Chapter 97: Exhance cosmetics store.
Charles sigh.
He wanted to scream, to unleash the storm raging inside him, but his voice refused to break free.
Instead, he bit into his lower lip, hard enough to sting, forcing himself to stay silent.
"I’ll just let this pass by," Charles mumbled to himself, though the words felt hollow.
His throat tightened as he swallowed hard, trying to push down the lump of frustration, but the ache in his chest refused to fade.
With a loud exhale rolling out from Charles mouth, he sluggishly made his way to the bedroom, his steps dragging as if each one took effort.
Reaching the bedside table, he placed the bundle of cash inside the drawer, before he shut it.
Forcing a smile—one that didn’t quite reach his eyes—he turned toward the bathroom.
As Charles stepped inside, his shoulders slumped, exhaustion settling over him like an unbearable weight.
Charles took off his clothes and stepped into the warm shower, letting the water wash away the tension clinging to his body.
Once he was done, he reached for a white towel, drying himself off before making his way out of the bathroom.
He walked straight to the wardrobe, pulling out a dark purple T-shirt before grabbing a pair of black trousers to go with it.
Charles dressed quickly, slipping into the clothes he had pulled from the wardrobe, but as he stood in front of the dressing mirror, his movements stilled.
His gaze locked onto his reflection, and a deep frown settled on his face.
Charles skin looked paler than usual, almost drained.
’I think I need to get some cosmetic products,’ Charles thought, nodding slightly as he agreed with himself.
He grabbed his backpack, pulled a few dollar bills from the bedside drawer, and tucked them inside.
Without wasting time, he headed downstairs, his steps steady but unhurried.
Reaching the kitchen, Charles walked straight to the refrigerator and picked up the flask containing the noodle soup.
Charles heated the food in the flask, and within minutes, he had devoured every last bite.
’Good thing Augustine didn’t throw this away,’ he thought, leaning back with a satisfied sigh. ’If he had, I’d be seriously pissed.’
Charles hated seeing food go to waste, so knowing that the meal Augustine had bought for him the night before hadn’t been tossed out brought him a sense of relief.
’Should I go straight to a cosmetic store? Or maybe head to the hospital...’ he wondered, rubbing his chin. ’Or better yet, should I stop by the restaurant?’ The thought lingered as he debated his next move.
Charles has a whole lot of places in mind for him to visit, so he took a moment of silence to consider the best option for him.
Exhaling!
Charles stepped outside the mansion and waved down a cab, sliding into the backseat as soon as it pulled up.
Without hesitation, he gave the driver the address of the restaurant where he worked.
Out of all his options, this felt like the right choice. Checking in at the restaurant seemed like the best thing to do—for now.
As the cab pulled up at Charles destination, he quickly paid the driver and stepped out of the car.
The familiar scent of food and the low hum of conversation greeted him as he pushed open the restaurant doors.
The moment Charles stepped inside, his eyes landed on his manager, who stood behind the cashier’s table, her face clouded with a mixture of worry, sadness and fear.
Charles entwined his fingers, and as slow as ever, he began to make his way towards the manager who had an unreadable expression on her face.
As Charles closed the distance, he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself before speaking.
"Umm... I... I couldn’t make it to work yesterday because I wasn’t feeling well," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper.
His gaze flickered downward, unsure of how his manager would react.
Although, despite the low volume of Charles voice, his manager caught every words that came out of his mouth and she sigh before studying Charles in silence.
"I know that you are sick." She stated, observing Charles’s physique from head to toe.
Charles’s brows shot up in surprise. "Huh? How did you know?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion.
As far as Charles could remember, he had never shown any signs of illness at work.
So how the hell did his manager know he had been sick the day before?
The question gnawed at him, and he found himself searching his managers face for answers.
Charles’s manager scoffed, rolling her eyes at his ridiculous question.
"Your girlfriend came by early this morning, asking that I grant you a sick leave," she said, crossing her arms. "She told me you collapsed at your other place of work and that you wouldn’t even be able to show up today."
Charles stiffened, his mind racing.
His girlfriend? He didn’t have one so what the hell was going on?
Charles immediately frowned.
"Was it Anna?" He asked with his brows tilted upwards.
His manager scoffed at his reaction, rolling her eyes. "So, you have more than one girl now?" she asked, her tone dripping with a teasing accusation.
Charles barely had time to part his lips before she fired another question at him. "Do you enjoy playing with women’s feelings?"
Her gaze was a bit sharp, expectant, as if daring him to explain himself.
"H-huh?"
"Stop acting so surprised, Charles," his manager said, eyeing him with amusement. "Your girlfriend came here to ask for permission on your behalf, and now you’re calling the wrong name? Or do you have more than one?"
She smirked, tilting her head. "Though, honestly, you don’t seem like the type to toy with women’s hearts." Her tone was teasing, but there was a hint of curiosity in her gaze.
Shaking her head, she turned away and started walking toward the back door, leaving Charles standing there, utterly baffled.
"I’m giving you the entire day off," his manager said, pausing her steps to let out a loud breath. "You look pale, and honestly, you seem like you really need the rest."
She turned her gaze around and studied Charles for a moment before shaking her head. "You don’t strike me as a playboy, so stop messing with multiple women’s hearts. If you like someone, stick with her. Don’t waste the time of the others lingering around you."
With that, she gave him one last pointed look before turning away, excusing herself from his presence without waiting for a response.
Charles stood still as a small scoff rolled out of his mouth. ’I have no idea I had a girlfriend.’ He mused within himself while smiling.
The only girlfriend Charles had ever had was Anna. But after catching her cheating, he wasted no time making her his ex—he refused to tolerate betrayal.
Why would my ex-girlfriend ask my boss for permission on my behalf? he wondered, his brows furrowing.
And how the hell did she even find out about my new job... or my health?
The thought unsettled him.
There was no reason for Anna to still be involved in his life—yet somehow, she was.
Charles wallowed hard, his thoughts still tangled in confusion.
Exhaling!
Charles exhaled loudly as turned on his heel and made his way out of the restaurant.
Down the road, there was a cosmetic store—not far enough to warrant a cab ride.
Wasting money on such a short distance didn’t sit right with Charles , so he decided to walk, hoping the fresh air would help clear his mind.
It took nine minutes, but eventually, Charles arrived at his destination.
Standing in front of the large cosmetic store, Charles took a moment to admire the elegant lettering of its name.
He exhaled slowly, pushing his thoughts aside before finally stepping inside.
As Charles wandered through the aisles, his eyes scanning the neatly arranged cosmetic products.
The store was vast, stretching long and wide, stocked with an endless array of cosmetic products—everything from lip care to skincare, eyebrow and eyelash enhancers, teeth-whitening kits, and so much more.
Customers filled the space, most of them accompanied by attentive sales representatives who guided them through their selections.
The air buzzed with quiet conversations and the occasional sound of testers being opened, creating a lively yet sophisticated atmosphere.
A young man, dressed in orange shorts and a white belly shirt, rushed over to Charles with a warm smile. "Welcome to Exhance Cosmetic Store! If you don’t mind me asking, how can I assist you today?" he inquired, his tone friendly and inviting.
"Umm, do you have something I can apply to my skin to make me look ten times younger than I used to?" Charles asked politely, his tone laced with curiosity.
The young, handsome sales rep’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he lifted his right hand halfway in the air. "Oh, darling, I have just the thing for you," he purred, his voice smooth and confident.
With a graceful turn, he led Charles toward the cream section, his movements fluid as if he owned the space.
Immediately they arrived at the cream section, Charles became immobile.
’Wh... why are they here?’ Charles thought, his breath hitching as he came to an abrupt stop.
His eyes locked onto the last person he ever expected to see, and for a moment, everything around him faded.
His grip tightened at his sides, heart pounding as confusion and unease crept in.