Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Fragile Hearts, Broken Words

"My ex-boyfriend back then used to hit me and hurt me constantly. The relationship was toxic. He cheated on me multiple times, behind my back and even right in front of me."

"And I never dared to speak," Charles whispered, his shoulders trembling as he stared down at his hands. "I was too scared to complain or say anything whenever he yelled at me. Most of the time, I would just stand there silently because I was terrified of getting hit."

His voice cracked slightly. "But even staying quiet never protected me. He would still hit me just for being silent... and if I ever tried to talk back, it only made things worse."

Something in Mark suddenly snapped.

He surged up from the armchair, his voice exploding through the quiet room.

"Is that why you have no fucking dignity?!" he shouted angrily. "Is that why you sat there talking nonsense with your friend about fucking another man while imagining it was me? Is that how you tell him everything? Or are you just completely shameless?!"

"Please, just let me explain!" Charles pleaded, his voice breaking as he stepped closer. "Back then, I never told my friends anything. Especially Frank. He worries too much, and he’s extremely headstrong."

Charles shook his head weakly.

"So I kept everything a secret because I was terrified that if he found out the truth, he would force me to leave my ex... so I stayed quiet. I lied all the time and pretended everything was okay."

Fresh tears spilled down Charles’s cheeks as the weight of those memories crashed over him.

"For three whole years, my ex treated me horribly, and I never told a single person," he choked out painfully. "I endured all of it because he was my first love. I stayed and let him destroy me... all because I loved him so much. My friends knew absolutely nothing until one day Frank showed up at my house unannounced."

Charles swallowed hard, his chest heaving. "My ex was there, and he had cheated on me again. That day, I finally stood my ground and told him it was over. But he refused to accept it. He started hitting me, just like he always did. I tried to fight back, but he shoved me so hard that my head hit the wall."

He paused, tears running down his face.

"Then someone knocked loudly at the door. The moment my ex opened it, Frank was standing there. He had heard us screaming from outside. Frank didn’t even give him a chance to touch me again. He rushed in and punched him instantly. He kept hitting him until I begged him to stop, and then he warned my ex to get out and stay away from me forever... or we would have him arrested."

Charles wiped his face, his breathing ragged. "After he left, Frank turned to me. He was furious, but he didn’t yell. He just hugged me tightly and told me I deserved better. But in my stupid mind, I already knew I was still too weak to let go. I lied to Frank right there. I told him it was a one-time thing, that my ex was only angry, and that he was normally a good man."

Charles lowered his eyes.

"But Frank looked me straight in the eye and said it was a lie. He told me he had already been noticing bruises on my body and face for a while. I still denied it... because deep down, I wanted to go back to him."

A tear slid down his cheek.

"And I did."

A bitter laugh escaped Charles’s lips.

"And the next time I went back to him, I almost lost my life. That was the night I finally broke down and told Frank everything I had been going through. Adrian wasn’t really around much back then. He was always busy with his family life, back when his wife and son were still alive."

Charles swallowed hard. "But Frank was furious that I had hidden so much from him for years. He almost gave up on me completely out of frustration. I had to beg him not to leave me and promised him I would never keep secrets from him again... that I would tell him everything from then on."

He wiped at his face shakily. "And I did. That’s why I tell Frank everything now. He helped me fight against my ex until everything was finally over."

Mark’s posture stiffened slightly, his dark eyes fixed on Charles, but he didn’t interrupt.

"Even after the breakup, my ex came back begging me, and a part of me actually considered going back," Charles admitted, his voice cracking with painful honesty. "When Frank found out, he gave me an ultimatum. He said if I ever went back to that man again, then I should forget about our friendship forever."

Charles took a shaky breath.

"And I couldn’t lose Frank. He was the only person who had always been there for me. So Frank confronted my ex himself and warned him to never come near me again... not to call me or even text me. After everything finally ended, I decided I was never going to love anyone again. I became terrified of getting hurt like that a second time."

Charles stepped closer to the armchair, looking down at Mark with everything he had left in him.

"That’s why I decided I would only have bedmates. No feelings attached, no commitment... just sex," he admitted quietly. "But I didn’t have multiple men the way you think I did. Just because you saw me with that one guy before doesn’t mean I sleep around with everyone else. I’m sorry you think of me like that, Mark... but I’m not that kind of person. I’m actually decent."

He reached out slowly, his hands trembling faintly between them.

"I don’t even know when it happened," he admitted softly. "I don’t know when I started wanting you this much... but ever since you told me you liked me, I started developing feelings I couldn’t control anymore. I truly love you, Mark. And I mean it."

Charles choked back a sob, his eyes pleading desperately. "And everything I told Frank yesterday... it was just a stupid joke. I would never do it. I mean it when I say I want something real with you. You said you wanted something real with me too... not just a bedmate arrangement. I’m sorry I said all those things and that you heard them. I’m sorry it made you judge me this way. But I truly love you, Mark... And if you loved me back, there’s no way I would ever cheat on you. I would never do that."

Charles lowered his eyes afterward. "But if you really don’t want me anymore... then I’ll understand. Just please don’t call me those names. Don’t look at me like that."

His voice broke softly. "I’m not the person you think I am."

Mark stared at him for a long time. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The silence stretched painfully between them before Mark finally spoke, his voice low and distant.

"After breakfast, I’ll have my driver take you back," he said quietly. "I’m sorry for sleeping with you when deep down... I already knew you weren’t the one for me."

The words felt like a physical blow straight to Charles’s chest. He stared at Mark, the last bit of hope slowly fading from his eyes. Then quietly, he lifted his hand and wiped the tears from his face, forcing his expression to become completely numb.

"It’s fine," Charles whispered.

After that, he turned toward the door, his movements stiff and heavy. This time, he reached for the handle, opened the door, and walked out, heading downstairs alone into the quiet house.

After Charles left, Mark sat on the edge of the bed for a long time, staring blankly at the floor. The cold facade he had forced himself to maintain was already beginning to crack apart.

Eventually, he pulled out his phone and quickly ordered breakfast, but the suffocating silence inside the mansion only made things worse.

Needing to know what Charles was doing, Mark opened the security application on his phone and clicked on the live CCTV feed connected to the kitchen downstairs.

The moment the camera connected, Mark’s heart completely shattered.

Charles was standing by the kitchen counter, crying openly. His shoulders shook violently, and he looked so completely shattered that a hot tear slipped down Mark’s face.

Mark stared at the screen silently as a crushing wave of guilt washed over him.

Even if he is going to treat me like a fool in the end, Mark thought bitterly, his voice catching in his throat, I’m willing to try. I’d rather take that risk than lose him.

Without wasting another second, Mark stood up and headed downstairs.

The moment Charles heard the rhythmic sound of footsteps descending the stairs, he frantically wiped his eyes with the back of his hands, drawing a deep breath to focus back on the breakfast he had come down to prepare.

Mark walked quietly into the kitchen area. Charles kept his eyes glued to the counter, deliberately focusing on his task, refusing to look up or acknowledge him.

Charles could feel his presence behind him, but neither of them spoke.

Slowly, Mark closed the distance until he was standing directly behind Charles. The warmth radiating from his body was impossible to ignore. Then quietly, Mark lifted his arms and wrapped them tightly around Charles’s waist, pulling him flush against his chest from behind.

Charles didn’t lean back. He just kept stubbornly moving his hands, trying to continue with the breakfast prep. Mark’s hands slid down gently, covering Charles’s fingers to stop his movements.

"Stop," Mark murmured, his breath hot against Charles’s ear. "You don’t have to cook."

"Why?" Charles asked, his voice strained and thick with unshed tears.

"Because you just don’t have to do it," Mark whispered. He leaned down and pressed a soft, lingering kiss against the side of Charles’s neck.

Charles closed his eyes, his voice cracking. "Did you dislike me so much that you didn’t even want to eat my food?"

Mark didn’t answer with words.