Chapter 326 Discovered
"Charles, you..." Rex glanced at his phone, then at Charles.
Charles froze, realizing he was caught.
"What do you mean?" Marcus cut in, looking stern. "Don't bother us."
Rex eyed Charles a few more times.
Charles gave a glance back and kept playing chess, staying calm.
Rex was curious but kept quiet, planning to talk to Charles later. Cheating with software wasn't like him.
Charles didn't play long with Marcus. After three games, he made an excuse to stop—his phone battery died.
"What's up with you today?" Marcus frowned at the chessboard.
Charles shrugged. "What?"
"Your style's off, and your skill seems worse. What's going on?" Marcus looked puzzled.
"Maybe I'm just tired from the flight," Charles said calmly. "I can't focus properly."
Marcus didn't buy it. Being tired wouldn't change someone's playing style so much.
"Forget it." Marcus figured Charles was still upset about something. "Get some rest; we'll play again later."
Charles nodded. "Alright."
They packed up the chess pieces and stopped.
Charles went to get some fresh air in the yard. As soon as he sat down, Rex approached with a knowing smile.
Charles glanced at him and didn't respond.
Rex sat next to him, half-jokingly said, "Charles, got anything to say?"
Charles asked, "Say what?"
"I saw you cheating with your phone," Rex said. "Aren't you worried I'll tell Grandpa?"
"If you want to make Grandpa sick, go ahead," Charles replied, clearly distracted. "I don't care."
Rex pressed on. "You've never done this before. What's going on?"
If it weren't for Charles's identical looks, Rex might've thought he was an imposter. Throwing tantrums and cheating at chess were new behaviors.
Charles, committed to speaking sparingly, remarked, "That's not your concern."
Rex guessed. "Did something happen with Daphne?"
But that didn't make sense either. Charles never let outside emotions affect his time with Marcus and the others.
"Upset?" Charles didn't like the word and retorted, "I'm staying at her place now. Is that what you call upset?"
Rex looked puzzled, wondering if Charles was delusional.
"Don't tell Grandpa and Mom," Charles said reluctantly, remembering Hayden's advice. "I'll explain after I win Daphne back."
Rex was shocked. "Dad knows?"
"Yeah," Charles admitted.
Rex thought about how Hayden had been acting normal and admired his composure.
Just then, the butler approached. "Mr. Charles Lancelot, Mr. Hill is here."
Charles promptly expressed his refusal to meet him.
Based on what Daphne had told him, Austin was a jerk. If Charles hung out with Austin, Daphne would think he was still a jerk too.
"Not seeing who?" Austin walked in, thanks to the good relationship between the families. "What did I do to you?"
"Being around you is a bad influence," Charles said calmly, looking at Austin with disdain. "I don't want to hang out with a heartless jerk like you."
Austin kicked Charles's chair and frowned. "Are you out of your mind? If we're talking jerks, you're the worst. At least I made a mistake out of concern for Daisy's health. You're just a blatant jerk."
"If you hate me so much, why are you here?" Charles shot back.
This new Charles didn't hold back, especially with people Daphne disliked.
Austin couldn't argue with that logic.
Seeing the tension, Rex left, giving them space to fight it out.
"I'm here to drink," Austin finally said, giving in.
Charles gave him a strange look, playing his part well.
Austin sat where Rex had been, looking dejected. "Daisy divorced me."
Since signing the papers, he'd tried to win her back, but Daisy was firm.
"She didn't ask for a penny. Just that I don't bother her," Austin said, wishing she had asked for more. "We're completely done."
Sometimes Austin wished Daisy were like Daphne, making demands during the divorce, but Daisy was stubborn.
Daisy didn't want anything because she didn't want to owe Austin or be accused of being greedy if it went public.
In this internet age, not everything was clear-cut.
If it went public, people might say, "Three hundred million dollars? I'd donate a kidney for that." Or, "If my husband gave me three hundred million dollars, he could keep a mistress, and I'd support them."
Some might be joking, but such comments could really hurt those involved.
There was no real empathy online, and people didn't realize how devastating such remarks could be for some.
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