Chapter 178 The Kid's Grown Up
Charles pulled out a hundred-dollar bill from his wallet and handed it over generously with a "Keep the change" attitude.
"Darn it!" Austin cursed under his breath.
He cursed, but he pocketed a hundred dollars regardless. When it comes to Charles' money, you don't turn it down!
For the rest of the drive, the two of them barely spoke. Each was preoccupied with their heavy thoughts, pondering who knows what.
Half an hour later, Austin dropped him at the old family house.
As he got out of the car, Charles recalled the incident he had witnessed at the hospital and added, "You better double-check if what Daisy said about Kaitlyn is true or not."
"Hold on." Austin frowned, feeling that this guy had some serious issues.
Charles maintained his detached demeanor, and only responded to him with a nonchalant, "Anything else?"
"What did you mean by that?" Austin asked.
"It's nothing. Just a friendly ‘heads up’." Charles parted his thin lips, his eyes inscrutable, "Some people aren't always worthy of trust."
Hearing this, Austin let out a sarcastic chuckle.
Charles raised an eyebrow in question.
"You trying to say that since you had a crush and misunderstood Daphne, you think I'm misjudging Daisy because of Kaitlyn?" Austin wasn't angry anymore but rather spoke with a mischievous grin.
Charles scowled slightly, clearly annoyed by the response.
Austin, his hand resting on the steering wheel, suddenly relaxed, "You got emotionally involved, while I'm seeking professional advice. It's not the same."
"Is that so?" Charles responded individually.
"Of course," Austin said.
"Then why did Daisy manage to accurately mention Kaitlyn at the hospital entrance and look at you like you were a fool?" Charles continued with their verbal sparring.
The smile on Austin's lips froze.
So, Charles wasn't happy unless he was picking a fight.
Charles didn't intend to continue the conversation, but after a moment of thought he said, "Just because you trust other women over Daisy, doesn't mean she's going to forgive you."
"You're not her, how would you know?" Austin didn't understand why he felt a pang of panic, but he retorted quite naturally.
Charles's gaze deepened slightly with a touch of aloofness and indifference, "Perhaps it's the wisdom of a loser."
‘The wisdom of a loser, my foot’, Austin swore internally.
He didn't waste any more words with Charles, starting the car and driving off.
As for Charles, the recent events cast a shadow over his eyes for a moment, and then he suppressed his emotions and walked into the old house.
No sooner had he taken a couple of steps, spotting his parents standing not too far away.
His stride halted, and the turmoil he had felt moments before vanished without a trace.
"Charles, you've finally come to your senses," Laura said with a face full of satisfaction like a parent feeling the pride of a child's coming of age.
Hayden's gaze was also full of amusement.
Charles's hands paused briefly at his sides before he walked over, calm and collected, "Mom, what are you doing here?"
"Just had some late-night snacks and decided to take a walk," Laura replied, her mood lightening as she took Charles's hand, her voice sincere and heartfelt, "Failing once is okay, the important thing is that we learn from the experience and not repeat the same mistakes."
Charles was silent; his expression remained serene, "I was just joking with Austin."
"I understand," Laura replied, clearly relieved.
Charles momentarily found himself at a loss for words, but thanks to his practiced composure, he managed to keep his emotions from showing on his face.
Hayden raised his hand to pat Charles on the shoulder, "Admitting to past mistakes is part of growing up."
"I have to get back inside," Charles veered off topic, feeling heavy-hearted whenever he thought about his dad, "Enjoy your walk."
With that, he strode away with long steps back into the house.
Laura was puzzled, "What's he got going on so late? Didn't you already go to bed?"
"He's just uncomfortable being hit close to home, needed an excuse to get away," Hayden said with earnestness, though his tone was gentle and playful.
Laura nodded in understanding, "I see."
"We have to give the kid some space now that he's grown up,” he commented.
"That's true," Laura agreed.
Listening to the conversation fade into the distance, Charles felt a tinge of complexity in his emotions. He was increasingly regretting helping his dad woo his mom back in the day.
After returning to his room, he took a shower, changed into pajamas, and then lay down on the bed.
Sleeping in the old family house always brought him a peace he couldn't find elsewhere, far from the hustle and noise of the city and filled with pastoral tranquility.
With these thoughts, he picked up his phone and opened WhatsApp.
Looking at Daphne's avatar, he often thought about asking her where she was, but ultimately did nothing and put the phone back down.
The next day arrived in the blink of an eye.
After informing Mr. Murphy that she would join the dinner later, Daphne left the hotel ahead of time and headed for the Lancelot family's old house.
To ensure she wouldn't arrive in vain or catch anyone off-guard, she'd given Marcus a call, in advance.
Upon learning of Daphne's impending visit, Marcus was overjoyed, his face spreading into an instant smile, "Go, go, go! Bring up all those tasty treats, and have the kitchen prepare a few types of fresh juice."
"Yes, Marcus," the butler responded, immediately heading to the task.
At that moment, Charles was in the yard keeping Marcus company with small talk.
Seeing Marcus react that way, a glint of understanding passed through Mo Che's eyes; he had a hunch about what was going on.
After finishing his instructions, Marcus turned his gaze to Charles, huffed coldly, and scolded, "What are you standing around for? Get moving."
Charles looked puzzled. "Moving?"
"Do you really want her to see you like this?" Marcus was visibly dissatisfied. "Go change into something nicer, make yourself look presentable."
"No need," Charles said, with no intention of moving.
At that moment, he was dressed in casual attire, shedding the usual coolness of his suits for a fresher look. He sat there comfortably, pleasing to the eye.
Marcus was getting annoyed, his face stern. "Today is my birthday; are you sure you want to upset me?" he questioned.
A hint of helplessness flickered in Charles's eyes. He still had a great deal of respect for Marcus, "She likes it better when I wear things like this than suits."
"Are you sure?" Marcus suddenly perked up.
Charles's gaze deepene, "Yes."
Most of the time they were together, he was in suits, and only once or twice had he worn light casual clothes. He remembered Daphne's reaction well; she had even complimented him.
"You can't tell from your serious facade, but you're crafty inside," Marcus said with a mocking tone, letting out a blunt, "Trying to attract my granddaughter's attention with your looks, how superficial!"
Charles didn't know whether to remind him. Wasn't it just moments ago that this elderly man had told him to go "move"?
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