Chapter 196 Are You and Miss Murphy at Odds Again?
"Why don't you sort out your affairs before worrying about others?" Charles said, tossing a comment Austin's way as he approached his car.
"My affairs are already settled," Austin replied with his usual carefree swagger. "Daphne told me Daisy will come back to me soon."
After all, he and Daisy still had a marriage agreement. Unlike Charles, who had nothing.
There was a flicker of emotion in Charles's face. ‘Coming back to him?’
"Are you sure Daphne said that?" Charles asked.
"She told me a couple of hours ago at the hotel," Austin didn't hide it from him. "Even though she abandoned you, don't worry, I won't do the same, brother."
"Are you that certain Daisy is coming back for you and not to divorce you?" Charles posed a heart-piercing question.
Austin's smile froze. Without hesitation, a firm 'no…!' popped into his mind.
That very instant, the peace he enjoyed earlier vanished into thin air.
For some reason, Austin felt Charles was telling the truth, and that if Daisy were indeed coming back, it was probably to divorce him. With these thoughts, he went to open the car door, intent on going up to get some clarity from Daphne.
Charles grabbed him. "What are you doing?"
"Seeing your ex-wife," Austin replied, the warmth in his voice now gone. He was a completely different person from the one who was all easy-going and joking with Charles just moments before.
Charles held on to him, not wanting Austin to disturb Daphne. "It's no use looking for her."
"How will I know if I don't ask?" Austin said.
"If you go up there now, you won’t get any answers, and you'll be thrown out," Charles said with a chilly tone. "Instead of asking her, better think of another way."
Austin was dead set on getting some answers. His mind was firmly resolved to confront the matter head-on.
Charles, leaning against the car, offered a word of advice as Austin moved to approach: "Just remember to know your limits. What advantage do you have over Daphne?"
That question stopped Austin in his tracks. He couldn't beat Daphne in a fight, and his family’s status didn't measure up either. It seemed he didn't have any advantage at all.
"Why can't you just keep her in line?" Austin felt a wave of discomfort stirring within.
Charles ignored his complaint, opened the car door, got in, and mercilessly drove away.
Austin glanced toward the hotel but ultimately decided to leave as well.
His original purpose for coming here was to inquire when Daphne might return and to casually ask about Daisy's current well-being.
But now, as Charles put it, it seemed pointless to ask. Daphne wasn't what you would call a ‘typical’ woman. What kind of woman could throw punches better than a man?
Charles’ car made its way back to the hotel. While Marcus had already been taken home by Rex. Most of the guests had left, although Hayden and Laura were still there, seemingly waiting for Charles.
Upon seeing them, Charles paused for a moment but then approached with his usual composure, hardly betraying any emotion, "Why haven't you left?"
"Did you drop off Daphne?" Laura asked.
A flicker of emotion passed through Charles' eyes as he simply replied, "Yeah."
She could guess what was going on. After all, Charles was her flesh and blood; there was some understanding between them.
Instead of delving into a heart-to-heart talk, Laura opted to leave first.
Charles drove them home, and Hayden and Laura were seated in the back seat. Contemplating the day's events, Laura chose her words with care, "Charles?"
"Mm?"
"Will you visit Gedser again?" Laura's question was subtle.
But they were family, and Charles caught her implication, answering, "I plan to."
"Daphne, she..." Laura wanted to persuade him to let go, but the words seemed inappropriate as they came to her lips.
She had observed carefully; Daphne’s attitude towards Charles had turned noticeably colder. It was clear that her affection had waned. At such a juncture, if Charles persisted in bothering her, it would only cause more trouble.
"I'm aware," Charles understood her concern, but he didn't want to drop the matter so hastily. Even if Daphne was ignoring him, he still wanted to give it another try.
At least until he found the man she had mentioned. If after that she still didn't welcome his presence, he wouldn't intrude further.
Laura and Hayden exchanged glances but ultimately didn't push the matter further. They realized it wasn't their place to meddle too much in their children's affairs.
One evening, everyone could tell that Charles was preoccupied with something on his mind. He was still as humble and polite as ever, attentive and accommodating to his elders, and he coaxed Marcus to head to bed early.
Yet, even so, they could all see the concern beneath his calm facade.
After he finished up and returned to his room, Marcus, who had yet to retire for the night, let out a long sigh, "I told him he'd regret the divorce, he just wouldn't believe me, sigh."
"People need to go through hardships to grow," Rex remarked. He wasn’t as worried as the others and seemed more philosophical about it. "It's not necessarily a bad thing."
No one's life is perfect.
From childhood, Charles was a star pupil, winning countless academic awards with ease, his business profits soared upon taking over the company, and he had the advantages of a privileged family and good looks.
Making blunders in love was just another imperfection in his life.
"Maybe we should let you experience some setbacks, too," Marcus said, still emotional, feeling pity and loss for Daphne, "I have little hope for your love life. If you keep putting off marriage, it’s about time you help manage the company."
Rex's lips frowned. ‘Why did the conversation suddenly turn to him?’ He deftly chose to escape, "I just remembered I have a call to return, Marcus. You should get some rest."
Marcus didn’t call him out on his excuse. The kid was always playing around, not taking the company seriously, just wandering everywhere.
Only Charles would indulge him!
No sooner had the new day arrived, Daphne went back with Mr. Murphy to Gedser to start anew, while Charles and Mark set off on a business trip abroad.
On the plane, Mark noticed that his boss had been silent since their meeting that day. It wasn't a cold indifference; it seemed more like a quiet preoccupation. He couldn't help but wonder if something had happened at last night's party.
Considering the importance the trip held for the Lancelot Group—not to mention its potential impact on his bonus—Mark decided to ask. His savings were far from adequate for his wife's plans.
"Boss," he asked pointedly, "did you have another disagreement with Miss Murphy?" After all, nothing else seemed to shake his boss's mood quite like his idol.
Charles finally showed a flicker of emotion, sending a sharp look Mark's way. ‘If you have nothing clever to say, don't say anything at all. What does he mean, "another"?’ Charles thought.
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