Chapter 5

I knew what he was thinking. He was probably telling himself I was so kind it hurt, wondering what kind of sin he'd committed to betray a woman like me, and vowing to treat me even better to make up for it. He had no idea guilt was the best weapon for controlling a man like him.

William looked gentle and polished on the outside, but underneath he was proud and deeply insecure. He couldn't stand people being good to him, especially people he'd wronged. That was exactly the effect I wanted. I wanted his guilt toward me to pile up day by day until it crushed every bit of the deep love he imagined he had.

And Emily too. Her "I couldn't say no," her "I had no choice," and her sudden "awakening" all looked disgustingly fake to me. Didn't she think she was innocent? Didn't she think she'd only been tempted and pushed into it?

Fine. Then I'd give her more temptation. I'd raise her high, show her an even more dazzling world, and let her meet even more "outstanding" men. I'd make her believe that with her so-called innocence and kindness, she could cross class lines and get everything she wanted. Then, at the moment she felt most proud, I'd let go and watch her shatter.

I finished the soup. William set the bowl aside, pulled out a napkin to wipe the corner of my mouth, and said, "Charlie, let's move the wedding up."

"Move it up?"

"Yeah." He took my hand, his tone solemn. "I don't want to wait anymore. I want to give you a home as soon as possible. I want everyone to know you're my wife."

He sounded so sincere, like he truly couldn't wait to marry me. But I knew he only wanted to use marriage to tie me down and ease his own guilt. I lowered my eyes for a few seconds, then looked up again with my eyes already a little red. "William, have you really thought this through? With my body like this, I might not be able to have another child anytime soon..."

"I don't care." He wrapped me in his arms, his voice low and steady. "Charlie, I want you, not a child. You're the only one I want in this life."

I leaned against him and let tears fall, soaking into his shirt. "William, thank you." He held me tighter and kissed my hair again and again. "Charlie, I love you. I only love you."

After Emily's visit, William became even more attentive to me. He started reporting his schedule on his own, canceling social events, coming home every day to eat with me, taking me out on weekends, and even learning to cook. Even my parents said privately that he truly cared about me, but I knew he was only soothing his own guilty conscience.

As for Emily, she never showed up in front of me again. Once over dinner, William casually said, "Emily hasn't been doing too well lately. Her last research report was a mess."

"Really?" I lowered my head and kept eating. "That girl thinks too much. Talk to her a little more, okay? She's your student after all."

William paused mid-meal. "Charlie, you're too good to her." I kept my eyes on my food. "She's a girl who fought her way out of the mountains. That isn't easy. Besides, I was the one who helped put her through college. If I can help her a little more, why wouldn't I?" William said nothing after that. He only ladled me a bowl of soup, something unreadable surging in his eyes.

That night, he stayed in the study until very late. I brought him a cup of hot milk and found him staring blankly at his computer; the document on screen was still empty. "If you're tired, get some rest."

He suddenly grabbed my hand hard. "Charlie, there's something I want to tell you."

"What is it?"

"It's about Emily."

There it was. I sneered inwardly. He started to say something, then lost his nerve and slumped back in the chair, mumbling that I was too good to Emily and she might not be able to handle it. He was testing me, testing whether I knew anything and whether my kindness to Emily was genuine or not.

"What are you talking about?" I stepped behind him and gently massaged his temples. "Emily's simple, and she remembers kindness. I'm helping her because she deserves it."

"Charlie, you're always this kind."

"You're my fiancé, and she's your student. Of course I should look out for her." My voice stayed soft. "Oh right, Mrs. Carter is hosting a dinner next week. There'll be plenty of important people there, so I'm bringing Emily with me. She should get out more, meet some people, and maybe even run into a good match. What, are you worried I'll corrupt your student?"

William's eyes flew open. "You're taking her to Mrs. Carter's dinner?" His gaze shifted. "I'm just not sure she'll fit into that kind of setting."

"What's there to worry about? I'll be there." I bent down and kissed his cheek. "When have I ever been wrong about someone?"

William's body stiffened. Then he reached out, wrapped an arm around my waist, and pulled me into his arms. "Charlie, marrying you is the greatest blessing of my life." I said nothing. I just patted his back lightly, my eyes ice-cold. Soon enough, he'd find out it was the worst nightmare of his life.