The Illegitimate Flame: Bride of Ashes
Chapter 170- One Year Later

Chapter 170: Chapter 170- One Year Later

One Year Later

At Black Rock Co. headquarters, a sleek black Bugatti Veyron screeched to a sharp drift and came to a smooth stop in a reserved parking spot. A tall, lean figure stepped out of the car, clad in a perfectly tailored black Armani suit that hugged his upright frame. His sculpted features bore a cold, hard edge — even from a distance, he exuded an oppressive aura.

Charles shut the car door with one hand and strode into the Black Rock Co. lobby. Two neat rows of employees stood on either side, a formation as imposing as when he had first entered this company two years ago. He closed his eyes briefly, exhaled deeply, then stepped forward, flanked closely by his right-hand aides, Giles and Novia.

"Boss, welcome back!" From the opposite direction came August, wearing a white suit and a sunny smile. He extended a friendly hand toward Charles. Their hands met — long, slender, and strong — and the resemblance in their expressions was unmistakable. Charles smiled with approval, noting how much August had grown over the past year of rigorous training.

Their handshake was firm.

"Thanks for your hard work," Charles said, patting August’s shoulder before stepping past him toward the elevator.

His gaze casually flicked to the corner behind August — but the delicate figure he had once noticed was nowhere to be seen.

Charles gave a self-deprecating smile. As the elevator doors slid open, he stepped in calmly, rising above the lobby like a king ascending to his throne.

Back in his long-unvisited office, nothing had changed — even the secretary’s room outside retained its usual style. Yet everything felt different. Charles’s side was now empty. Janet was gone.

It had been a year since Reyn had taken her to Italy — and since then, Janet had disappeared.

Charles had sunk into despair for almost an entire year. He didn’t know how he had survived that long. In the hospital, they had promised each other that after her surgery, he would bring little Trista to pick her up. But while Trista, so small and fragile, had survived with growing strength, Janet had vanished.

Reyn told him the surgery hadn’t gone well. During the craniotomy, Janet’s brain had already been paralyzed. After so much time, her nerves had deteriorated. Dr. Corrine had fought with all her might to pull her back from death’s door — but after waking, Janet had disappeared.

No one knew where she had gone. Even when Reyn mobilized all his men to search, she vanished without a trace, just like when she had left him before.

Charles didn’t know what aftereffects Janet might face. But from Dr. Corrine, he learned that at least she was alive. And for him, that was enough.

No matter what she had become, he wanted her back. So why had she run away from him again?

Charles couldn’t forgive her. For the past year, he had lived in hell.

After a year of painstaking care, Trista had grown into a healthy child. Though still fragile, she was a thousand times better than when she was born.

Every time Charles looked at the delicate little face so much like Janet’s, all he felt was deeper hatred.

In this life, aside from a single blow to his heritage, his frozen heart had been shattered completely by this mother and daughter.

Yet now, they had become part of his life — only to drive a knife deep into his heart.

So, Charles was cold toward Trista. After she was born, and especially in the two months following Janet’s disappearance, he barely paid any attention to her. He basically dumped Trista on the nanny. If it weren’t for Angela and Samantha coming to the villa every day, he didn’t know if Trista would be as healthy as she was now — even managing to occasionally blurt out a few unclear words.

Charles knew the very first word Trista learned to say was "Daddy!"

It was Angela who taught her. When Charles heard that rough little word come from her mouth, he couldn’t hold back his tears. A whole year he had searched for Janet — but she never showed up. Only when Trista called him "Daddy" did he finally come to his senses.

He was no longer alone. He had brothers, a daughter, and the entire Black Rock Co. waiting for him to lead.

In that year, he mourned his love for Janet. Even now, whenever he thought of her, his heart still ached...

During that time, he never once interfered with company affairs, leaving everything to August. But today, a year later, Charles returned.

Only now, he was colder, harder, more ruthless than before.

Because his heart was dead.

"Boss, last year Black Rock Co.’s revenue dropped 15% compared to before. Since August took over, some shareholders resisted him and took advantage of key decisions to siphon funds, affecting the company’s operations," Giles reported important news to Charles. Back when August was in charge, Charles had been too distracted to hear any of it — but now, upon his return, Charles immediately kicked out those corrupt shareholders.

After a grueling three-hour restructuring meeting, the company’s atmosphere returned to the glory it had when Charles was in command.

"The coastal resort is finished and just waiting for your approval!" Giles placed a blueprint of the fairy-tale kingdom Amos had designed on Charles’s desk. Charles barely glanced at it — but was stunned.

The coastal resort was his promise to her — the place she had grown up, and later, where he had found her.

A sudden, intense feeling overwhelmed him. Could it be, this time, he might find her there again?

The answer was clear: he was only fooling himself.

"Alright, I got it," Charles snapped back to reality, his hand balling up the blueprint. How could he still hope she was by his side? The project had started a year ago, initially under his direct command — but after Janet got pregnant, he’d handed it to Amos and stayed glued to Janet’s side. Yet in the end, he still lost her.

"Boss, here are the profiles of new employees. For the secretary position you need, should we promote from within or choose from these fresh recruits?" Novia knocked and entered the office, placing the new staff files before Charles, eyes hesitant.

"No need. Promote from within," Charles answered without hesitation. Flipping through the thick stack, suddenly, a familiar name caught his eye. His gaze froze — Janice!