Chapter 362 Returning to the Country
Benjamin's mood was a mix of emotions as he sat in Charles' car again.
The two of them were in the back seat, still holding hands.
As the car drove away from The Percy Manor, Benjamin pulled his hand back and whispered, "Mr. Percy, you can just drop me off by the roadside. I'll have my uncle pick me up."
Charles didn't respond, remaining as still as a statue.
Nolan glanced cautiously at the back seat through the rearview mirror.
Charles' eyes were closed, his expression cold.
The neon lights outside occasionally flickered through the window, casting shadows on his shoulders, making his mood hard to decipher.
For some reason, Nolan felt that Charles' mood had significantly dropped after learning that Benjamin was Zachary's child.
If Charles and Diana's child were still alive, they would be about Benjamin's age. Charles was probably thinking about that child.
Nolan sighed inwardly.
Suddenly, Benjamin raised his voice and shouted, "Mr. Percy, can you hear me?"
Benjamin's voice was strong and penetrating, forcing Charles to respond.
He lowered his gaze, his expression unfriendly, "What do you want?"
Benjamin was startled and turned his face away, his tone weakening, "I said, I want to go home. Just drop me off by the roadside."
"When did I say I was taking you home?" Charles retorted.
"Didn't you tell that lady you were taking me home?" Benjamin's eyes widened. How could he deny it so quickly?
"I never said that. From today on, you're staying at my place."
Charles' tone was light, but he had decided Benjamin's fate.
"Why? I want to go home! I want my mommy!"
Benjamin finally realized that Charles hadn't brought him out to take him home.
He had just escaped one danger, only to fall into another.
"Because you're Zachary's son." Charles ignored his protests and said coldly.
The car fell silent.
Benjamin's mouth hung open in disbelief. After a moment, he spoke, "Didn't you say you didn't believe it? Do you think I'm his son now?"
Charles frowned, puzzled by Benjamin's words, and asked, "If you're not Zachary's son, why has your mother never taken you to see your father? Why would Elise's people be after you?"
He paused for a moment and continued, "Your mother is very smart. If she hadn't run away back then, you wouldn't have been born. Don't worry, I won't hurt you, but I can't let you stay with Elise."
Benjamin's eyes filled with disappointment.
He didn't want Charles to recognize him, but he was also angry that Charles hadn't.
But from his words, it was clear that Charles was not a kind person.
Diana and Dean were right; he was a devil!
Benjamin turned his face away, closed his eyes, and stopped responding, curling up in the corner, looking pitiful.
Charles withdrew his gaze, suppressing the discomfort rising in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "Drive faster."
Celestria.
It was dusk, and the sunset was a rare shade of orange-pink, casting a romantic glow over the city.
Music drifted from a riverside restaurant, but inside, it was empty.
Some diners wanted to go in, but the waiter informed them that the restaurant had been booked for the day by a gentleman for him and his lady friend.
On the second floor, Diana sat by the window, gazing at the sunset, lost in thought.
Across from her, Brayden had dressed up for the occasion, wearing a white custom shirt that subtly revealed his muscular build.
He smiled at Diana, noticing she hadn't eaten much, and tilted his head to ask, "What's wrong? Don't like the food?"
Diana snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. "No, it's delicious. Thanks for bringing me here. I've heard it's tough to get a reservation."
"The owner's a buddy of mine. When I told him I was having dinner with a beautiful lady, he hooked me up for the whole day," Brayden said with a grin.
Diana, used to his flattery, gave a polite smile and took a few bites of her salad.
She felt anxious today, her mind constantly drifting back to home, leaving her with little appetite.
Noticing her distraction, Brayden put down his knife and fork, his tone softening. "Are you upset that I asked you out today? I'm really sorry if I overstepped."
"I'm not upset. It's nice to unwind after work. I'm just a bit tired, that's all. It's not your fault, don't worry," Diana reassured him with a smile, not wanting her mood to dampen the evening.
Brayden observed her closely, noting the faint dark circles under her eyes. She did look worn out.
He sighed lightly. "I guess I didn't consider how tired you might be. After dinner, I'll take you home. We don't have to do anything else."
Diana felt a wave of relief. She really didn't want to go shopping or do anything else. If she could, she'd fly home immediately.
"Okay, thank you."
Brayden looked a bit wistful and voiced a concern that had been on his mind.
"I don't want to hear you say thank you. You're always so polite. I thought we were at least friends by now."
Diana thought their relationship was more professional, but given his status, she agreed, "Of course, we're friends."
Before Brayden could respond, Diana's phone rang. She apologized softly and picked it up.
It was Dean. He hadn't returned her call yesterday, but today he finally did.
"Go ahead, I'll wait," Brayden said.
Diana smiled at him and walked over to the nearby plants to take the call.
"Dean, why are you only calling me back now? What were you doing yesterday?" she asked, pretending to be annoyed, expecting to hear Dean's usual pleading voice.
"Sophia, Benjamin is missing," Dean's voice was hoarse.
Before Diana could react, he quickly explained, "Benjamin snuck off to Rainbow Federation the day before yesterday. I told him to come back and bought him a ticket. But the next day, he was with Charles. Charles didn't recognize Benjamin. Today, I sent someone to pick Benjamin up, but he was kidnapped at the airport."
Dean spoke quickly, trying to simplify the situation, omitting many details.
Diana's face changed instantly. She couldn't decide which part made her angrier.
Benjamin was always mischievous and very mature for his age. When she was on business trips or missions, he often ran around. Dean couldn't keep an eye on him. Only when she was home did Benjamin behave.
But this time, he was too bold, going to Rainbow Federation on his own?
Since escaping Charles, Rainbow Federation had been a thorn in Diana's side. She tried not to think about it, but in the dead of night, those buried memories replayed in her dreams.
But now, Benjamin was missing in Rainbow Federation, and she had to go back.
Diana closed her eyes, steadying her emotions. "Don't worry, Benjamin's watch has a tracking function. Check it first. I'll be back soon."
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