CHAPTER 39

Agatha POV:

Sleep was a luxury I couldn't afford. Every time I closed my eyes, Charles’s face would swim into view – his warm smile, his reassuring touch, those intense blue eyes that seemed to see right through me.

But then, the image would twist, morphing into a shadowy figure with a hidden agenda, his words laced with deceit.

Shady dealings… Xing Enterprises… Denies Allegations.

The words from the article about his past echoed in my mind, a relentless, haunting refrain.

I couldn't ignore it anymore. I had to confront him.

“Charles, we need to talk.” My voice was tight, my hand trembling slightly as I held the phone to my ear.

At the first hour in the morning, he was in my office, looking even more handsome than usual in the daylight. His tailored suit emphasized his broad shoulders, his brown eyes filled with concern.

Part of me, the part that craved his touch, his reassurance, wanted to forget about the article, about my doubts.

But the other part, the part that had been hurt, b