Chapter 348 The Room Full of Memories
Maybe it was because Benjamin looked so much like young Charles that Jacob found it hard to believe he could be a dog thief.
As they walked side by side, Jacob couldn't help but ask, "So, where are your parents? Why'd they send a kid like you?"
Benjamin blinked and replied, "My mommy's the best, but she's super busy with work. I gotta understand and appreciate her hard work."
Jacob's heart softened immediately. "So, do you live with your dad?"
Benjamin shook his head. "Nope, I don't have a dad. My dad's a jerk who used to bully my mom and treat her badly."
Jacob's expression changed, realizing he had touched a sore spot. He quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, kid, I didn't mean to..."
Before he could finish, Benjamin flashed him a big smile. "It's okay. I don't care about that man. My mommy's love is enough for me."
Jacob's lips twitched as he looked at Benjamin's determined eyes, feeling a mix of emotions.
Poor kid, losing his father at such a young age. But if his dad was a jerk, there was nothing to miss.
Charles must have brought him back for this reason.
They walked to the backyard, and Jacob pointed to a small house next to the sunroom.
"See, this is where Snowy lives. On sunny days, it plays in the backyard and sleeps here. When it's cold, there's a room inside the villa for it."
As he spoke, Snowy came running out, rolled on the grass, and barked excitedly, running around in circles.
In the doghouse, there was a plush toy dog that looked custom-made to resemble Snowy.
The more Benjamin looked, the more he found it adorable, but he also felt a bit frustrated.
It seemed Charles took great care of Snowy, making it hard for him to find an excuse to take Snowy away.
Seeing him staring at the toy, Jacob said, "If you like that toy, I can have the servants get you a couple. Snowy is quite destructive; we've replaced that toy several times."
Benjamin nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Mr. Hearst, does Mr. Percy live in this big house all by himself?"
"Yeah, this house was left to Mr. Percy by his grandmother. The entire villa belongs to him, and we're here to take care of Mr. Percy," Jacob explained.
"I see," Benjamin said nonchalantly. "Then there will be a lady of the house soon."
Jacob's expression changed instantly. "How do you know that?"
Though Benjamin was young, his words made Jacob wonder if someone was influencing him.
Benjamin looked innocent. "I saw it on the news. They said Mr. Percy is going to marry a big star. Isn't that true?"
Jacob realized he was talking about the rumors outside and relaxed a bit. "No, you're too young to understand these things."
Even if Charles got married, he wouldn't bring Stella home. This place was filled with memories of Charles and Diana, and no one was allowed to ruin that.
"I'm not that young. I'm already four years old," Benjamin pouted, hating it when adults treated him like a child.
Jacob found his words amusing and couldn't help but chuckle, patting his head. "Yes, yes, you're a big kid now, already four years old."
Benjamin sensed the teasing and decided to take a different approach. He hadn't seen where Diana lived yet and couldn't give up.
He turned and asked, "Can I tour the villa? I want to see where Snowy usually hangs out."
Jacob thought for a moment. After all, he was just a kid, and Charles had said it was okay to show him around. "Sure, I'll take you for a tour."
"Thanks, Mr. Hearst," Benjamin said sweetly, following Jacob closely.
The servants watched them, curious about Benjamin's identity.
The villa's decor matched Charles' personality—cold and hard, with no place for a child to play.
But Benjamin was very interested, especially when they reached the second floor, his excitement growing.
Jacob pointed to a room. "This is Mr. Percy's room. He rests and works here when he's home. Do you want to take a look?"
Benjamin shook his head immediately. His room didn't interest him. He was more curious about the white wooden door next to it.
He pointed to the door and asked, "Can I see this room? It looks special."
"No."
Before Jacob could answer, Charles' cold voice came from behind.
He had changed into casual clothes, looking more approachable.
Benjamin's face fell, and he huffed, turning away. "Fine, I don't care."
Jacob didn't know who to comfort first. It was normal for a child to be curious, but that room was Charles' sore spot and couldn't be entered casually.
Seeing Jacob's dilemma, Charles said coldly, "Follow him and make sure he doesn't break anything."
Jacob nodded respectfully and followed Benjamin.
After they left, Charles frowned slightly, opened the door, and stepped inside.
The room's setup was the same as five years ago, with sunlight streaming in, creating a warm atmosphere.
For five years, the servants had kept it spotless.
Charles stepped inside, looking around at the familiar decor, reminiscing about the times when Diana lived here.
She used to play games on the carpet and stargaze from the balcony.
His tense emotions relaxed briefly. He yawned, lifted the blanket, and lay down, inhaling the familiar scent as he drifted off to sleep.
Outside, Jacob was explaining why Charles didn't let Benjamin into the room. "That's Mrs. Percy's room. We can't go in except for cleaning."
Benjamin slowed down, curious. "Is she the star?"
Jacob shook his head, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "No, she's Mr. Percy's late wife. He loved her very much, but she still left."
Benjamin tilted his head. This didn't match what Dean had told him.
"Left? Will she come back? Why doesn't Mr. Percy bring her back?"
Jacob didn't know how to explain death to a child and said vaguely, "She won't come back. Mr. Percy can't find her."
"She's dead, right? That lady is dead?" Benjamin quickly understood, his bluntness almost cruel in its innocence.
Jacob hurriedly warned, "Don't say that in front of Mr. Percy, okay? We can't go into that room or any other place Mr. Percy has forbidden."
Benjamin pointed to another room ahead. "Is this one off-limits too?"
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