The Cherished Wife



Charles was a storm cloud in human form, radiating such negative vibes it was practically a force field. Who in their right mind would get close to him now? Only J seemed to have missed the memo and was barreling straight into danger.

Charles's forehead was creased with a frown, his face so dark it sent shivers down her spine. "I'm telling you one last time. Let go!"

"No!"

However, before J could even finish protesting, Charles had already wriggled free. He moved so fast it was a blur, and by the time everyone caught up, he had spun around and clamped his hand on J's neck. It looked terrifying.

"Cough cough!"

J was dangling from Charles' hand, her toes barely scraping the ground.

"Charles!" Clarisse was the first to snap out of it, her face as white as a sheet. She dashed over. "Charles, what the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind? Let her go now!"

Charles might as well have been deaf. His dark eyes locked on J's reddening face. A twisted smile played on his lips like he was some kind of demon straight out of the underworld, icy and bloodthirsty. "Didn't I warn you not to push me?"

J gasped for air, her voice trembling. "Let... Let me go, Charles. You..." She was scared out of her mind, the suffocating grip on her throat making her fear death for the very first time. She slapped and clawed at Charles's arms, but it was like a chick pecking at a rock-completely useless.

Mateo sensed the danger. "Charles, what the heck are you doing? Let go of J. She's your sister!"

"Sister?" Charles's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Well, since the whole Hoffman family is here, I might as well tell everyone the truth." His eyes twinkled with a cruel glee that sent shivers down everyone's spine.

Almost without thinking, Clarisse blurted out, "No, Charles, stop!"

"What's the matter?" Charles's freezing stare cut to Clarisse. "Madam Baker, are you getting scared?"This is the property of Nô-velDrama.Org.

The whole room held its breath when Charles called Clarisse 'Madam Baker'. Clarisse's face went pale. "Charles, you..."

Charles let out a sharp, dismissive

snort. He tightened his grip, and J's face turned a shade paler. "Scared of dying? I've got two ways of dealing with you. One is death," and the other is a life so miserable you'll wish for death. What's your choice?"

J's head shook frantically, tears streaming down her face. "Charles, please..."

"Don't say my name," Charles

snapped, his voice slicing through

the air like a blade. "Hearing you say it just turns my stomach." His eyes were icy as he tightened his grip with achilling ease. J's neck was at an odd angle now. "Don't fool yourself into thinking I won't end you. When I'm ready to strike, the Bakers won't be able to lift a finger to help you!"

With that, Charles flung J aside. She hit the ground with a thud that echoed through the room.

J lay still, sucking in breaths as her tears flowed like a river. "No, I can't believe it. Charles, you wouldn't... You wouldn't do this to me!"

Charles just shrugged off his coat

and tossed it aside without a second glance. Ronald appeared at that

moment, offering a towel.se

wiped his hands with a look of

disgust and threw the towel away as if it were contaminated. "Don't

believe me? Go ahead and test me. I won't kill you, but I'll make you wish you were dead."