Chapter 168 How Did It Come to This?
Faced with Charles in his current state, Daphne couldn't get angry, nor would she confront him head-on.
As she pulled her hand away, she sat down beside him. "Go on," she urged.
Charles pressed his lips together, contemplating his words, trying to figure out how to speak without making Daphne dislike him more.
"Don't you have something to say?" Daphne pressed when he remained silent.
"It's nothing," Charles finally responded after struggling to speak. He stood up from the couch and added, "You take care of him. I'll do the cleaning."
"I should be the one to do it. After all, I'm responsible for the mess," Daphne felt he was acting a bit strange, but didn't press the issue.
This time, Charles didn't stop her.
Together, the two of them busied themselves with putting everything back in its place.
Aware of Charles's penchant for cleanliness, Daphne inquired where the new sheets and duvet cover were kept and then helped him replace the master bedroom bedding that had fallen victim to Gavin's mishap.
After Charles finished tidying up elsewhere, he returned to find Daphne busily at work. He approached her and took the duvet cover from her hands, saying softly, "The guest room is all set. Go freshen up and get some sleep."
He remembered that Daphne was accustomed to a regular sleeping pattern every night.
"No, I don't…" she began to protest.
But before Daphne could finish, Charles was beside her, his warm presence brushing her shoulder. Their proximity was such that she could distinctly smell the crisp, light scent that emanated from him.
Just as she thought to put some distance between them, Charles took the duvet cover from her and started to arrange the bedding. Daphne sensed a shift in the atmosphere and moved to the side while he made the bed.
She wasn't the type to consider romance as everything, but at that moment, Charles's actions brought back memories of past tender moments. Charles, as a person, could be distant and difficult to approach. However, when he was gentle, there was no resisting him. His handsome features, illustrious family background, well-kept physique, and most importantly, his inherent charisma coupled with the subtle fragrance he carried, often unexpectedly invaded one’s senses.
From a distance, it was nothing extraordinary, but up close, it could cause an uncontrollable flutter of the heart.
Daphne was about to leave the room, intending to completely dispel the charged atmosphere, but Charles called out to her, "Daphne."
"What is it?" Her demeanor remained cool, largely unaffected.
"Are you and Jesse really in a relationship?" Charles suddenly asked, his voice a few shades lower and laced with a seductive undertone as he casually approached her.
For some reason, whenever Charles spoke to her kindly, she found herself unable to stop staring at his face, her defenses lowering. Like now.
Without much thought, she answered, "No, we're not."
"That's good to hear." A small curve appeared at the corners of Charles's lips, and he raised his hand as if to ruffle her hair but then seemed to remember that their current relationship didn’t justify such familiarity. His hand paused mid-air before he drew it back.
Daphne was prepared to swat his hand away, not fond of intimate gestures when not in a close relationship, but his retreat left her somewhat puzzled. It's often the case with people; when events unfold contrary to expectations, their emotions intensify more than usual.
What typically be a normal interaction took on a different meaning because Daphne had started with a resistant attitude toward Charles, which made her mentally notice his apprehensions with a certain satisfaction.
"You go freshen up and rest," Charles knew what to do and what not to do as he offered, "I'll move Gavin to the bed."
Daphne had no intention of staying over, "It's no trouble, I'd better take him home directly."
Seeing her decision, Charles didn't insist. He was aware there were boundaries to respect.
He initially wanted to escort Daphne and Gavin back himself, aware that it was unsafe for a woman to travel alone at night, but realizing he had been drinking, he borrowed Daphne's phone to call Mark.
Daphne didn't think much of it, assuming Charles simply needed Mark to buy him a new phone.
Before long, Mark arrived. For the sake of convenience at work, Charles had arranged for Mark to live in the same residential complex. The moment Mark entered and saw Daphne, he hesitated, "Miss Murphy?"
‘What was going on? Had the boss and Miss Murphy made up?’
"Daphne is here to pick up Mr. Murphy," Charles said with slightly parted lips, his deep voice carrying a gentle tone as he instructed, "Can you take them back?"
Mark quickly grasped the situation, "Sure, boss."
Daphne wanted to refuse, but neither Charles nor Mark offered her the chance to do so.
Mark placed Gavin in the back seat of the car, and Daphne got in as well.
As the car started and she saw Charles standing there, watching them leave, Daphne's rationality gradually returned.
She looked at Mark and asked casually, "Why was Gavin at Charles's place?"
It wasn't usual protocol. Charles, when inviting someone for dinner, was typically accompanied by a secretary.
How had it come to this situation?
"When the dinner ended, Mr. Murphy was already drunk," Mark revealed the truth but belatedly realized the boss's motives were profound, "The boss asked Mr. Murphy if Gwendolyn should drive him home or if he should do it, and Mr. Murphy just pointed at the boss and said 'you'."
Daphne was speechless.
How drunk must he have been to make that choice?
"The boss didn't know where Mr. Murphy lived, so he had no choice but to bring him here," Mark inadvertently defended Charles, "We didn't expect to trouble Miss Murphy with this late-night trip."
"It's quite all right; thank you both," Daphne said with mixed feelings.
To be honest, she couldn't see through Charles's actions that evening.
The last time she wanted to leave, he had locked the door, not allowing her the chance to go. This time, not only did he let her leave, but he also arranged for Mark to drive her home.
Was it possible the man had also been drinking?
Unable to make sense of it all, Daphne decided not to dwell on it any longer.
When Daphne dropped Gavin off at his place, she used his fingerprint to unlock the door and, after that, she plopped him on the couch and left him there without another thought.
Charles had been waiting in the living room for Mark.
It was nearing midnight when Mark finally came back, telling him that he had safely seen Daphne and Gavin home.
"Mm," Charles responded to him, following up with, "Get me a new phone first thing in the morning."
Mark affirmed, "Got it. Any preferences?"
"I'll use it," Charles replied succinctly.
Mark paused for a moment and then noticed the broken phone on the table.
In that instant, Mark imagined a dramatic fight between Daphne and their boss, a skilled matchup.
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