Charles didn't answer her directly. Instead, he furrowed his brow and looked at her quizzically. "Why would you ask that all of a sudden?"
His voice was as soothing as always, filled with a reassuring warmth.
The brief moment of happiness Alicia had felt earlier quickly faded and was replaced by a heavy, suffocating feeling.
His avoidance felt like a tacit confirmation.
It seemed that the real owner of the dress was the woman Charles couldn't stop thinking about.
Just as Charles was about to ask why she seemed upset, Noah, reeking of alcohol, stumbled toward them, shouting, "Alicia! Charles doesn't love you! But I do! I wasn't behind the attacks on you! I've made them stop! I can even protect your mother! Whatever Charles can do, I can do too!"
Charles observed Alicia's reaction to N
