Chapter 323 I Just Want to Be with You
Daphne wanted to ask more questions but knew Brian wasn't in the right state, so she ended the call.
She took good care of Charles for the next two days, who behaved well.
Christmas was just a few days away.
Hayden, who had said he'd come to Gedser, arrived that day.
"I'm going to the airport to pick up your dad. Want to come with me or stay home?" Daphne asked Charles.
"I'll go with you," Charles quickly replied. He didn't want Hayden to come but couldn't stop it, so he figured he'd go with Daphne to avoid badmouthing.
Daphne agreed and took him to the airport.
In the car, Charles looked uneasy. "Daphne, is my dad very strict?"
"Not strict, he's very nice," Daphne said honestly. "He loves you very much."
Charles found that hard to believe. From their previous call, Hayden seemed difficult.
"Is he here to take me home?" Charles asked, looking innocent. "I don't want to go home; I want to stay with you."
Daphne paused. Charles's mind was now that of a seventeen-year-old.
As long as she introduced him to his family and shared some past stories, he shouldn't raise suspicion with his acting skills. Maybe he could go home for Christmas.
"Daphne," Charles called again.
"He's here to see you," Daphne said, planning to talk to Hayden later.
When they arrived at the airport, Daphne had the driver park. After a while, Hayden came out.
Daphne greeted him, and the driver helped with the luggage. They got in the car.
Charles sat with Hayden, while Daphne sat in the front.
"Aren't you going to say hello?" Hayden said, seeing Charles looking unapproachable. "When did you become so rude?"
Charles didn't like Hayden.
"Still not saying hello?" Hayden pressed.
Charles looked at Daphne, then reluctantly said, "Hello, Dad."
"Good boy," Hayden smiled.
Charles felt uneasy. Hayden was unpredictable. Shouldn't a father be strict or stern? Why did he say "good boy"?
"Uncle Hayden, I booked a restaurant," Daphne said, feeling positive. "I'll talk to you about his situation during dinner."
"Okay," Hayden agreed.
On the way, Hayden chatted with Charles intermittently, treating him the same as always, despite his memory loss.
This led to Charles losing several confrontations!
But given the situation, Charles couldn't fall out with Hayden, especially with Daphne around.
At eleven-thirty, they arrived at the restaurant.
Daphne took Hayden and Charles inside, and the manager guided them to their reserved private room.
While waiting for the food, Daphne filled Hayden in on Charles's situation.
"So, apart from his mind not being fully recovered and having no memory, he's fine?" Hayden asked.
"Yes," Daphne confirmed.
"Charles," Hayden said, looking at him.
Charles had a bad feeling and looked up. His gut told him Hayden had something unpleasant to say.
"Since you're fine now, you'll come back to Ivrea City with me tomorrow," Hayden said calmly. "Your mom and grandpa miss you and want you home for Christmas."
"No," Charles shot back without hesitation. "I only want to stay with Daphne."
Hayden raised an eyebrow. "Normally, I wouldn't stop you from being with Daphne," he said, still calm. "But it's almost Christmas. Do you really want to go to Daphne's house?"
Considering what Charles had done before, he wouldn't feel comfortable letting him go to The Murphy Mansion for Christmas. It would just make others unhappy.
"Why not?" Charles retorted.
"Christmas is for family," Hayden said deliberately. "If you go, won't you make others unhappy? If your presence ruins Mr. Murphy's mood, what will Daphne do?"
Charles paused, unsure how to respond. From Alexander's perspective, if a man made his daughter unhappy, he wouldn't want to see that man again.
But if Charles went back, what if Daphne and the neighbor Benjamin's relationship progressed quickly?
"Do you think what I said makes sense?" Hayden asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'll just wait for Daphne at home," Charles decided. "No need to go back for Christmas."
"You should go back with Uncle Hayden," Daphne said. "If you still want to come back after Christmas, I'll have someone pick you up."
Charles felt unhappy and extreme inside. He thought, 'Does Daphne really want to get rid of me?'
"Mr. Lancelot and Mrs. Lancelot miss you very much. If you don't go back, they'll worry," Daphne added, hoping Charles would listen.
Charles wanted to refuse but didn't want to leave a bad impression on Daphne. "I don't want to go back."
"Daphne doesn't like unfilial people," Hayden whispered to him.
Charles tried to find an excuse. "I don't know them. I have no memory of the past. If I go back, they'll find out. Won't they be more worried then?"
"You're overthinking it," Hayden said, keen on annoying Charles. "Your grandpa has a fleeting interest in you. After the first meeting, he won't care. As for your mom, the only person she constantly cares about is me."
Charles looked at Hayden, doubting his life. Was he showing off how loving they were?
"If I'm so unwelcome, why should I go back?" Charles replied.
"You'll understand when you get back," Hayden said ambiguously.
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