Chapter 82: End the relationship.
As they arrived at Augustine’s mansion, he stepped out first, then gently helped Charles out of the car, his hands lingering on Charles’s waist as if afraid he might crumble.
The driver remained behind, knowing better than to interfere.
Inside the sitting room, Charles sank onto the couch, his body feeling heavier than usual.
He exhaled a hoarse breath, his fingers gripping the fabric of his suit for stability.
"Thanks," he mumbled, forcing a weak smile that barely reached his eyes.
Augustine nodded, making his way toward the kitchen to grab a cold bottle of water from the refrigerator.
Augustine returned to the sitting room, his footsteps slow and deliberate.
Without a word, he stretched out his hand, offering Charles a cold bottle of water.
"Hey," he mumbled, his gaze fixed on the floor as if gathering his thoughts. "Have this. It’ll help you calm down," he added, his voice softer this time, almost hesitant.
Charles scoffed. "I haven’t fully recovered, so I can’t have something cold," he explained, his voice laced with exhaustion.
Augustine gave a small nod, his teeth grazing his bottom lip as he chewed on it in thought.
A heavy sigh escaped him as he ran a hand through his hair. "I... I don’t know what to do," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Come sit beside me," Charles mumbled, gently patting the couch as he motioned for Augustine to join him.
Augustine inhaled sharply, his throat tightening as he turned back toward the kitchen, placed the bottle of water back into the refrigerator, and then made his way back to Charles.
Without uttering any words from his mouth, he quickly took his seat, creating little distance between himself and Charles.
For a moment, they sat in complete silence, each lost in their own thoughts, the unspoken words hanging heavy between them.
"I..."
"I..."
Charles and Augustine spoke at the same time, their words colliding and trailing off into an awkward pause.
"You can go first," Charles mumbled, absently playing with his fingertips as he sniffled.
Augustine sighed, running his fingers through his hair, leaving it slightly disheveled.
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes as if summoning the courage to speak.
A minute later, he exhaled softly, forcing a smile onto his lips.
"I... I want you to rest your head on my lap. I want to feel the warmth of your hair," Augustine whispered, his gaze locking onto Charles, who stared back at him in silent contemplation.
Charles swallowed hard, his chest rising and falling as he shifted, resting his head on Augustine’s lap.
He tucked his legs up onto the couch, curling into the warmth beside him.
Augustine exhaled softly, his lips twitching into a satisfied smile. "Perfect," he murmured, his voice low and soothing.
He spread his fingers wide before threading them gently through Charles’s hair, his touch slow and deliberate, as if savoring every strand.
His fingertips grazed the scalp beneath, drawing lazy circles that sent a tingling sensation through Charles’s skin.
As slow as ever, Augustine continued to run his fingers down the hair of Charles. "I was scared when I saw you bleeding from your nose," Augustine whispered as he fixed his gaze on Charles who was intensely staring at the ceiling.
Charles offered a fleeting smile. "I didn’t mean to make you worry," he whispered, his voice barely above a breath.
He shifted his gaze from the ceiling, letting his eyes settle on Augustine.
The warm, golden hue of Augustine’s amber eyes held an unspoken depth—one that Charles had seen before but never fully understood.
But now, beneath the soft glow of the room, he could see it clearly.
Fear.
Not the kind of fear that came from uncertainty, but something deeper—something raw.
It clung to Augustine’s expression, hidden beneath the way his lips pressed into a thin line and how his fingers trembled slightly as they moved through Charles’s hair.
Charles’s chest tightened. He had never seen Augustine extremely scared before.
’Before I signed a marriage contract, I had always known Augustine as a fierce man.’ Charles thought to himself as he frowned. "Augustine, are you aware that ever since you a contract relationship with me, you’ve started to seem weak? You’re showing your vulnerable side," Charles murmured, his gaze locked onto Augustine’s face.
Augustine arched a brow, intrigued. "Have I ever been vulnerable with you?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Charles didn’t hesitate. He nodded. "Yes. More than you realize."
Augustine chuckled softly. "Woah," he mumbled, tilting his head. "I guess it’s not so bad to be vulnerable." He added, a playful smirk crossing his lips as he winked at Charles.
Charles, however, didn’t share his amusement.
His expression hardened as he frowned. "I don’t want you to be weak because of me," he said, his voice firm and serious.
His fingers unconsciously curled into the fabric of Augustine shirt. "I don’t want to be your weakness."
"Pookie, you’re not my weakness so stop saying that," Augustine murmured, his voice low and reassuring as he lean closer to Charles’s face as their forehead pressed against that of each other.
"You don’t have to worry about my vulnerability, okay?" Augustine continued, his lips curving into a teasing smirk. "Besides, I’m vulnerable whenever I’m with you because..." He paused, letting the weight of his words linger. "Because I like you."
And just like that, he winked, his playfulness disarming, yet his words left Charles completely breathless.
"Don’t!" Charles coldly spat, placing his hands on Augustine’s shoulder as he gently pushed him.
Charles took a shaky breath, his chest felt heavy, each word weighing down on him before he even spoke it.
"Our contract... it’s messed you up, Augustine," he whispered, his voice barely holding steady. "It never should have happened in the first place. Everything we had... it was all a mistake."
Augustine’s expression faltered, his usual playful demeanor replaced with confusion.
Augustine brows furrowed, his lips parting slightly as if searching for the right response.
"Pookie... what are you trying to say?" he asked, his voice quieter now, edged with something close to desperation.
His amber eyes flickered with emotions Charles wasn’t ready to face.
Charles scoffed, rising his head from Augustine’s lap as he stepped down from his couch.
Standing in front of Augustine, Charles’s gaze became cold as he declared his heart intention. "I think we need to end our relationship."