Chapter 300 Father and Son Conversation
Daphne still wanted to talk to Charles. Something felt off about him.
But Charles wasn't having it. He got up, said nothing, and went back to his room.
Daphne checked the time. It was just past 8 PM. She texted Hayden: [Uncle Hayden, I need to ask about Charles's childhood. Are you busy?]
Hayden called back almost immediately.
"Uncle Hayden," Daphne greeted him.
Hayden, standing on his balcony in a casual robe, spoke with his usual gentlemanly tone, "Is Charles giving you trouble?"
"No," Daphne said honestly. Charles was behaving. "I want to know what he was like when he was five."
"Obedient and sensible," Hayden recalled. "Lively, a sweet little boy."
Lively? Daphne glanced at the door. The current Charles was anything but lively.
"How is he now?" Hayden asked.
"Obedient, doesn't talk much," Daphne replied. "And very insecure."
Hayden raised an eyebrow. 'Insecure? Charles?' He thought.
"Are you sure he's not faking it?" He doubted it. This didn't match his impression of Charles at all.
"Definitely not. He's asked several times if I don't want him anymore." Daphne admitted, knowing it might make Hayden think she wasn't taking good care of him, but she had to be honest. "He seems very insecure."
If what Benjamin said about Charles vying for attention was true, then Charles's psychological state needed serious examination.
"Where is he?" Hayden asked.
"In his bedroom," Daphne replied. "Do you want to talk to him?"
"Give him the phone," Hayden said. "I'll ask him."
"Okay," Daphne said.
She took the phone and knocked on Charles's door.
"By the way, Uncle Hayden, was Charles afraid of pain when he was little?" she asked on the way.
"No," Hayden remembered clearly.
When Hayden used to fake pain to get Laura's sympathy, Charles complained behind his back that he lacked manliness.
At that time, Hayden thought Charles was just being tough, but later, he realized Charles's tolerance for pain was much higher than that of most people. Unless it was excruciating, he could endure it without flinching.
"Why?" Hayden asked. "Is he faking pain to trick you?"
Daphne thought for a moment. "I don't think he's faking it; he's genuinely afraid."
Hayden was surprised.
Daphne knocked on Charles's door.
Seeing Daphne again, Charles thought she was there to lecture him. Just as he was thinking of how to refuse, Daphne handed him the phone, saying, "Your dad wants to talk to you."
Charles didn't want to take it but was afraid Daphne would get angry, so he reluctantly accepted it.
Daphne didn't stay. She left the space for Charles and Hayden.
Charles took the phone to the balcony, sat down, and reluctantly said, "What do you want?"
"What's with the attitude?" Hayden's voice was stern. "Feeling rebellious? Need a spanking?"
Charles stayed silent. If it weren't for Daphne, he would've hung up already. He didn't want to talk to anyone but her.
"Call me Dad," Hayden suddenly demanded.
Hayden had his ways of dealing with Charles. "If you don't, I'll tell Daphne you're being rude. Don't blame me if she sends you away."
Charles hesitated. "Dad," he said reluctantly.
"How much bad luck do you think Daphne had to end up with you? In a few days, I'll come to Gedser to pick you up," Hayden tested Charles's limits. "Don't bother Daphne and her family during the New Year."
"No!" Charles blurted out.
Hayden's tone was lazy. "It's not up to you."
"If you come to pick me up, I'll run away," Charles threatened, his tone adorably fierce, not even a shadow of his former self.
Hayden chuckled. "It's like you're at home now."
Charles was furious, but Hayden had a point.
"Running away now will only make Daphne like you less." Hayden knew how to handle him. "I actually hope you run away. Do you need some ideas and money from Dad?"
Charles was infuriated. He used to dislike Benjamin the most, but now he disliked Hayden even more.
"I don't like you," Charles blurted out.
"As long as your mom likes me," Hayden didn't care at all.
Charles was full of grievances with no one to vent to. If he told Daphne, she would definitely think he was in the wrong.
"Be good these days and don't cause trouble for Daphne," Hayden said in his final 'fatherly advice,' I'll come to Gedser to pick you up in a few days."
Charles started, "I..."
"That's it, bye." Hayden hung up before Charles could finish, deliberately leaving him unsettled.
Staring at the darkened phone screen, Charles frowned. He couldn't let Hayden come to pick him up. If Hayden came, he wouldn't be able to see Daphne.
Thinking about this, Charles felt his mind was in a mess, unable to think straight.
He thought about calling back but realized he couldn't unlock the phone after it went dark. After some hesitation, he mustered the courage to find Daphne. "Daphne, can you help me call Dad back? I accidentally hung up."
Daphne agreed. "Okay."
She took the phone, unlocked it, and was about to call Hayden when she saw a message from him.
Hayden: [If Charles asks you to call me back, just refuse. We've finished talking.]
Daphne paused. No matter how Charles changed, Hayden could always see through him.
"Daphne, what's wrong?" Charles asked tentatively.
"Your dad said he needs to rest," Daphne rephrased. "If you still want to talk to him, I'll ask if he's free tomorrow, okay?"
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