"Shouted what?"

Anthony listened closely, genuinely a bit intrigued.

"It shouted, 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Can you hear me?'"

"..."

Hearing the girl's punchline, Anthony's fingertips twitched, his expression freezing for a brief moment.

A few seconds later.

A low, husky chuckle rumbled from his chest, rich and sexy. "Mrs. Blair, are you trying to coax a child?"

"Wait."

Charlotte pressed her hands over his, blinking her eyes rapidly. "I have another story for you."

"..."

Anthony looked at her charming makeup and the bright smile in her eyes. His heart softened. Reaching up, he gently smoothed her hair and nodded. "Alright, tell me."

"Once upon a time, there were three people named Good, Bad, and Messy. One day, Bad asked Messy to go out and play. Messy asked, 'Who else is coming?'"

"..."

Anthony looked at her with a soft smile, murmuring, "Go on."

"Bad said, 'We're bringing Good.'"

"Okay."

After hearing his wife's story, Anthony remained silent for two seconds. Then, he suddenly grabbed her waist and pressed his warm lips against hers.

"You..."

With the wall behind her and the man's chest in front, Charlotte had nowhere to run.

"Didn't you say we're good now?"

Charlotte turned her head away, her breathing slightly ragged. Her fingers clung tightly to his collar, her eyes misting over. "Anthony, you went back on your word."

"I didn't."

Anthony intertwined his fingers with hers, pressing his nose affectionately against hers. His voice was a low, seductive whisper. "I said I'd help you change, and I'll help you change."

Change what?

Clothes?

He wasn't accepting her apologies, and now he was twisting her words?

Charlotte's mind was about to explode!

She wanted to fight Anthony right now!

"Mrs. Blair, you really are a phenomenal dancer."

Anthony's fingers found the zipper of her top, pulling it down ever so gently: His lips brushed against her earlobe; his voice dark and enticing: "From now on; when you wear something like this; you only dance for me. This time .

"?"

Charlotte lifted her eyelids, gazing at him with watery eyes. She asked cautiously, "This time you'll let it slide?"

"Keep me happy, and I won't bully you too badly."

"?"

Charlotte tried to argue, but her words were aggressively silenced.

And then...

Sigh.

—

When she finally woke up again.

It was already nine in the morning.

She had absolutely no idea what time they had gotten back to the bed or when she had passed out.

Charlotte turned her head, glancing at the empty space beside her, and muttered, "Bastard."

Leaning against the headboard, she took a long moment to recover her strength before throwing off the covers. Moving at a painfully slow pace, she made her way downstairs.

Sounds drifted from the kitchen.

Charlotte looked over and saw Anthony wearing an apron, preparing food while on a video call.

On the screen.

Lavinia and Matthew were each holding a baby, waving happily as they pinched the two chubby bunnies' tiny hands.

"Look how much our babies love staying at the estate." Lavinia's voice rang out clearly. "Let's just have them live with Grandpa and Grandma from now on, okay?"

Hearing this, Charlotte's temples throbbed violently.

Not okay.

Not okay at all.

"Ahem."

Charlotte deliberately cleared her throat. The busy man immediately dropped what he was doing, strode over to her side, and gently supported her waist. "Why didn't you sleep a little longer? Are you hungry?"

Are you hungry? Don't you know exactly why I'm hungry?

We got back around 3 PM yesterday, didn't we?

He was an absolute animal!

"..."

Charlotte's cheeks flushed, and she shot the man a deadly glare. "Starting tonight, you are sleeping in the study."