Chapter 1128

By locking Nicola up in his house, Charles had created an unequal power dynamic between them. With her inherent pride, how could Nicola ever willingly stay with him under such circumstances? "Fine. One month. Just one month," Nicola finally agreed after what felt like ages. Her voice sounded so ethereal and empty that it made Charles feel anxious again. He bent down and kissed her forcefully. He had to feel her physical presence to ease his growing sense of dread. Nicola remained stiff during the kiss, neither fighting nor responding. It was as if her body didn't really belong to her anymore. As Charles released her and set the table for breakfast, a bitter smile played on her lips. He inwardly questioned his decision to keep someone captive. He wondered how long she'd last without a soul since he had already destroyed hers. After being discharged from the hospital, Zayn stopped his suicidal behavior. Instead, he buried himself in work tirelessly like a machine. But those close t