Chapter 253 On What Grounds
Charles sat at his desk, replaying the short audio file over and over again.
"Yeah, I'm carrying the Percy family heir. Charles is treating me so well now, we might even get back together. I'll be Mrs. Percy again."
He remembered that his relationship with Diana wasn't good at that time. This was clearly a lie, just to provoke Clara.
But it was the next sentence, "It doesn't matter," that felt like a nail driven into his heart, repeating Diana's indifference to him over and over in his mind.
Rubbing his temples with one hand, he turned off the recording with the other.
More than anger, he felt confusion.
How could he make Diana stay with him?
Usually smart and decisive, Charles was completely at a loss in this moment. When it came to feelings, he was utterly clueless.
Abigail's desk phone rang suddenly. She had just seen Clara leave and was chatting with Nolan about it.
The ringing startled her. She picked up the phone, and Charles's voice came through. "Abigail, come to my office."
Before she could respond, Charles hung up.
Abigail blinked, looking a bit dazed, then turned to Nolan and said, "Mr. Smith, did I hear that right? Mr. Percy wants to see me?"
Nolan frowned and nodded seriously.
Technically, Abigail's direct supervisor was Nolan. He usually assigned her tasks.
Why would Charles want to see her alone today?
Though both were puzzled, Abigail straightened her clothes and headed to the CEO's office.
"Mr. Percy, I'm here. What can I do for you?"
Charles nodded, gesturing for her to sit down. He then asked directly, "Do you have a boyfriend?"
Abigail was taken aback by the question. Why would he suddenly ask her that?
Shaking her head and waving her hands, she explained, "No, no, I love my job. I'm not interested in men."
Charles fell into thought, then continued, "If you had to stay with a man, what would you need to be willing to do so?"
Abigail pondered his question and answered honestly, "Money."
Charles paused, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.
Abigail fidgeted with her fingers, awkwardly wanting to escape. But for the sake of her career, she offered a suggestion.
"Though I've never been in a relationship, novels say that feelings can be cultivated. If I were to stay with a man, he would need to win me over with money first, then let time do the rest."
She nodded, satisfied with her answer.
But she couldn't help but wonder. Who was Charles trying to keep?
Charles listened to her words, deep in thought.
Why hadn't he thought of looking for answers in books?
"Alright, that's all. You can go." He dismissed Abigail and quickly searched online for some relationship guides.
If Eugene were here, he would probably laugh his head off.
The book titles were particularly dubious, like "100 Tips for Love" and "Say These Phrases to Win Her Heart."
They had a certain crash-course feel to them.
Charles skimmed a few chapters, but the more he read, the more serious his expression became.
After a while, he put down his phone. He realized that the girls in these books were nothing like Diana.
Likewise, he couldn't do the things the guys in the books did.
So, he tossed the books aside and decided to use his own methods to keep Diana close.
At Mirage Nights Club.
It was already evening, and Diana was lying in bed, chatting with Isolde on the phone.
After calling Charles, the two waitresses hadn't stayed long. They quickly left, as if afraid Diana would take out her anger on them.
With them gone, Diana had no way to leave.
She had vented at the room service staff, but they said it was Charles's order and they couldn't disobey.
So Diana had spent the afternoon lying in the room.
When she turned on her phone, messages flooded in.
Especially from Evelyn and Robert, who had been worried sick when they couldn't reach her last night.
Isolde was curious about the Homestead Sunset Valley event from the night before.
"Diana, you wouldn't believe it. Charles left and never came back. Vance was furious but couldn't show it, almost grinding his teeth to dust. It was hilarious."
"We all thought Charles showing up at the birthday party meant the Richardson family and the Percy family were making up. But not only did that not happen, today the Richardson Group is being crushed. What kind of grudge does Charles have? He's terrifying."
She rambled on. She had arrived late to the party, missing Diana and the key moments. If she hadn't asked around, she would have been completely in the dark.
The "culprit" Diana had no intention of telling her the truth.
She casually grabbed an apple, took a big bite, the juice filling her mouth. She swallowed and said, "Charles is just like that. You know it. Just stay away from him."
Hearing the underlying meaning, Isolde realized that Diana had it worse than Vance.
She lived with Charles every day. It was a miracle she hadn't had a breakdown.
"Diana, once the baby is born, we'll run. Even though I'm raising Cecil alone, I still think you should put yourself first, then be a mom."
Diana nodded slightly, knowing Isolde meant well, "I know, Isolde. I'll definitely get far away."
She wanted to say more, but the sound of the door's keypad being pressed interrupted her.
Charles walked in, locking eyes with Diana. Neither spoke first.
Diana put away her smile and said goodbye to Isolde in a low voice, "I'll hang up now. We'll talk next time."
As soon as the call ended, Charles stepped closer and asked, "Who were you talking to?"
Diana's smile vanished, and she frowned, "What's it to you? I don't remember our agreement saying I have to report everything to you."
Charles paused, then grabbed her shoulders, his tone a bit anxious, "I didn't mean it like that. I just want to know what you're doing."
'Why do you have so many friends? Why are you always chatting with men and smiling at them? Isn't having me enough?' He didn't voice these thoughts.
But he didn't need to. Diana's sharp reply hit him right in the heart, "Charles, who are you to me? Why should I tell you?"
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