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?”

the key from the ignition. “I’m going to ask you one last time: do you really want

her. But at that moment, Toby’s face flashed in her mind and batted away the doubt that threatened to cloud her

drop to his stomach,

fine with it. From now on, I won’t call you ‘baby’ anymore, but you know what? As soon as I stop calling you that,

dropping is the nickname, but that doesn’t have to change

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

on the car’s hood and turned to head for the

cried out at the

or stop in his tracks as he marched toward the pavement, then raised an arm to hail an approaching taxi. The

watched the taxi speed away with indecipherable emotions rushing

several things from Charles’ soliloquy earlier, and one of them that she was suddenly made aware of was his feelings

into her palms, and she shook her head to clear her

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

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

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

quite so dramatically when she asked him

ruefully, staring in

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

regret it if 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

she could never love him back, and whatever sentiments he had for her could never

matter was clear: she saw him as just a friend

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

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

stop pushing the wheelchair, and answered the

we have escorted Miss Reed safely back to Bayside Residence,”