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?”

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

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

his heart drop to his stomach, and the hope he

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

mean? All we’re dropping is the nickname, but that doesn’t have to change

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

the keys on the car’s

out at the

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

place, Sonia watched the taxi speed away with

of them that she was suddenly made aware of was his

she shook her head to clear her thoughts

say, she couldn’t believe that Charles had never treated their friendship as a platonic one all along and that he actually had developed

he hadn’t said all that, then Sonia

to call me ‘baby’ and why he reacted the way

he wouldn’t have reacted quite so dramatically when she asked him to stop calling

ruefully, staring in the direction where Charles had

would no longer be as close as they had been, she didn’t regret what she had

discovered Charles’ 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, then Charles’ feelings for her

sentiments he had for her could never be reciprocated. She would only hurt him

him as just a friend and nothing more.

picked up

Toby went back to the Fuller Residence after Sonia had left his office,

his hand, signaling Tom to stop pushing the wheelchair, and answered

escorted Miss Reed safely back to