After several rounds, Charles clearly had the upper hand, though Manfred fought fiercely. Soon, both men's handsome faces were marked with bruises and cuts. Janet's heart pounded with anxiety; unable to see, she dared not move recklessly, fearful that any sudden movement might harm the baby — and then everything would be lost.
Finally, the two stopped fighting — whether it was Janet's voice that made them pause, or simply exhaustion, no one knew. Charles loosened the buttons on his suit jacket, wiping the blood at the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. Rolling up the sleeves of his black shirt beneath, he looked far from the composed man he usually was.
Seeing this, Manfred caught Charles's arm and signaled with his eyes for him to leave. Charles nodded in acknowledgment, then slowly approached Janet, whose gaze was distant and vacant. Tenderly, he helped her button up the coat he had undone earlier.
