Chapter 385 They Can't Go Back.
"Never again," Charles muttered, staring at the ceiling, his voice rough.
How could he deceive Daphne again? Waking up, memories flooded back, showing the mess he caused during his amnesia. And now, she was with Benjamin.
Brian paused, hearing Charles. "You okay?"
"Why drag her into this?" Charles sat up, looking at Brian with his usual cold stare. "This was between us."
Charles felt guilty about the past. As long as she was okay, he'd risk anything.
He hadn't expected Brian to involve Daphne during his amnesia, causing so many problems.
"I wanted a challenge," Brian said. "The rules didn't say she couldn't be involved. You just said nothing illegal."
Charles stopped looking at Brian. He couldn't even muster anger.
His mind was stuck on Daphne admitting she was with Benjamin and her firm choice of "you" when his amnesiac self asked who she'd pick between Charles and Declan.
Daphne must really hate him, wishing he'd disappear.
"The deal's over. In a few days, Mark will list what you owe," Charles said coldly. "Once it's paid, we're even."
"Owe?" Brian frowned, confused. "What do you mean, owe?"
Brian didn't know there was anything he owed. Wasn't everything by the contract?
"Any losses I had because of you are your responsibility," Charles said, emotionless. "The Lancelot Group lost a lot during my amnesia. You owe that."
"We agreed this wouldn't count," Brian panicked.
If he had to pay, he couldn't afford it! Every minute was money; he couldn't cover it all.
Charles got out of bed, dressed, and cold. "Who said that? Where's it written? Is there a signed document?"
"You said it," Brian reminded him.
"Sorry, I don't remember," Charles said icily. "No signed document, you still owe."
Brian was near breaking. "What did I ever do to you?"
Brian knew Charles's character. Even a verbal promise from Charles was solid.
Now Charles was going back on his word; something was off!
"Our deal shouldn't have involved her," Charles said, adjusting his sleeves, eyes colder. "She shouldn't have taken care of me."
He could never repay Daphne, but Brian had involved her and made her take care of him.
"Just because of that?" Brian was baffled.
"Yes." Charles walked out of the medical room.
Mark was waiting outside, unable to see or hear anything, more worried than usual.
As Mark wondered about Charles, he saw him walk out, exuding a cold aura that kept people away.
"Mr. Lancelot?" Mark called out hesitantly.
Charles's lips barely moved. "Let's go back."
"Okay," Mark agreed quickly.
Mark escorted Charles out of Brian's medical base and opened the backseat door for him.
On the drive back, Mark kept glancing at the rearview mirror.
He was worried about one thing: Was this the Charles with his memory back or not?
"Did you give Daphne the thing I asked you to?" Charles suddenly asked.
Mark answered honestly, "Not yet."
"Throw it away," Charles said.
Mark was shocked. "What?"
"Throw it away. No need to give it to her," Charles repeated coldly.
Charles knew it wasn't some alternate personality. It was just him, influenced by Brian's psychological suggestions during his amnesia.
That was him, not some Declan.
Mark thought about the item Charles had given him, feeling conflicted. "Really throw it away?"
"Throw it away," Charles insisted.
Inside was a letter he had written to Daphne, saying he was going back to being the old Charles and hoping she'd remember someone once loved her deeply.
He was Charles, also Declan. No need to make Daphne worry, especially since she had a new life now.
"Mr. Lancelot," Mark glanced at the rearview mirror, worried.
From the conversation, it seemed Charles had regained his memory.
Charles looked out the window, clearly distracted. "What is it?"
"Are you really not going to tell Ms. Murphy you've regained your memory?" Mark asked, feeling complicated. "She's been asking if you're coming back for dinner. She's very worried about you."
Charles felt a dull pain in his heart. Memories of the past few days flooded his mind: Daphne's kindness, her patience, her indulgence.
He wanted to go back, but he couldn't.
"Not for now, give me a couple of days," Charles said, looking dejected, his eyes filled with suppressed pain.
Mark didn't say more and took him home.
Once home, Charles locked himself in his room and didn't eat or drink anything for the whole day. When Mark called him for dinner, he only said he wasn't eating and then went silent.
Mark was very worried. He wanted to contact Daphne but remembered Charles's instructions and did nothing.
Charles came out of his room at 9 PM, looking haggard and despondent.
"Mr. Lancelot," Mark tried to get him to eat.
"I'm going out for a bit. I'll be back later," Charles said, holding his car keys, his voice low. "You go to bed; don't worry about me."
Mark asked, "Where are you going? I'll drive you."
Charles replied, "No need. I want to be alone." Then he left with his car keys.
He didn't go anywhere else but drove to Daphne's neighborhood.
Sitting on a bench downstairs, he could see the light in her apartment. He just sat there, watching, doing nothing.
"Charles?" Daphne's voice suddenly rang out.
Charles froze, as if someone had pressed pause.
He pursed his lips, filled with complex emotions, and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw her and Benjamin holding hands.
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