Kingsley knew deep down that Charlotte wasn't that kind of person, but the beast suppressed within him was roaring uncontrollably, and the malice rooted in the marrow of his bones surged through him, causing even his blood to boil.
His eyes turned cold and gloomy as he glanced towards Charlotte's siblings, emotions spiraling out of control within him.
If without them...
If...
Kingsley suddenly felt a weight on his shoulders.
He turned to see Freya's hand resting there, her expression hardened, eyes gazing up at him with concern.
Charlotte pushed past Aaron and edged forward.
Seeing Kingsley's obviously troubled eyes, her heart raced, her voice becoming raspy and hard to hear. "Wait... for me..."
At the sound of her voice, Kingsley visibly froze, then the darkness in his eyes lifted abruptly as he stared into hers, his tone somewhat uncertain. "Charlotte? What's with your voice?"
Charlotte's eyes reddened, but she bit her lip, making no further sound.
Kingsley's gaze deepened, a hint of redness even in the corners of his eyes as he spoke slowly, each word deliberate. "Say one more word. Let me hear it."
Charlotte opened her mouth, but no words came out, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Freya realized something was amiss and moved closer, noticing the hidden sadness in everyone's eyes as they looked at her.
She turned to Chris. His face showed a hint of displeasure, yet he maintained composure. "Charlotte suffers from a stress-induced mental disorder."
Kingsley's face paled at Chris's words.
Aaron added with dissatisfaction, "The doctor advised against any stimulation or mood swings. She was slowly recovering these past two days, but she insisted on seeing you."
He left the rest unspoken, but everyone understood the implication. Kingsley's presence worsened Charlotte's condition.
Kingsley's knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists.
Freya's expression darkened, brows furrowed deeply. No wonder they were sending Charlotte abroad.
At that moment, no one understood Charlotte's siblings' feelings better than Freya.
Because right from the start, when she learned that Kingsley was in contact with Charlotte again, she was equally hesitant. And she wished to eliminate anything that could possibly worsen Kingsley's condition.
As Kingsley looked at Charlotte's pale, haggard face in that moment, memories of her radiant smile and laughter from yesteryears flooded his mind, filling him with guilt.
"I want to be alone with Kingsley," Charlotte said softly.
Chris pursed his lips, clearly displeased, while Ian's expression turned cold.
Diana finally couldn't hold back. Her usually composed face showed rare determination as she addressed everyone, "Everyone out! Give Charlotte some time and space!"
"But..." Aaron began to protest, only to be interrupted by Diana.
"I don't want to hear any reasons, I just want to respect my sister's opinion," Diana said firmly.
Chris and the others exchanged glances, seeing the resignation in each other's eyes. Ian was the first to brush it off, and Aaron followed suit, shaking his head before leaving.
Chris glanced at Charlotte's pale face, wanting to say something, but in the end, he simply stroked her head soothingly and left.
Diana breathed a sigh of relief. When she looked up, she met Charlotte's grateful gaze.
"You two have a nice chat," Diana said, sighing, and then walked out.
Freya didn't say much, simply walked out without a word, closing the door behind her.
The room suddenly fell silent.
Charlotte and Kingsley stood still, neither of them moving.
"Kingsley..." Charlotte spoke with extreme difficulty, her voice hoarse and barely audible.
Without hesitation, Kingsley wrapped her tightly in his arms.
Voices screamed in his head that he couldn't let her go, couldn't ever let her go. His possessiveness frightened even himself.
But Charlotte in his arms had no fear; instead, she hugged his waist tightly.
Kingsley lifted his hand and gently cupped Charlotte's chin, planting a deep kiss on her as if he wanted to passionately convey all the love he had for her.
They didn't know how long it took, but Charlotte went limp in his arms and didn't even have the strength to stand.
Kingsley kissed her forehead affectionately.
"You're going abroad to heal, aren't you?" He asked aloud.
Charlotte nodded, a hint of anxiety flickering across her face as she slowly said, "Wait for me, I'll be back soon."
"Little fool," Kingsley said tenderly, looking at her. "There's no need for you to come back to me; I will come to you."
Charlotte looked at him dazedly, only to hear him continue, "Once this is over with Theo, and I've cleared my side of all possible dangers, I'll come and see you. I'll talk to your parents, your brothers, and sisters, and ask them willingly to give you to me."
Charlotte's eyes filled with tears once again. She bit her lip as she listened to his heartfelt words.
"I will make sure they wholeheartedly give us their blessing. I don't want you to feel conflicted or struggle; you were never caught between me and your family. You are dear to both them and me, and I will take care of everything before I let you be my bride in peace."
"So don't hold onto any stress when you go abroad with your sister. Relax, heal, and share every bit of joy with me. I will be there for you."
Kingsley seldom spoke so much, and now his words flowed more freely. It seemed that no matter how much he spoke, he had more to say. Charlotte snuggled into his arms, nodding quietly.