Chapter 319 You Lost
"Why don't you like him?" Daphne asked, genuinely puzzled.
Charles stayed silent. The reason was clear to him.
If Benjamin hung around Daphne too much, he might steal her away. Charles couldn't let that happen before he secured his relationship with her.
Daphne, still confused, asked again, "Is it hard to answer?"
Charles replied, "Before I answer, can you answer something for me first?"
Daphne nodded. "Sure."
"If Benjamin and I both fell into the sea with poisonous sea snakes around, and you could only save one of us, who would you choose?" Charles asked seriously.
Daphne thought, 'What kind of question is that?'
Seeing her hesitate, Charles pressed, "You'd save Benjamin, right?"
"I'd save you," Daphne said.
She owed Charles her life. If it came to that, she'd save him first but would still try to save Benjamin afterward. However, she doubted such a situation would happen. Benjamin was more capable and wouldn't need her help.
Charles paused, his heart skipping a beat.
If he hadn't controlled his emotions, he might've shown that he was already mentally recovered.
"Why?" he asked, like a confused child, "Aren't you close to Benjamin?"
"That's the second question," Daphne deflected, sensing Charles might be more mature than he let on. "Now it's your turn to answer mine."
Charles looked at Daphne, feeling he couldn't read her at all.
Based on what Mark had told him, he was sure Daphne didn't like him. But if that was true, why would she save him? Was she trying to make him happy, or was it because he had saved her on Butterfly Island?
"I'm afraid you'll end up with him," Charles lied smoothly. "If you two get together, you'll have kids, and then you won't want me anymore."
Daphne wondered where he got that idea. "Who told you that?"
"No one," Charles replied.
"That's not true," Daphne said, thinking raising kids was exhausting. "Even if Benjamin and I were together, if you haven't recovered, I'd still take care of you."
Charles lowered his head, looking downcast. Was she trying to convince him?
Daphne felt Charles was getting more misguided under her care. "You can't dislike Benjamin just because of this. He's always been concerned about you."
Concerned? Charles knew better. Benjamin wanted him out of the picture to have Daphne all to himself.
"Go apologize to Benjamin," Daphne said, noticing Charles's unhappy expression but feeling it was necessary. "You lied and wronged him last night, and he didn't call you out."
She paused. If Benjamin knew Charles was pretending, why didn't he expose him?
Remembering Benjamin's advice to observe details, she thought it over.
"Okay," Charles agreed.
Daphne watched Charles closely. He seemed the same, just a bit different in personality. She took him to see Benjamin.
Neither Daphne nor Benjamin realized Charles was at his best acting in front of Daphne. He wouldn't slip up around her.
Charles stood obediently at Benjamin's place.
Benjamin raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's this?"
"Sorry, Benjamin," Charles said reluctantly, but his face didn't show it. "I lied to Daphne and wronged you yesterday. I'm sorry."
Benjamin's lips curved slightly. "Sincerely?"
Daphne wondered what Benjamin was up to.
"Yes," Charles nodded.
"Copy this," Benjamin handed Charles a book. "Finish it, and I'll forgive you."
Benjamin was really hard to like.
"Benjamin," Daphne said softly, frowning, "What are you doing?"
"Didn't you mention that his character was somewhat questionable?" Benjamin probed, hoping to catch Charles off guard. "Let him write; we might learn something."
An adult's handwriting is different from a child's.
Benjamin wanted to see how Charles would handle it.
Daphne bit her lip. "How about we forget it?"
"A mere verbal apology won't make a lasting impact. The consequence is too lenient," Benjamin stated gravely, "Have him transcribe something as a reminder."
Daphne thought for a moment. A simple apology didn't seem enough.
In just a few days, Charles had gone from an innocent child to someone who lied and wronged others. His thinking was indeed a bit skewed.
"Really?" Charles didn't slip up at all.
Benjamin nodded.
Charles obediently took the book to copy.
Under his calm exterior, he was already planning how to get back at Benjamin. He knew Benjamin's goal was to make him slip up in front of Daphne.
Pretending to write like a child was easy.
Seeing Charles's actions, Benjamin gave him another look.
For the rest of the afternoon, Charles copied, while Daphne and Benjamin watched him.
The handwriting didn't slip up, heavy like some children's writing.
His behavior was also normal.
This result was within Benjamin's expectations, but he still felt that Charles's reaction and acting were too good, even if he was able to disguise his handwriting.
At dinner, Charles sat next to Daphne. As soon as he picked up the fork, it fell onto the table.
Charles looked pitifully at Daphne, biting his lip as if he had done something wrong. "Daphne, my hand hurts. I can't hold the fork."
Benjamin gave Charles another look, his eyes filled with scrutiny.
"I'll get you a spoon," Daphne said, not suspecting anything.
After writing all afternoon, with such heavy handwriting, even the third page had imprints. If it were her, she'd probably have a sore hand too.
After giving him the spoon, Charles used his left hand to eat. Whenever he wanted something, he asked Daphne to get it for him.
"Daphne, I want that."
"Daphne, I want this."
"Daphne, I want..."
Charles was fed by Daphne the whole time.
During the intervals when Daphne was getting food for him, he glanced at Benjamin without a word, with a hint of provocation.
That look seemed to say: You lost.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
