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?”

step back and returned to the driver’s side 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

Toby’s face flashed in her mind and batted away the doubt that threatened to cloud her judgment, and she finally nodded

his stomach, and

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

is the nickname, but that

here, 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

the keys on the car’s hood

at the sight of this, suddenly

his tracks as he marched toward the pavement, then raised an arm to hail an approaching taxi. The next second, he got into

place, Sonia watched the taxi speed away with indecipherable

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

dig into her palms, and she shook her

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

that, then Sonia would have

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

quite so dramatically when she asked him to stop calling her ‘baby’. He

ruefully, staring in

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

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 would only grow deeper and take

sentiments he had for her

her feelings toward him. Her stance in the matter was clear: she saw him as just a friend and nothing more. Perhaps all this had happened soon enough to keep him from falling even more

Sonia sighed ruefully and walked up to the car. She picked up the keys Charles had left on the hood and

his office, and

to stop pushing the wheelchair, and answered

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