Chapter 185 You Don't Have to Be So Smart
People tend to be oblivious when things run smoothly.
But now that Charles had staked his claim, his feelings for Daphne took root in Roger's heart even more deeply.
Rex had just finished his work when he saw Roger standing motionless, looking lost and dispirited. Curious about what had happened, he approached and asked, "What's wrong? You look so disappointed."
Roger was in a whirl of emotions. "It's about Daphne,” he replied.
Rex raised an eyebrow, "Huh?", wondering why Roger seemed as if he'd been through a breakup.
"Why didn't you tell me Daphne is Charles’ ex-wife?" Roger managed to say as a feeling of discomfort washed over him.
Caught off-guard, Rex asked, "Who told you that?"
"Charles," replied Roger, feeling as if his sweet romance had just evaporated.
With a sudden laugh that was half nonchalant, half mocking, Rex seemed to enjoy the moment. So, he thought, the guy couldn't help but come to stake his claim after all.
Roger's frustration flared, "What's so funny?"
"Does it matter whether she was my ex-cousin-in-law?" Rex asked casually, a playful look in his eyes. "Or is it that you mind Daphne has been married before?"
"No, no, no!" Roger quickly waved the idea off.
He didn't know why, but his views had changed. In the past, had someone asked if he'd consider dating a divorcee, he would've outright refused. But now, it didn't seem to be an issue. He just wanted a sweet romance.
"Charles told me Daphne likes mature and stable men, and claimed that she belongs to him," Roger continued with a touch of glumness in his voice. "He advised me to get over it quickly, so as not to end up with nothing."
"Daphne is single now," Rex blurted out, speaking the truth. "Everyone has the right to pursue her, but who she chooses to be with, in the end is up to her, not me."
Upon hearing this, Roger's hope reignited. Yet he had to clarify,
"Daphne?"
"I've gotten used to calling her that; haven't had time to change it," confessed Rex, thinking he should probably start using a different name. Constantly referring to her so familiarly didn't seem right.
"If you want to pursue her, go ahead," Rex boldly stated, not fearing any backlash. "Everyone has an equal chance."
This conversation remained a secret between the two of them for the time being. Daphne had no idea that her obvious disinterest in Charles during their car ride had led him to assert his dominance over her suitors once he got to the hotel.
After she returned to the hotel, Daphne sought out Mr. Murphy. As soon as he saw her, he hesitated multiple times, seeming to have something to say but appeared worried it would upset her.
Daphne entered the room and casually inquired, "What's up?"
"You and Charles..." Mr. Murphy started to say but couldn't finish.
"He asked me to go back to the old house to pick up some things," Daphne replied indifferently, shrugging off any implications. "That's all."
Mr. Murphy felt relief flood him. Moments later, while Daphne walked to wash her hands, a call from Gavin came through on her phone.
Gavin felt uneasy as he looked over the chat logs Gwendolyn had sent him, emotion edging his words as he said, "How could you wait until now to tell me something this significant?"
Tony had set Charles up with a woman, and Charles had accepted. Wasn't that the epitome of jerk behavior? Daffy and Charles weren't divorced back then, were they? Wasn't that essentially cheating within the marriage?
"I've been so busy, I forgot about it," Gwendolyn said, her excuse genuine. "I just noticed it when I switched to my secondary account."
Gavin was silent for a moment, then realized something, "Why did you switch to a secondary account?"
Gwendolyn hesitated, a twinge of panic in her heart.
"You switched accounts just to talk behind my back because I called you out earlier?" Gavin asked directly, his gaze locked on her.
Gwendolyn tried to maintain a smile, but inside she felt like crying. "There's no need for you to be so smart," she muttered.
Gavin was astounded. He needed a comeback.
"You better hope Daffy doesn't end up in tears," he thought to himself. "Otherwise, I’ll take it to my primary account and talk about you."
Gwendolyn felt inwardly miserable but kept it to herself. If the CEO took to his primary account to talk about this, it could mean the end of her career.
"Why won’t Daffy answer her phone?" Gavin tried again after the first call went unanswered.
Daphne had just finished washing her hands and saw the missed call notification. She was about to return Gavin’s call when he called again.
She slid the answer button and placed her phone on the table, turning on the speakerphone. She peeled an orange and ate it while talking.
"Daphne," Gavin started, calling from his office, where he leaned on his desk, thinking of the gossip Gwendolyn had found.
Honestly, he was worried. What if Daphne couldn't handle the news and broke down into tears?
"What is it?" Daphne asked as she nibbled on her orange segment.
"What kind of person is Charles in your eyes?" Gavin asked, trying to cushion what was to come, knowing the news might be too much.
He didn’t know why they had divorced, but Charles sleeping with another woman was something he was sure Daphne couldn't just accept. As he asked, Mr. Murphy also glanced at Daphne, curious about her reaction.
"A jerk," Daphne responded naturally.
Inside, both Mr. Murphy and Gavin had the same thought, ‘Exactly! A total jerk!’
"So, did you divorce him because of his infidelity?" Gavin asked cautiously.
The motion of Daphne eating her orange paused, a ripple crossing her gaze, "Why are you asking?"
Though Kevin loved to indulge in gossip, it stayed between their close group and her father. He wouldn’t spread it around.
"Something came up with Gwendolyn earlier; she told me something," Gavin was struggling with how to express himself, conscious that it might be hurtful for Daphne, "It's about Charles."
Daphne paused midway through biting into a piece of fruit.
Mr. Murphy stopped what he was doing. He glanced at Daphne, then at his cell phone, silently inquiring whether he could come closer to listen.
Daphne understood the gesture, nodded at him, and casually replied to Gavin, "What is it?"
"This might be somewhat upsetting for you," Gavin admitted, reluctant to be the bearer of bad news yet aware that Daphne had the right to know, "But I'm not entirely clear on whether it's true or not."
People had said gifts were given to Charles and he had accepted them. But whether he had taken it any further, that was something no one knew.
It wasn't that Gavin wanted to make excuses for Charles; he simply feared Daphne couldn't handle the truth.
Daphne, gradually composed, prompted him, "Out with it."
"Charles might have slept with another woman," Gavin ventured cautiously, and then quickly added, "But it's only a possibility, not a hundred percent certain."
Daphne hesitated for a moment, her gaze falling on her phone.
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