This Time, I Will Get My Divorce, Mr

Chapter 539 Charles’ Feelings

“It just isn’t, okay?” Sonia let out a weary sigh and went on to say, “Look, a term of endearment like this should only be used if you and I are lovers, but we aren’t. We’re just friends, and calling me ‘baby’ is a little over-the-top.”

Charles laughed, but it was cold and devoid of his usual humor. “Oh, suddenly it’s ‘over-the-top? I’ve been calling you that for over a decade, and you’ve never said there was anything wrong with it until now. Did somebody talk to you about this and make you stop me from calling you that?”

Sonia’s eyes widened by a fraction, but that was enough to make Charles understand the truth behind this unexpected shift. He clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth, “So somebody does want me to stop calling you that. Let me guess—is it Toby?”

There was no answer from Sonia, but something flashed in her eyes that looked a lot like admission.

“I’m right, aren’t I?” Charles sneered in disgust. “Look at you being an obedient little girl and asking me to stop calling you a decade-long nickname just because he told you to.”

Guilt rose within her when she heard this, and she chewed on her lip as she tried to explain, “I’m sorry, Charles. Ill admit that Toby was the one who asked me to do this. He said to tell you that he wants you to stop calling me ‘baby’ because it’s inappropriate, but when I seriously considered it, I found myself agreeing with him. A nickname like that really is inappropriate between the both of us.”

Sonia hadn’t given much thought to this matter until Toby brought it up. After he had, it was as if something clicked in her. The nickname Charles had given her was far too intimate and flirtatious to be considered platonic.

However, Charles was less than understanding as a contemptuous smirk tugged on his lips. “No, this has nothing to do with whether the nickname was inappropriate or not. You’re just worried that if you let this continue, you’re going to make a certain someone very unhappy, and you don’t want that.”

Sonia stiffened. “W-What?”

“Nothing!” Charles took a step back and returned to the driver’s side of the car. He opened the door, then ducked to retrieve the key from the ignition. “I’m going to ask you one last time: do you really want me to stop calling you by that nickname?”

She parted her lips, hesitation overwhelming her. But at that moment, Toby’s face flashed in her mind and batted away the doubt that threatened to cloud her judgment, and she finally nodded with a firm hum.

Upon hearing her answer, Charles felt his heart drop to his stomach, and the hope he had been clinging to disappeared.

There was bitterness in his eyes as he drawled, “Got it. I can see that you’ve made up your mind on this, and if that’s what you want, then I’m fine with it. From now on, I won’t call you ‘baby’ anymore, but you know what? As soon as I stop calling you that, our relationship will no longer be the same.”

the nickname, but that

have a special place in your heart, like I’m

the keys on the car’s hood and turned to head

at the sight of this,

heard her at all. He didn’t look like he was going to turn around or stop in his tracks as he marched toward the pavement, then raised an arm to hail an approaching taxi. The next second, he

taxi speed away with indecipherable emotions rushing

up on several things from Charles’ soliloquy earlier, and one of

she shook her

she couldn’t believe that Charles had never treated their friendship as a platonic one all along and that he actually had developed romantic feelings for her

hadn’t said all that, then Sonia would have been completely

why he reacted

just a friend and nothing more, then he wouldn’t have reacted quite so dramatically when she asked

Sonia muttered under her breath ruefully, staring in the direction where

she grew sad at the sour turn their relationship had taken and how they would no longer be as close as they had been,

hidden romantic feelings for her, but right now, she was sure she had done the right thing. If she had allowed the nickname to go on between them,

she could never love him back, and whatever sentiments he had for her could

him as just a friend and nothing more. Perhaps all this had happened soon enough to

She picked up the keys Charles had left

his office, and

stop

Reed safely back to Bayside

done. Any sightings

“No, sir.”

he replied stoically, “I see. From now on, I want the both of you to watch over Sonia and keep her safe, but stay