Chapter 392: His Guilt
Upon seeing Sylvie, Christopher, and Rosalie gasped in surprise. The dramatic scene left them speechless, their eyes darting frantically. Sylvie, equally shocked by the unexpected encounter, stood frozen in the doorway, her face etched with unease.
Carlos was paralyzed. His mind blanked, then flooded with vivid memories. As his thoughts returned, shame and regret washed over him, his face flushing crimson. He couldn't meet Sylvie's gaze, his blush drawing the attention of everyone present.
Did he just regain his memory? a voice mused. Makes sense; this is his first return to the scene since his rescue. It's only natural he'd remember. This is getting interesting! Good thing I'm here to witness this drama.
Christopher and Rosalie quickly understood, their eyes widening with surprise and excitement.
Sylvie had planned to treat Carlos with the polite deference she showed her teachers. Instead, she found herself facing his despair, his complexion fluctuating wildly between pale and flushed. Her keen intuition instantly revealed his predicament, leaving her deathly pale.
After a long silence, Sylvie recovered. Clutching her book, she attempted to escape. But Carlos stopped her. "Ms. Ziegler," he said, "I need to talk to you."
The resurgence of memories left Carlos distraught, but his maturity compelled him to face the consequences of his actions. He had wronged her, and he recalled everything.
That night, the rehearsal room wasn't empty. Sylvie was practicing when he burst in, disheveled. Thinking something had happened, she approached to help. In that moment, Carlos, drugged and out of control, tackled her to the ground. Sylvie struggled and screamed, but the room's soundproofing prevented anyone from hearing her cries. She realized, eventually, that Carlos was drugged and helpless to stop himself.
He felt immense guilt and regret. He asked Sylvie to stay. Returning to the rehearsal room, he bowed deeply in apology.
Sylvie waved her hands, flustered. "No it's okay there's no need, Mr. Carlos. I know it wasn't your fault. Penelope orchestrated everything. You were a victim too."
This made Carlos even more embarrassed. "Please don't forgive me so easily," he pleaded. "Regardless of the cause, I hurt you. Vent your anger, demand compensation—whatever you want, I'll do it. I'll take full responsibility." Sylvie's eyes reddened.
Carlos panicked. "Don't cry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pressure you into marriage. I only meant the choice is yours. If you want I'll treat you well for life."
Sylvie wiped her eyes, a smile gracing her lips. "Mr. Carlos, I don't need you to take responsibility. If I marry, it will be for love. You're a bachelor dedicated to your art. Forcing ourselves together would destroy us both."
Carlos, overwhelmed and confused, struggled to process her words. Isabella, however, understood.
Sylvie's words reveal her feelings for Carlos. She knows his proposal stemmed from duty, not love, and she refuses a relationship based on obligation. She pretends nothing happened because she would never exploit gratitude to win his affection.