Chapter 387 - 387: Couldn't Meet Them Yet

Things between Charles and Elena became awkward after they shared that passionate kiss. Elena didn't regret doing it however she felt embarrassed after she realized what she did.

She's the one who initiated the kiss first. She just wanted to comfort Charles. She wondered if she did the right thing.

Little did she know, her action really helped Charles to forget about Elle in the meantime because as of now his mind was occupied by Elena.

'Why did she do that?' He kept asking himself.

Charles reflexively raised his hand, touching his lips. He could still vividly remember the pleasant sensation caused by her warm lips being in contact with his.

Then suddenly Charles cursed himself inwardly as he remembered what he said to her after that kiss.

{ "Eh… Elena… are you... hungry? Do you want to eat?" }

{ Elena just looked at him with her dumbfounded expression. Charles didn't know what to do. He scratched his face thinking about what he should tell her next. }

{ Fortunately, Elena responded to him after she recovered from her dazed. }

{ "Brother Charles… I am not hungry right now. I think it's better if I will return to your room now and sleep. I will have to go to the hospital as early this morning." }

{ After refusing Charles's random invitation about eating something, Elena fled quickly going back to his room. She needed to escape because her heart was about to explode if she stayed there with him. }

Charles took a deep breath as he averted his gaze to the closed door of his room. He wondered if Elena was already asleep.

"I took her first kiss. How can I become responsible for that? She's too young for me… and she's so innocent. I should distance myself from her or else she might end up getting hurt in the end. I am not a good person. She deserves a much better person than me." Charles tugged his hair tightly. His mind was in a mess right now.

"[email protected]! What am I thinking? It was just a kiss. It meant nothing to her. Maybe she was just carried away by her emotion after seeing me crying. She just wanted to comfort me." Charles mumbled, convincing himself.

In the end, Charles couldn't sleep. It was already morning when Charles's mind got tired of thinking and he drifted off to sleep.

When he woke up, Elena already left. She also prepared his breakfast before leaving. A note was placed on the dining table beside the food she prepared.

[ Brother Charles, this soup is good for a hangover. Please don't skip your breakfast. Sorry if I didn't wake you up. I couldn't disturb your good sleep. ]

Charles felt touched by Elena's sweet and thoughtful act. As a return, he made sure to finish all the food she cooked for him.

After taking his breakfast, he did his daily routine of working out and exercising at his mini gym. This became his habit that's why Charles gained more muscles over these two years. Antoine also helped him with his discipline.

An hour before noon, Charles received a message from Josh, reminding him about their lunch today.

"Oh, I almost forgot about lunch. Hmmm, these fellows are interesting. I couldn't believe that I had a good time with them last night." Charles mumbled, his eyes were fixed on his phone.

"I gotta go and meet them."

After saying that, Charles proceeded to his bathroom and took a shower. When he was done putting his clothes on, he received another message from Josh, telling him where they would meet.

The place was near the Morning Star Media Network Building. Soon, he left his house going to the location.

***************

Meanwhile, at Morning Star's office, Sandy and Josh were silently observing Elle. They wondered why she looked exhausted. 

'What happened to her? Was she sick again?'

However, though she was looking very tired Elle was giving off a positive vibe. She was in a good mood today. Her expression was more relaxed today unlike before. That's the reason why Sandy and Josh couldn't figure her out.

'Maybe something good happened to her yesterday.' That's what they were thinking.

Unknown to them, Elle already reconciled with Erick that's the reason why she looked cheerful and at ease today. 

Unfortunately, she felt very tired because of Erick. He exhausted her last night, draining all her energy by making her come over and over again. She lost count of how many times they made love.

Sandy finally decided to approach her.

"Ali, are you okay? Are you not feeling well?"

Elle stopped typing on her keyboard and gazed up to see Sandy.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Elle said as a response.

Sandy nodded and tapped her shoulder. "Let's take a break and eat lunch. Same place. I have someone to introduce to you." 

"My Savior," Sandy added with a wide smile on her face.

"Okay," Elle said as she stood up.

Soon, the three of them walked out of their building. After a while, they arrived at the restaurant where the three of them often ate their lunch.

After ordering food, Elle decided to go to the washroom first.

"[email protected]! Erick really punished me last night." Elle said while looking at her reflection in the mirror.

She tilted her head while pulling down her collar a little bit. Elle heaved a helpless sigh when she saw the love bites made by Erick.

'My good boy hubby turned into a beast, marking me on every part of my body. I am still sore down there.' Elle thought to herself as she fixed her uniform, trying to hide her hickeys.

"Just you wait, Erick. When I recover my stamina just like before, I will also suck you dry." Elle mumbled, her lips curled up into a playful smile.

After she was done washing her hands and fixing herself, Elle went out of the Wash Room going to their table.

From the distance, she saw a guy who was now talking with Josh and Sandy. Elle halted on her steps the moment she recognized the person. It was Charles.

On impulse, Elle quickly found a hiding place inside that restaurant so that Charles wouldn't see her.

"So Sandy's savior is the Charles whom I also knew."

She was not ready to face him and she would blow her cover the moment Charles would see her. Sandy had no idea about her identity as Elle.

"But how come even Josh seems like he is familiar with Charles too?" Elle secretly watching them.

Then her eyes focused on Charles's figure. He was sitting beside Sandy. Elle had conflicting thoughts right now. One part of her wanted to meet Charles and joined them.

She wondered how he was doing in the past two years. She missed her partner, her friend, and her brother. Charles's changes in appearance didn't escape Elle's observant eyes.

"He looks different from the Charles I remember two years ago. Sandy told me that he fought so well when he saved her. So my little bro learned how to fight now." Elle smiled at that thought.

'He fulfilled his promise. He trained and came back stronger. I am very proud of you, Charles.'

As much as she wanted to tell him that now, still, she couldn't. She was not ready. This is not yet the time to meet him nor Master Phantom.

She didn't want to bother them anymore because of her revenge. She wanted them to live simply and happily away from the danger. 

Elle's eyes started to burn with tears. She missed them so much both Phantom and Charles. They were the only family she had left. She wanted to protect them this time.

"I wonder if Master Phantom is also doing fine," Elle mumbled to herself.

She made up her mind. She needed to leave there now. She couldn't afford to let Charles see her. With that resolution in mind, Elle searched for another way to go out of the restaurant where Sandy, Charles, and Josh would not be able to notice her.

*****

Meanwhile, on their table, Sandy noticed that Elle had been gone for too long now. Charles was already there but Elle was still nowhere.

"Where's Ali? What took her this long to come out of the washroom?" Sandy asked while roaming her eyes around the restaurant.

"Hey, why don't you check on her? Follow her in the washroom. What if she already fainted? She seemed very tired today." Josh suggested to her, feeling worried about their Queen.

Sandy nodded and excused herself first, leaving the two men at their table.

But to Sandy's surprise, Elle was already gone. She couldn't see her inside the washroom.

"Where did she go?"

Then she immediately picked up her phone inside her pocket. She dialed Elle's number. After three rings, her call got connected.

Sandy: "Ali, where are you?"

Elle: " Sorry Sandy, I forgot to tell you. Something came up. I'm on the way now at XXX Crime Investigation Headquarters. Erick's team accepted our collaboration. We will cover Catseye's case once again.

Sandy: "What?! Are you kidding me, Ali?! Tell me this is just a prank call!"

Sandy didn't mind the fact that Elle left without informing them. The one she couldn't accept was Elle telling her that they would cover Catseye's case once again.