Charlie's confession

The next day...

In his spacious, monochrome-themed room, Charlie sat at the edge of the bed, leaning back, his hand being bandaged by the beautiful doctor in her white suit.

"If you do this, I'll move here," said Sandra, Charlie's older sister. She was stunning with her brownish-black hair and a formal look in her black and red suit, topped with black heels.

Charlie remained silent, ignoring Sandra's scolding. He seemed like a man devoid of spirit, with a pale face, disheveled hair, and only wearing white shorts.

"Elle, are you sure his wound doesn't need to be checked at the hospital?" Sandra asked, looking at the beautiful doctor.

"It's okay, the wound isn't too deep, don't worry," replied the beautiful doctor named Elle. She secured the bandage with a light brown adhesive to prevent it from coming off, then looked at Charlie, who remained silent with his vacant stare. "Please don't hurt yourself, in the end, you'll be the one finding it hard," she continued with genuine concern.

Charlie stayed quiet.

"I'm sure he'll struggle... It'll be difficult for him to eat and do other activities when he has to start work tomorrow!" Sandra said sharply, crossing her arms. "I don't understand what's happening to him... He just came back from a vacation in Hawaii but he's even more depressed now..."

Charlie glanced at Sandra, who fell silent instantly. "You should leave. I don't want to hear your nagging," he said flatly.

Sandra sighed. "I'm like this because I care about you, you're my only brother... I don't want you to..."

"I'll be fine, Sandra!" Charlie interrupted, not giving Sandra a chance to finish her sentence. "Don't talk too much, just go!"

Sandra fell silent, still taken aback.

"I won't end up like her... I won't!" Charlie spoke again, turning his face away, as if not wanting Elle or Sandra to see the sadness in his eyes. "Leave me alone... I don't want my new home tainted by past conversations... it could make me sick!"

"Charlie, calm down," Elle murmured, touching Charlie's arm.

"Go, it will make me calm," Charlie responded.

"Elle..." Sandra called, her face anxious. "We should go."

"Okay..."

Elle looked at Charlie for a moment, then quickly packed up her medical equipment and put it in a white box. Afterward, she led Sandra out of the room.

"It's better never to bring up the past, it will only make him more stressed," she said.

"I don't know," Sandra whispered. "You know, I've hardly slept soundly for two years because of him... he's worrying."

"But he'll be fine now... he's been declared recovered by the psychiatrist, right?"

"Yeah..."

Sandra stopped in front of the door, looking at the mansion that seemed so empty. "But Gustave's death last week also seemed to hit him hard. I'm afraid he'll fall back into depression and want to hurt himself... like now."

Elle nodded. "In that case, you should ask your father to do something."

"he even hates Dad!"

"Then ask Jacob for help," Elle exclaimed before continuing down the stairs.

Sandra followed Elle, thinking about Jacob, her boyfriend who was always there for her, even helping her deal with Charlie because Charlie didn't want to be helped by their father.

In her room, Angelica had just opened her eyes, stretching her stiff muscles.

"Emhh... so comfy," she said while hugging the pillow, enjoying the softness of the white blanket covering part of her body.

Knock knock knock...

"Oh, my God..." Angelica groaned, not liking the sound of the door knocking.

Knock knock knock...

"Could that be Charlie?" She wondered, looking at the ceiling of the room, and imagining Charlie's face. "I'm too lazy to get up... I know he won't treat me like his maid, but this time I have to get up to get an explanation from him!"

She quickly got out of bed. "Wait a moment, I need to use the bathroom!" she shouted as she rushed to the bathroom.

After brushing her teeth and washing her face, Angelica left the room and immediately met Renee waiting for her at the door.

"Oh, it's you..." she was a bit awkward.

"I'm going to the pharmacy to buy something, do you want me to buy something for you?" Renee asked, looking very neat in her black and white maid outfit, with some of her hair clipped back.

"I don't want anything," Angelica replied, shaking her head. "And besides, I didn't bring any money," she continued.

"Of course, use Mr. Charlie's money..." Renee showed the black card.

"But I really don't want anything, so just buy what you need," said Angelica, watching Renee and then leaving.

Angelica walked after Renee, but she stopped at the end of the hallway when she saw two women who had just left the living room sofa. She decided not to reveal herself until they left, almost simultaneously with Renee.

"Who is that woman? And why is she with a doctor?" She wondered, thinking about the woman who looked like a doctor and was carrying medical bags.

She glanced upstairs at Charlie's tightly closed bedroom door, worrying that something might happen to him because, since their kiss, they hadn't met again.

Worry and curiosity led Angelica to hurry to Charlie's room, even pushing the door without knocking first. She entered, seeing Charlie lying with his bandaged hand propped on a pillow beside him.

"What happened to you?" she asked, approaching him.

Charlie just stayed silent, looking at Angelica with such depth, as if contemplating something.

Angelica sat on the edge of the bed, examining Charlie's hand seriously, then shifted her gaze to his eyes.

"I really don't know what you're hiding from me, or if you're intentionally deceiving me," she said, shaking her head, her expression showing disappointment. "You said you have a mansion with many rooms, 12 dogs, a lion..."

"That's true," Charlie whispered with his flat gaze, looking at Angelica's natural lips that were once again weakening his defenses.

"But where is it?"

"Not here, but in another mansion."

Angelica frowned. "So, you have another mansion?"

Charlie nodded.

"And why is your hand injured?"

"It's nothing, I just had an incident in the bathroom," Charlie lied. "And if you're curious about the mansion, we can go there so you'll know I'm not lying. And I brought you here because I'm more comfortable staying here... It's quieter here."

"So, is that mansion empty? Or is it just filled with dogs and the lion and caretakers?" Angelica speculated.

Charlie smiled thinly, feeling amused by Angelica's expression. He observed every movement of her lips as if wanting to kiss it like last night, even her beautiful face without makeup, hair slicked back, and wearing a pajama with doll patterns, made him even more fond of her, like he wanted to hug her in that bed.

Angelica glanced at Charlie, who smiled at her, making her feel flustered. "Why are you smiling?"

"You are so cute," Charlie whispered.

Angelica frowned but also blushed. "Please answer me before I die of curiosity!" She exclaimed, not wanting to be swayed by Charlie's compliments.

Charlie sighed. "Don't say that."

"In that case, say it, you've been deceiving me too much!" Angelica asserted, not wanting to drown in ignorance.

"The mansion is not only inhabited by dogs or assistants... but my sister and her boyfriend," Charlie explained, looking out the window. "They live there, I used to as well, but now I prefer it here... this is the new mansion I bought last month," he continued, looking back at Angelica.

Angelica nodded, then remembered the woman with the doctor in the living room.

"So, that was your sister?" She asked.

"Hmm... did you meet her?" Charlie countered.

"Um yeah..." Angelica shrugged. "I mean, I saw her but she didn't see me... I was hiding."

"Why?" Charlie asked, narrowing his eyes.

"It's nothing, I just don't feel like meeting new people," Angelica replied, looking at Charlie seriously. "Because I'm still annoyed with the new person in front of me," she added.

Charlie chuckled, Angelica's gaze truly amused him. "You're annoyed with me, is it because I kissed you?"

"Of course, and I'm even more annoyed because it turns out you planned my presence here!" Angelica said curtly. "Why did you do this to me? Did you intentionally give me a lot of money so I could break free from Darren, then I'd owe you and eventually feel awkward to refuse you, and end up here... why did you do that? Do you think you can buy me?"

Charlie just remained calm and silent, looking at Angelica who was rambling.

"You're very strange, Charlie! Even last night, you suddenly kissed me... that already proves that..."

"I like you," Charlie said before Angelica could finish her sentence.

Angelica gaped, not understanding the meaning behind Charlie's words. What does 'like' mean? Can it turn into love, so he's willing to help her? Or maybe he just likes her and wants to use her for his satisfaction?