"Please do yourself a favor and don't act like your best friend. Fanny clearly loves Michel but is fighting it. You and Charles? Just squirm while you can and worry about that bullshit."

Looking at the girl lying on the bed, Rosabella wondered if things were really that simple. She wanted to protest and told Kaylin that Kaylin was wrong.


However, the more she thought about it, the more she understood on what basis she made this claim. Because Kaylin was right. If she just screwed up Charles then everything is very simple.

Though, she couldn't shake off this constant question that kept creeping into her mind at the strangest of times.

Is it just sex?


---

Meanwhile, Carlos and Charles were sitting in two separate chairs across from Michel, who was sitting in the familiar chair behind the desk in their office.


They've locked the door to keep the conversation private for the moment, though the tension has spread across the roof.

"I know something's up with him. He's been acting weird for weeks now, but yesterday was the final straw." Carlos shook his head, the drink poured for him still intact as he continued to hiss his words.

"You know the rules. There's no outsider. You're out of everyone." Now he turned to speak directly to Charles, who had sat there quietly for the past ten minutes, letting his mafia brother vent about him.

Clearing his throat, Michel finally straightened up in his chair and let out a long exasperated sigh.

"Carlos, I think it's best that you leave me and Charles alone for now."

"What?" Cousin looked at Michel incredulously, receiving only a resolute nod.

"You let me go so long ago that you sent me out like some kid?"

"Carlos," Michel warned him, his tone dropping an octave to make his point.

"He's my second-in-command, and I'll handle the situation as I see fit. In the meantime, I'd appreciate it if you kept quiet and didn't talk about this to others. Now, let's go."

Carlos fixed his cousin with a harsh look, but he knew better than to disobey the leader of their family.

So, getting up with a whistle, his chair screeching to the wooden floor from the sudden movement, he shot another glare at Charles before looking back at Michel.

"Fit yourself, boss." He said one last word before stepping out, slamming the door behind him.

Michel's cold expression immediately slipped from his as he was the one fixing Charles with a glare, lighted himself a cigarette as he reached out, and lowered Carlos's drink, which was still intact.

Charles nervously licks his lips as he wipes his wet palms against the fabric of his pants. "Technically, I don't break the rules." Hope it helps the situation, he said.

"You're not careful either." Michel's words shot out like a balloon, instantly causing Charles to slump into his seat.

"What are you thinking? What's going on with you? You're the most caring, the most alert of all of us, you're slipping. For what? To be booked? I really don't need this trash right now." He slams his hands on the table as he gets up from his seat, his eyes like hot flames as he angrily shoves his hands into his pockets.

Holding a piercing look with his second-in-command until it became uncomfortable, Michel then let out another groan as he sat down and lit a second cigarette.

"I'll only ask this once, Charles. Only once. And I want you to answer me honestly." He took a deep breath, blowing the smoke out, his eyes never leaving Charles.

Struggling with what was to come, knowing what it was, Charles held his breath.

"Do you have feelings for her?"

The questions hung between the two men like strangulation, a barrier that, if it turned out to be true, would at least be seen as an adverse situation.

Charles swallowed. He never allowed him to think about it.

When it comes to Rosabella, he just goes with his instincts, telling himself, he's the only man in their family who can keep his head at clear sea level despite the challenge.

Charles even takes pride in advising Michel when he is battling his feelings for Fanny.

But now for him? He couldn't help but let his defenses take over as he licked his parched lips and cleared his throat.

He's the second in command of their family, and that's not going to change.

"I do not have."

---

As if they both knew things needed to calm down, Rosabella and Charles didn't visit each other's rooms, nor did they see each other anywhere else in the mansion for the next two weeks.

The fact that Andy's wedding preparations are in full swing as well as the search for Mr. Aiden and right-hand man Archibald still had so much of their focus that they didn't help free up Charles's time either.

It's almost as if Michel is intentionally giving Charles quests to do just as his mind starts to wander, wondering if he should find Rosabella.

Though, before they knew it, they had all gathered together to celebrate the union of two powerful families as well as the happiness of their fellow mafia brother.

Charles looked at Andy as he couldn't stop grinning throughout the ceremony, his eyes never leaving his new bride Farrah for even a second as they said their wedding vows with sincere and passionate emotion.

He had the urge to look over to Rosabella, who he knew was sitting next to Kaylin in the row behind him, but his sense of control made him keep an eye on the priest and the couple in front.

Hours later, they all found themselves in the venue booked for the reception party with everyone seemingly in a good mood, somehow felt like they were mocking the self-deprecation he felt.

Even Michel looked different as he led Fanny in, his hand resting on her back as she continued to look at him like he was the only thing that mattered to her.