The Unexpected Husband

Chapter 5

"Mommy, could you come to my room and read me bedtime stories before I sleep?" Sam asked.

"Sure, but first, wash up before getting into bed, okay?" I reminded him with a smile.

"Okay," he replied with a smile.

I must admit, I feel at ease with Sam. I walked with him to his bedroom, and as we entered, I was taken aback to see that it had clearly been prepared for our visit. In that moment, any lingering doubts I had about Charles' honesty began to dissipate.

I was about to help Sam with his half-bath when Charles unexpectedly entered the room, surprising both Sam and me.

"What's going on?" Charles asked, looking confused.

"I was just going to assist Sam with his bath," I replied.

"Sam is old enough to do that on his own," Charles said sternly. "He needs to learn to be independent."

I noticed the fear in Sam's eyes and spoke up. "Charles, you're scaring Sam. Please leave us alone," I said, feeling frustrated.

Charles hesitated for a moment before finally nodding and leaving the room. I could feel Sam's relief as he clung to me, and I held him close, reassuring him that everything was alright.

After a few minutes, I helped Sam with his bath, making sure he was safe and comfortable. As we finished up, I couldn't help but think about Charles' words. While I understood his point about independence, I also knew that Sam still needed our guidance and support.

Sam excitedly showed me his favorite books, and we settled into his bed as I read him a story. As I watched him drift off to sleep, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this moment, for this connection that we shared.

As I closed the book and leaned over to kiss Sam's forehead, I whispered, "Goodnight, my sweet boy. Sleep tight."

He murmured a sleepy reply, and I tiptoed out of his room, leaving the door slightly open. As I walked down the hallway, I couldn't shake off the feeling of warmth and contentment that filled me.

I thought about how lucky I was to have Sam in my life, and how much I cherished our bond.

"Is he asleep?" I inquired, taken aback by the warmth of Charles' breath on my neck, which momentarily threw me off balance. Fortunately, he quickly caught me with his sturdy arms before I stumbled.

I looked up at Charles and smiled, feeling grateful for his strong and supportive presence. "Yes, he's asleep," I replied softly, feeling a sense of peace wash over me.

"However, I was taken aback when a peculiar smile suddenly vanished from his lips, replaced by a serious expression. He subtly distanced himself from me.

"Let's have dinner so you can get some rest. You have an early day tomorrow," he said in his deep baritone voice.

"I'm hungry too," I responded, turning away from him. I couldn't quite read Charles, and I wasn't sure what to make of his sudden change in demeanor."

We headed to the dining room, and as we ate, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Something about Charles' behavior felt off, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

As we finished our meal, Charles stood up and announced that he had some work to do. "I'll see you later," he said.

I sat there for a moment, feeling a mix of confusion and concern. What was going on with him? Was there something he wasn't telling me?

I finally made the decision to retire to my own room, feeling quite tired.

As I headed to bed that night, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered within me. I knew that I needed to talk to Charles, to find out what was going on and to make sure that everything was okay.

However, I couldn't help but wonder if it was the right choice. It all seemed a bit peculiar. With a deep breath, I tried to shake off my doubts.

I tossed and turned, my mind racing with questions and doubts. Was Charles okay? Was there something he wasn't telling me?

Finally, I decided that I couldn't ignore my instincts any longer. I needed to talk to him and find out what was going on.

With a determined sigh, I got out of bed and headed to his office, hoping that he was still awake. As I approached the door, I could hear the sound of his voice on the phone.

I paused for a moment, unsure if I should interrupt him. But then, I heard him say something that made my heart skip a beat.

"Everything is going according to plan," he said, his voice filled with a sense of satisfaction.

My doubts and fears suddenly crystallized into something more concrete. Something was definitely wrong, and I needed to find out what it was. With a sense of purpose, I knocked on the door and waited for Charles to answer.

After a few moments, Charles opened the door, looking surprised to see me there. "Is everything okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

I took a deep breath and decided to be direct. "Charles, is there something you're not telling me?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

He looked taken aback for a moment before composing himself. "What do you mean?" he asked, his expression guarded.

"I overheard you on the phone just now. You said something about everything going according to plan. What plan?" I pressed, feeling a knot forming in my stomach.

Charles sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It's nothing, just some business dealings," he said, trying to brush it off.

But I wasn't convinced. "Charles, please tell me the truth. I can sense that something is wrong," I said, pleading with him.

He hesitated for a moment before finally relenting. "Alright, fine. There's something going on with my company. We're facing some financial difficulties, and I'm trying to sort it out," he admitted, looking weary.

I felt a sense of relief wash over me, but also a twinge of worry. "Is there anything I can do to help?" I asked, wanting to be there for him.

Charles shook his head. "No, it's something I need to handle on my own. But thank you for your concern," he said, giving me a small smile.

"How can I trust that you're being honest with me?" I inquired.

"If you have any doubts, you're welcome to come to the office with me," he responded, his tone serious.

Charles nodded, seeming relieved that I had agreed. "I'll let you know when I'm heading to the office," he said, his expression softening.

I nodded back, feeling a sense of determination. I needed to get to the bottom of this, to find out what was really going on with his company.

As I headed back to my room, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, I was worried about Charles and the challenges he was facing. But on the other hand, I was also proud of myself for standing up for what I believed in, for not letting my doubts and fears control me.

With a sense of purpose, I climbed into bed, determined to get a good night's sleep before the big day ahead.

The following day, Sam was adamant about coming with me to school. Eventually, I relented and decided to bring him along, despite Charles' initial objections.

"If you come with me, your Lola Rochelle will be alone," I explained to Sam.

"Nurse Olive is with her, so there's no need to worry, mommy," Sam replied with a beaming smile. I could see that he was a smart kid, taking after his father. But his smile also triggered memories of Richard.

Once again, a strange sadness washed over me. Every time I thought of Richard, my heart was filled with a deep sense of longing.

"I'll give you both a ride to school," Charles said seriously. "Wait for me later, and I'll come pick you up too."

"Really, daddy!" Sam exclaimed, beaming as Charles tousled his hair. They looked so adorable together, father and son.

Charles checked his watch. "Let's have breakfast. You might be late if we don't hurry," he reminded me.

I felt a bit uneasy as I realized that Charles was looking at me in a strange way. Whenever I wore my school uniform, he seemed to gaze at me differently, which made me feel uncomfortable.

As we sat down for breakfast, I tried to ignore the strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. Charles seemed to be in a good mood, chatting with Sam and making plans for the day.

But I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. Every time he looked at me, I felt a jolt of nervousness. Was it just my imagination, or was there something more to his gaze?

As we finished our meal, Charles stood up and announced that it was time to go. I gathered my things and followed him and Sam out the door, feeling a mix of emotions.

On one hand, I was grateful for his help and support. But on the other hand, I couldn't help but feel uneasy about his behavior. Something was definitely off, and I needed to find out what it was.