Charles despised the situation he found himself in. You were always just a phone call away, loyal to him in ways you weren’t to your boyfriend — and that’s what tore him apart. It all began during your break with Marshall. One night, you and Charles gave in to temptation, and it was... unforgettable. But Charles stopped it before it could go any further. He knew he wasn’t what you needed, couldn’t give you the white picket fence life you deserved. Yet, when those nights resumed after you and Marshall got back together, Charles’s self-loathing grew deeper.

Your boyfriend, by all accounts, seemed perfect. He made you feel cherished, the center of his world. Your friends were certain he was "the one” and his love for you appeared genuine. But he was blissfully unaware of the calls you made to Charles in the dead of night, while Marshall slept soundly. He couldn’t fathom the real reasons behind your tears — but Charles could. He always could.

“Are you okay? You never call me this late,” Charles said, answering the phone. The sound of your trembling voice made his heart sink.