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?”

door, then ducked to retrieve the key from the ignition. “I’m going to

in her mind and

Charles felt his heart drop to his stomach, and the hope he had been clinging

this, and if that’s what you want, then I’m fine with it. From now on, I won’t call you ‘baby’ anymore, but you

“What do you mean? All we’re dropping is the nickname, but that doesn’t

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 to do that, it only goes to show that I’m no different than any other friend you have; I’m not as

the keys on the car’s

cried out at the sight of

it was as 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 speed away with indecipherable emotions rushing

picked up on several things from Charles’ soliloquy earlier, and one of them that she was suddenly

nails dig into her palms, and she shook

couldn’t believe that Charles had never treated their friendship as a platonic one all along and

he hadn’t said all that, then Sonia would have been completely kept

that was why he wanted to call me ‘baby’ and why he reacted the way he did when I asked him to

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

under her breath ruefully, staring in the direction where

how they would no longer be as close as they had been, she

had never 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

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

nickname for her had as good as clarified her feelings toward him. Her stance in the matter was clear: she saw him as just a friend and nothing

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

went back to the Fuller Residence after Sonia had left his office, and he had only just gotten down

Tom to stop

escorted Miss Reed safely back to Bayside Residence,” the man on the