Wealth Before Love

Chapter Four

Charles left the table and walked after Jane immediately, puzzled, trying to figure out what he had done wrong. He couldn't lay his hand on anything. He entered after Jane asking if he had done or said anything wrong. He hadn't finished uttering the words before Jane landed a slap on his face asking, “what do you think you were doing? Saying that trash and making me a laughingstock” Do you see how fulfilled Amanda feels after hearing I organised a dinner for you to ask me out. “We never practiced this question,” Charles said. I cooked that up myself, your dad and Amanda asked me that question in the evening and we had no time to discuss until now. My reward for saving you a bigger shame is the slap. You should know I never wished to be here, Charles added. He went to the wardrobe and picked his things, packed them and was about to leave the room before Jane in her authoritative form spoke and asked him where he thought he was going with his bag. “Do you know what you're doing at all, you wanna leave when the deal isn't over? She clapped and said, “you wanna bridge our agreement?” You'll surely rot in jail. Charles took some steps back and boldly spoke to her, “what more can you do?” You have the effrontery to slap me just because you offered money which I did not take. You can go to hell with your money, let's see who is gonna be disgraced.

Charles walked towards the door, Jane seeing his seriousness to leave ran after him, she knelt before him, her hands clasped together in a gesture of desperation. He could see the sincerity in her eyes, but part of him was still guarded. The anger and frustration from earlier had clearly consumed her, but the sudden shift to this vulnerable side made him uncertain of what to believe. "Jane," Charles said, his voice softer now but still carrying an edge of caution. "I understand that you were hurt by Amanda’s comments, but this isn't the way to handle it." Jane's voice trembled as she spoke, the weight of her emotions evident. "I... I know. I just let my emotions get the best of me. I shouldn't have acted like that, especially slapping you for speaking up for me. “I didn't want to make things worse, at least not for you," Said Charles. Charles watched her closely. She was truly remorseful, but his earlier doubts were still hard to shake off. He had seen the way she had acted when Amanda made her comment rising from the table in anger, unable to hold her composure. But seeing her now, kneeling before him, he couldn't deny that there was more to Jane than just her frustrations.

"Look, Jane," he said, taking a step closer to her, "I know you're under a lot of pressure, but we made a deal. You need to keep your emotions in check. If we're going to make this work, you have to trust me and trust yourself." Jane nodded, wiping at her eyes as she slowly stood. "I do trust you, Charles. And I’m sorry for how I acted. I promise, I’ll do better. He studied her face for a long moment before he spoke again, his tone firm but compassionate. "I’ll honour my part of the contract, but I need you to show me you're serious about this. You can’t let other people or your emotions control how you act. We both have responsibilities in this." She nodded, her voice steady now. "I will, Charles. I won’t let you down." "Alright," he said finally, his voice gentler now. "Let’s go back to the dinner table. We’ll figure this out together." Jane smiled faintly, her eyes still reflecting the remnants of her earlier distress, but there was a glimmer of gratitude there too. Together, they left the room, side by side, knowing the road ahead would be anything but simple, but determined to face it nonetheless.

As Charles pulled out the chair for Jane and gently guided her to sit, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of the moment. Mr. Douglas’s approval hung in the air, a reminder of the expectations that came with it. Jane sat down, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she met his gaze, silently acknowledging the quiet support he had shown her. Charles took his seat next to her, positioning himself in a way that showed he was entirely present—there was no distance, no hesitation between them now. The warmth of the dinner table felt a little different, almost like a quiet promise of what might come next. They were together, in this shared moment, a subtle yet powerful connection that was beginning to take shape. Mr. Douglas watched them from across the table, a proud glint in his eyes. He had always hoped for someone who could understand and support Jane, and watching Charles take on that role, standing by her through her emotional struggles, brought him a sense of relief. He had always been protective of Jane, but now, he was convinced that Charles was someone who truly cared for his daughter. The confidence in his voice was evident as he addressed them. "Charles, Jane," Mr. Douglas said, his tone warm with approval, "it’s not easy, the kind of bond you two have, but seeing you together, it gives me peace of mind. Jane has always been strong, but sometimes strength needs someone who understands. I see that in you, Charles. You’ll take good care of her."

Charles felt a rush of gratitude at Mr. Douglas’s words, mixed with a growing sense of responsibility. He had promised not to betray that trust, and now, more than ever, he knew he needed to live up to it. Jane, sitting beside him, looked up at her father, her expression softening as she met his gaze. "Thank you, Dad. I know I haven’t always been the easiest to deal with, but I’m trying." Her father smiled warmly. "I know you are, my dear. And I believe in both of you." As the meal continued, the atmosphere was more relaxed than it had been in days. The tension that had marked earlier moments seemed to dissipate, replaced by the unspoken understanding between Charles and Jane. They were both navigating the complexities of their roles, but in that quiet exchange, Charles felt a renewed sense of purpose. Whatever challenges came next, he was ready to face them especially with Jane by his side.

As Jane, Mr. Douglas and Amanda, along with her boyfriend, stood up and excused themselves from the table, a brief silence settled over the room. Charles remained seated, the soft clinking of cutlery and glasses the only sounds in the background. He watched as the others left, and then, with a heavy sigh, he leaned back in his chair, staring at the empty space before him.

The weight of the situation settled in again. Charles had never intended for things to go this far. When he first agreed to the arrangement with Jane, he never expected to develop feelings for her, never anticipated being pulled into this emotional whirlwind. But now, with Mr. Douglas’s full trust in him and Jane’s vulnerability becoming more apparent, Charles felt the enormity of what he had stepped into.

The promise he had made to Mr. Douglas lingered in his mind he had agreed to protect Jane, to guide her through whatever came next. And though he was trying to honour that commitment, a part of him couldn’t help but wonder if he was setting himself up for something he wasn’t prepared for. Was he capable of being what Jane needed him to be? Was he ready for the emotional weight that came with her trust? And what about his own feelings? He had tried to ignore them, to keep his distance, but now it was clear he cared about Jane far more than he had initially thought. Charles rubbed his temples, his mind racing. The complexity of the situation was overwhelming. There was a contract, yes, but there was also real emotion involved. It was hard to tell where duty ended and feelings began, and he didn’t know if he was equipped to navigate both. A part of him wondered if Jane truly understood the implications of this arrangement. Did she see it as just a contract, a temporary solution, or was she beginning to see something more between them, as he did? He stood up, pacing slowly around the room. Every step felt heavier than the last. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Amanda. But it was becoming harder to ignore the pull he felt every time he was together with Jane. Taking a deep breath, he walked toward the door, determined to face whatever came next.