this much courage," Mrs. Wales purred, her voice dripping with mockery. A slow, taunting smile curled on her lips. "I must say, I admire your bravery, little one."
The words of Mrs. Wales were anything but a compliment—each syllable laced with condescension, meant to belittle rather than praise.
Mrs. Wales cast a brief glance at Aubrey, nodding slightly, as if sharing an unspoken joke at Charles’ expense.
"Today, I’ll be leaving here to never lay my eyes on you again, because if I ever do..."
Her words trailed off for a while as she rolled her tongue inside her mouth as if savoring the threat she was about to unleash. "If I ever lay my eyes on you again, I promise you—it will be the end of you." She seethed, her voice was so cold, so merciless, it felt as if winter itself had spoken.
And with that, she turned around and walked away, her presence leaving a lingering chill in the air.
Aubrey trailed after her, but not before grabbing her handbag from the couch, her movements quick and precise as she hurried to keep up.