The Cherished Wife



Charles tossed aside the cards in his hand, his long fingers brushing over the base of his other hand. "What do you think?"

Annie shook her head. "I don't know!"

Annie was on pins and needles, and though he would never admit it, Cody was just as eager to hear what Charles would say. It felt like an eternity before Charles's cool and detached voice sliced through the silence. There was an edge to it, icy and menacing. "If she had crossed me, she'd be in a far worse spot than she is now!"

Annie's face drained of color, and she stumbled backward. She would have fallen if not for Cody's quick reflexes catching her.

Cody guided the shaken Annie out of the room with a comforting arm around her. Ronald trailed behind them and quietly shut the door.

With a playful wag of his finger and a thoughtful stroke of his chin, Sean teased, "Charles, you've really mastered the art of giving someone the creeps."

Charles lifted his gaze, giving Sean a challenging sidelong glance. "Are you saying you're up for a taste of it?"

Sean's bravado faltered, and he raised an eyebrow. "No way. I don't need that kind of VIP treatment. But you've got to admit, this is getting juicy. Someone's got a quicker draw than you!"

Charles's eyes narrowed, a hint of a smirk. "Him making a move doesn't shock me."

Sean clucked his tongue and shook his head in mock dismay. "Simon's got a much heavier hand than his brother, that's for sure."

Charles just gave him a look that was cool and unreadable. "He jumps the gun."

Sean nodded in agreement. Simon's

tactics were definitely more

cutthroat than his. Otherwise, the York family would not be so wary

him and want to chip away at ho

influence slowly. Sean might not care much for business, but he knew enough to keep tabs on the high-stakes games of the elite.

Simon was a gem, but to the outside world, he was just another wild child, living it up without a care. Little did they know that was just Simon's way of blending in.

He had done it on purpose this time to control how others saw him and to send a chill down the spines of the Yorks and the Shaws. Simon was no simpleton.

He was as cold-hearted as they come. Who would have thought he would stoop to sending two goons to assault Suzy? That move had Winter looking over her shoulder.

"I'm dying to know. Why didn't he just finish off Winter?" Sean mused with a couple of disapproving clicks of his tongue. "You also could've taken care of Winter with the flick of a finger, yet here she is, still

O

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"Easy there!" Charles squinted. "Have you ever seen a cat play with a mouse? It's not about the catch. It's about the game." He wanted to break her, bit by bit.

"Man, if this were ancient times, you'd own a medieval torture dungeon!" Sean shook his head. "Time's ticking!"

"It sure is. I've gotta head back," Charles said, getting up and slinging his coat over one arm, the other hand lazily tucked in his pocket. "Come with me and take Arnold back."

"Nope!" Sean was ready to make a

run for it, but Charles was quicker, stepping in front of him with a piercing gaze. "Take him back!"

l

Arnold had long overstayed hisz

welcome at Phoenix Tree Residence,

especially with Nelly around

Sean stood his ground, his voice firm. "Don't assume I'm clueless. You just can't stand Arnold stealing Noelle's attention. He's just a dog, for crying out loud, and hey, he's your dog!"