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?”

ducked to retrieve the key from the ignition. “I’m

her. But at that moment, Toby’s face flashed in her mind and

drop to his stomach, and

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

frowned. “What do you mean? All we’re dropping is the nickname, but that doesn’t have to change anything

then of course, nothing will change. But we’re different.” He tightened his grip on the car keys and took in a breath. “You were the only person I’ve ever called ‘baby’, because doing that makes me feel like I have a special place in your heart, like I’m irreplaceable. Now that you’ve taken away my privilege

he put the keys on the car’s

cried out at the sight of this, suddenly

if Charles hadn’t 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 got into the

taxi speed away with indecipherable emotions

things from Charles’ soliloquy earlier, and one of

her palms, and she shook her head to clear her thoughts as

as a platonic one all

Sonia would have been completely kept in

call me ‘baby’ and why he reacted the way he did when

so dramatically when she asked him to stop calling her ‘baby’. He might be wounded, but not to the extent of wanting to keep a

breath ruefully, staring in the

sour turn their relationship had taken and how they would no longer

now, she was sure she had done the right thing. If she had allowed the nickname

had for her could never be

in the matter was clear: she saw him as just a friend and nothing

to the car. She picked up the keys Charles had left on

to the Fuller Residence after Sonia had left his office, and he had only just gotten down from the car when his

signaling Tom to stop pushing the wheelchair, and answered the

back to Bayside Residence,” the man on