Chapter 5 The woman he couldn't forget

Chapter 5

The Woman He Couldn't Forget

Gotta hold back no matter what.

Charlotte returned to the bed with the first aid kit, only to find Conley Crack motionless, watching her.

"Time to change the dressing."

"Then take off my clothes."

"You're responsible for everything-including undressing me."

This jerk was taking advantage of her again.

Whatever. He did get hurt because of her.

Charlotte raised her hands and peeled off his shirt, revealing his sculpted physique once more. As she leaned in close, their breaths grew uneven.

Even in his weakened state, Conley Crack was dangerously alluring. Back in the day, he would've-ugh. Such a playboy.

Charlotte steadied herself and got to work, carefully unwrapping the bandages to tend to his wound.

Afraid of hurting him, she blew softly on the injury with every touch, her movements impossibly gentle.

"Do you like your husband?" Conley Crack murmured.

Her face flushed crimson. After securing the fresh bandage, she nodded firmly.

"Mhm. I like my husband so much."

"I like you too," he said slowly, gazing deep into her beautiful eyes.

The words I love my husband so, so much coming from a patient were utterly unreliable. Yet here was Conley Crack saying I like you too.

This... this was even more unbelievable. Marrying a patient and then falling for her?

What kind of scheme was Conley Crack really playing at?

"I-"

Charlotte's words were cut short by a sharp knock at the door.

"Young Master Conley, Mr. Conley is waiting downstairs. He says if you don't come down soon, he'll come up himself," Kate You's voice called from the other side.

"Hmph! I already told that bad guy yesterday not to come. How dare he show up again? Don't worry, hubby, I'll protect you this time," Charlotte declared firmly.

He nodded, and after freshening up, the two headed downstairs.

The three of them sat in the living room.

"Smith, your recovery seems to be going well. How could you just-"

A glass of water came splashing down over his head.

"Young Madam!" Kate You cried out, but it was too late.

"Do you even know who I am?" Conley Murray roared. No one had ever dared treat him this way-least of all a fool. Rage burned inside him.

"Bad guy! You and that sister of yours hurt my husband! I warned you yesterday-if you came here, I'd beat you up!" Charlotte pouted, her lips trembling with indignation.

"I don't hit women, but that doesn't mean I'll tolerate your behavior. I could-"

Before Conley Murray could finish his sentence, an entire kettle's worth of water came crashing down on him.

"Charlotte!" the man roared, his face contorted with rage.

"I told you you're the bad guy! Don't even think about bullying my husband again-I'll protect him!" Charlotte stood defiantly, like a guardian angel shielding Conley Crack.

Without giving either man a chance to respond, she snatched up a glass and flung its contents straight at Conley Murray.

In an instant, he was drenched from head to toe, looking like a drowned rat.

"Dakota. An. Qin." His voice was a low, seething growl.

"Waaah! Hubby, the bad guy's yelling at me! I'm scared! You have to protect me!" Charlotte whimpered, burying herself in Conley Crack's arms like a frightened child.

"Shh, it's okay. I've got you," Conley Crack murmured, his voice dripping with indulgence. "Why don't you let Kate You take you to the backyard to catch butterflies? I'll play with you later, hm?"

She shook her head vigorously. "No! I'm a superhero-I have to protect you! Unless the bad guy leaves, I'm not letting go of your leg!" True to her word, she plopped onto the floor and wrapped her arms tightly around his thigh.

"Charlotte!" Conley Murray barked again.

"She's just a child. There's no need to take it so seriously," Conley Crack said, his tone firm yet gentle. "Come on, Shakira, sit next to me." His affection for her was unmistakable.

Beaming, Charlotte scrambled up and draped her arms around his neck. "See? I knew my hubby would take my side! Stinky bad guy!"

"You-she's a child? She's clearly an idiot!" Conley Murray spat. "And you're still keeping this sham of a marriage? This is beyond humiliating. Even if you're crippled-" He caught himself, then backtracked hastily. "You know what I mean. I'm just saying you deserve better. At the very least, you could find someone... normal."

"Oh, how hypocritical."

"Charlotte is ill, nothing more. She's my wife, and I won't tolerate anyone speaking ill of her. No one." Conley Crack stood firmly by Charlotte's side.

Conley Murray watched their interaction-it was almost sickeningly sweet.

Was Charlotte truly this foolish, or were the two of them putting on an act together?

Hearing Conley Crack's words, Conley Murray quickly forced a smile and backtracked. "My apologies, poor choice of words. I've heard your health has been improving, and Grandfather is considering bringing you back into the company. Honestly, I've never measured up to you-even the 'Merlin' project slipped through my fingers. Ah, if it weren't for that car accident three years ago, perhaps things would've been different... I never expected you to fall into such a slump afterward. But now, seeing you looking so much better, I'm relieved."

Clearly, this was a test.

Before Conley Crack could respond, Charlotte snapped, "You're horrible! Don't even think about making my husband work! You know he's not well, yet you still push him. You're awful!"

"Oh? Is that so? What exactly is wrong with your husband?"

"He coughs up blood at night! He even fainted on our wedding day, and once in the shower too! Dr. Margret said he needs rest and should just spend time with me. No stress allowed!" she retorted angrily.

"But he looks quite well to me."

"Quite well? Are you blind? His face is paler than mine, and he's not even wearing makeup. Hmph!" she shot back.

Conley Murray clenched his fists but held back-no point arguing with a fool. As long as Conley Crack remained weak, that was all that mattered.

"What a shame you can't help me, then," he sighed, feigning disappointment.

"Grandfather entrusted the Conley family to you for a reason-you must have unique capabilities. My health is failing, and I've lost all interest in work. All I want now is a simple life with Charlotte. The Conley family's future rests on your shoulders." As Conley Crack finished speaking, he broke into another violent coughing fit.

This time, flecks of blood stained his lips.

The moment he saw the blood, Conley Murray finally believed it.

As long as Conley Crack remained physically incapacitated, he was satisfied.

"Ah, I was just too eager for your help. But it's fine-I can handle everything on my own. You just focus on resting. Charlotte might be a little... unconventional, but her devotion to protecting you really moves me. You two are a perfect match," Conley Murray said with a smile.

"Anything else?"

"I came specifically to clear the air-there's no collaboration between me and Dakota Charles. It's all a misunderstanding."

"Doesn't matter."

"Yun, are you still blaming me? You know that car accident had nothing to do with me. I never expected she would die in..."

Before he could finish, Conley Crack's entire body trembled. "Brother."

Then he broke into violent coughing.

"She would die in..." That "she"-must be a woman, right?

Given how intense his reaction was, was she someone he loved?