Chapter 23: Sharp Words and Hidden Intentions

When Alicia turned around and saw who had placed the jacket over her shoulders, her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. She could hardly believe it—Charles was the one who had covered her with his coat. She could still feel the warmth lingering in the jacket, his scent filling her senses. Strangely, that familiar smell brought her an unexpected sense of calm, possibly due to her pregnancy. But seeing Charles now only filled her with anger. Instinctively, Alicia yanked the jacket off her shoulders. Charles’s cold, emotionless gaze landed on her as he spoke, his tone completely devoid of warmth. “It’s freezing outside. Are you trying to catch a cold? Then again, someone like you always seems to invite trouble.” Her hands paused in mid-air as she tugged the jacket halfway off. After a brief hesitation, she draped it back over her shoulders. As much as she didn’t want to accept anything from Charles, she wasn’t about to risk getting sick in such cold weather. If it were just her,