Chapter 5 A Call From Melina

Kimberly's cheeks turned pink again. She worried that staring any longer might make her nose bleed.

Quickly, she dashed to the coffee table, clumsily trying to pour herself some water.

The kettle was empty, a sign of the house's long vacancy, yet she feigned calmness. "How come there's no water?" she mumbled.

Then, a scoff of contempt from the man behind her reached her ears.

Kimberly felt a twinge of annoyance but, luckily, spotted a few water bottles under the coffee table.

She grabbed a bottle, opened it, tipped her head back, and gulped it down.

Sounds of water echoed from the bathroom. Through the frosted glass, she caught the silhouette of the man inside, admiring his perfect figure.

Taking a moment, Kimberly relaxed on the sofa. Just as she was about to head downstairs, she heard Charlie's phone on the coffee table ring.

She considered ignoring it, yet the persistent loud ringtone made that impossible. It rang, paused briefly, and then rang again.

Kimberly scowled, sensing urgency in the repeated calls.

Reluctantly, she stood and picked up the phone.

Seeing the name "Melina" on the caller ID, she hesitated.

Despite her reservations, curiosity or perhaps something else led her to answer.

"Charlie, can you come over now? It's urgent, please," pleaded a woman's voice from the other end.

Melina's voice, unmistakably sweet and slightly flirtatious, filled the room.

Kimberly pressed her lips together and stayed quiet, her gaze icy.

When Melina didn't get a reply, she started to feel anxious and a bit lost. "Charlie, can you hear me? I think someone's following me. I'm really scared."

"It's me," Kimberly responded coldly. "Charlie's in the shower."

Silence fell between them for a moment.

Then Melina broke the silence, her voice tinged with a hard-to-describe emotion. "You're Kimberly, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am." Holding the phone tightly, Kimberly added, "I'll let him know."

Once the call ended, Kimberly set the phone down on the table and slumped into the sofa. Suddenly, she felt overwhelmed by a sense of defeat.

She took another gulp of water.

There were whispers that Charlie had planned to marry Melina at first. He had even brought her home, but Kellan had chased her away.

The problem was Melina's background as an actress; the Hussain family preferred a daughter-in-law from a more traditional background.

Melina, the rising star of the movie world, was known for her flawless acting, stunning beauty, and solid reputation in showbiz.

However, Kellan's disapproval made all efforts pointless.

This opened the door for Kimberly to enter the family.

Her father, Zachary Powell, had been extremely wealthy and well-regarded in Gracester.

He had business connections with Kellan and they were acquainted.

But that was all in the past.

Now, he was gone, and Kimberly had gone from being the daughter of a wealthy man to one facing decline.

After some time passed, the bathroom door opened.

Charlie came out.

Wrapped in just a white towel around his waist, his chest bare, he walked out casually.

It seemed luck really was on his side. Not only was he born into wealth, but he also had a handsome face that made many women fall for him.

And his physique was enough to make anyone envious.

Kimberly got up, turning her head slightly as she said softly toward him, "Melina called you a moment ago."

Charlie paused briefly, but quickly recovered. He dried his wet hair with a towel and asked, "What did she want?"

"She mentioned it was urgent." Kimberly picked up his phone and approached him slowly. "She thinks someone's following her and wants your help."

Charlie looked at her.

Then, he took her wrist and said, "You took the call."

Kimberly nodded, her face calm and unreadable.

Suddenly, Charlie felt a surge of anger. He couldn't stand her indifference.

After a moment, he smiled and drew her close. His bare chest was against hers, and he gently caressed her cheek. "Do you think I should go?"