His Coy Lover

After ending the call, Zelda immediately dialed Charles.

“Charles, I want to take a leave.”

Zelda, in a hurry, didn’t bother with beating around the bush and directly said, “My mom had a car accident and is currently hospitalized. I need to go and check on her.”

Charles frowned, looking at Chris, who had just been brought in by his secretary and sat across from him. He said in a low voice, “Your mom had a car accident?”

He wasn’t afraid of being lied to in front of him.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“It’s my adoptive mother. My older brother just called and informed me. Charles, is it okay? I’ll go to the hospital to see my mom first. If there’s nothing serious, I’ll rush to the hotel to have dinner with you.”

So, it was her adoptive mother.

She wasn’t lying.

“Dinner can wait; you go ahead. Instruct the driver to change the route.”

Charles wasn’t an unfeeling person.

He admired Zelda’s sense of duty and loyalty to her adoptive parents. That was something he appreciated.

If she were like Elle, unwilling to acknowledge her biological parents, he would look down on her.

“There’s no need to rush back to the hotel. Take care of your mom in the hospital. If you need any help, let me know.”

Charles’s voice was low, sounding icy, but the meaning in his words made Zelda’s heart warm.

“Charles, thank you.”

“Since you didn’t give me a gift today, make it up to me twice tonight as a thank you.”

Zelda wanted to say more, but Charles had already hung up.

After hanging up the call with his new wife, Charles gestured to his secretary to pour a cup of warm water for Chris. Once the secretary left, he asked Chris in a calm tone, “Did mom suddenly come to see me? What’s the matter?”

“Charles.”

Chris put down the water cup and looked directly at Charles.

Meeting Charles’s deep, dark eyes, Chris felt a bit uneasy.

Charles said in a low voice, “Mom, just say what you want to say. I won’t argue with you.”

“Charles, I know what Zelda did that day hurt your pride too much. It was Zelda’s mistake, and it’s also my fault for not teaching my daughter properly. Here, I sincerely apologize to you, Charles.”

Chris sincerely apologized.

“If you’re still angry and hold a grudge, direct it at me. Zelda is my daughter, and I feel guilty towards her. After she returned to my side, I spoiled her. That’s why she would do something that hurt your pride in front of you. So, it’s my fault.”

“Charles, I beg you, forgive Zelda. She’s still young, and life is long. Let her follow you like this for a lifetime. I’m not afraid of offending you, Charles. If she continues like this, it’s a real disadvantage for her.”

“Zelda has been separated from me since she was a child, and I already owe her too much. I don’t expect her to be rich and prosperous. As long as she can marry a man who likes her and treats her well, living an ordinary life, I would be satisfied.”

Charles had been pursing his thin lips, quietly listening to Chris plead for Zelda and asking him to spare her.

Until Chris spoke to the point of dryness and drank the untouched cup of warm water, Charles finally spoke coldly, “Mom, it’s not me who forced Zelda to marry me; it’s Zelda who forced me to marry her.”

Charles never lied.

What he said was the truth.

“Why?”

After a long time, Chris asked in difficulty, “Why did Zelda do this?”

Charles’s expression remained cold. “Mom, I don’t care why Zelda did this. She bit me and claimed it as her mark. She said it’s her responsibility and forced me to marry her. She vowed never to regret it. Well, I needed a wife, and since she was willing to be with me, I married her.”

“I haven’t told you all along. It’s the fault of both me and Zelda. Mom, I’m sorry for not telling both sides.”

“Zelda, she…”

Chris didn’t know what else to say.

“Do your family elders know?”

Chris thought of the grandeur of the Winston family and how deep the waters were in the Winston family. She felt sorry for her daughter and was angry that she kept such a big thing from her.

No wonder her daughter refused the proposal from the Lowell family. So this was the reason…

“I haven’t told them yet.”

“If they find out, they will… definitely dislike Zelda.”

Chris felt heartache for what her daughter would face.

Even though the Winston family initially considered a union with the Roscente, Chris knew that it was an unattainable choice. If it weren’t for Charles… under such circumstances, how could Winston choose Zelda?

It was just bullying Zelda for growing up in the countryside and not putting their Roscente family in their eyes.

Charles fell silent.

He didn’t know about others, but his mother really disliked Zelda.

“Charles, I don’t know why Zelda did this, but since she married you willingly, please protect her. A woman’s ability to stand firm in her in-laws’ family often depends on her husband’s attitude.”

If Charles was willing to protect Zelda, even if the Winston family disliked her, she would be safe in the Winston family.

As it was her daughter’s decision, Chris knew the two wouldn’t divorce, at least not now.

“Mom, you can rest assured about this. As long as Zelda is still my wife, I will protect her.”

Charles made a promise to his mother-in-law.

With this assurance, Chris’s heart settled a bit.

Then, she remembered the call from her daughter just now and asked, “What did Zelda say when she called just now? Her mom had a car accident?”

“It’s her adoptive mother. She had a car accident and is currently hospitalized at the Hospital.”

Charles was contemplating whether he should go and visit.

The Hasis family raised Zelda well, and she was well-behaved. At least in terms of temperament, she suited his taste.

In terms of emotion and logic, Charles felt that he should go to the hospital.

But, once his identity appeared at the hospital, it would easily attract attention. It was a place to save lives and heal injuries, and he didn’t want to stand out there.