Chapter 365 Thunder
Charles furrowed his brow. Who could be knocking at this hour?
He didn't answer, but the knocking grew more insistent.
Charles stood up and walked to the door. When he opened it, no one was there.
He felt a tug on his pant leg and looked down to see Benjamin wrapped in a blanket, looking like a little mummy. His face was scrunched up in distress as he gazed up at Charles.
Charles raised an eyebrow. He had no experience with kids and was at a loss.
Was he thirsty? Hungry? Needed the bathroom?
He unconsciously began to interpret Benjamin's behavior using the mindset he had for taking care of a dog.
A clap of thunder answered his question.
Benjamin's eyes widened, and at the sound of thunder, he instinctively lunged at Charles.
But being too short, he only managed to bump into Charles' leg and then clung to it like a little koala.
Feeling the tight grip on his leg, Charles was momentarily stunned. He looked at Benjamin's fluffy head, unsure of what to do.
The storm outside raged on, and Benjamin clung even tighter. Charles' heart softened. He awkwardly patted Benjamin's head.
"Are you scared of the thunder?"
Benjamin's lips moved, and he stubbornly replied, "I'm not scared."
But his trembling body betrayed him with each thunderclap.
This stubborn streak, who did he get it from?
Charles sighed and gently pried Benjamin off his leg.
Benjamin continued to protest, "I'm really not scared, the thunder just came too suddenly. I wasn't prepared."
"Okay," Charles replied, though his tone suggested he didn't quite believe him.
He looked at Benjamin's evasive eyes and asked, "So why did you come to me? To hold my leg and tell me you're not scared of thunder?"
Benjamin sniffled, his expression determined. "Yes, I'm not scared."
Charles closed the door in his face, adding a flat, "That's impressive. Now go back to bed."
Benjamin stared at the closed door, dumbfounded.
Why wasn't Charles acting as expected? Shouldn't he have seen through his bravado and invited him in?
Pouting, Benjamin felt a wave of sadness.
Another thunderclap echoed.
He tightened his blanket around himself, seeking some comfort.
The Percy Mansion looked like a haunted castle at night. Benjamin had mustered the courage to come out, but now he was too scared to go back.
He crouched down, considering the possibility of sleeping there for the night.
But fear made his mind race, and he couldn't sleep.
Tears welled up in his eyes, and he bit his lip, trying not to cry.
He heard the door handle turn.
A shadow loomed over him. Benjamin looked up to see Charles standing there, his expression a mix of frustration and resignation.
Before Benjamin could explain himself, Charles scooped him up, blanket and all, like a dish.
Benjamin's mouth fell open in shock. "What are you doing?"
"There's thunder. I'm scared," Charles said flatly.
But when the thunder rumbled, he didn't flinch. Instead, Benjamin clung to his neck in fear.
Realizing Charles was trying to save his dignity, Benjamin's heart warmed. "It's okay. I'm not scared. I can protect you."
Charles unwrapped Benjamin from the blanket and tucked him into bed, clumsily adjusting the covers. "Alright, buddy. You can protect me from here. I've got some work to do."
Benjamin nodded but looked displeased at the distance between the bed and Charles' desk.
He patted the spot next to him. "Why don't you work here? Closer to me, so I can protect you better."
Charles pressed his lips together, wondering why he was indulging Benjamin so much.
He had clearly turned him away just now, and Benjamin would surely have gone back on his own.
But seeing the fear in Benjamin's eyes, Charles' resolve softened.
Since he had already come this far, it didn't matter what he did next.
He sighed and, giving in, grabbed his files and laptop, settling on the bed to work.
Feeling the warmth and faint woody scent beside him, Benjamin felt comforted. He snuggled closer to Charles.
Noticing Benjamin inching closer, Charles glanced down and reminded him, "It's late. You should sleep."
Benjamin shook his head, remembering his earlier words. "No, I need to protect you."
But he yawned right after.
Charles turned back to his work, deciding to let it go. Kids had strange ideas, but they never lasted long.
Sure enough, after he had flipped through only three pages of his documents, he heard the faint sound of snoring beside him.
The sound was faint, like a kitten purring.
Charles paused and looked at Benjamin's peaceful face.
The familiar features reminded him of Diana, and his heart ached. He couldn't help but gently touch Benjamin's brow.
Benjamin stirred, mumbling in his sleep, and turned over.
The thunder had stopped, replaced by the gentle patter of rain.
Charles exhaled deeply, reminding himself that this wasn't his child.
At the airport.
Diana hadn't slept all night, dark circles under her eyes.
It was 2 PM when she landed. She checked her phone, seeing numerous messages.
Among them, she immediately noticed several from Benjamin.
Her heart skipped a beat as she opened it.
Reading his apology and the events at The Percy Manor, her feelings were mixed.
The good news was he was safe. The bad news was he was entangled in Charles' family affairs.
Diana had met Elise once after marrying Charles. Elise was a wolf in sheep's clothing, seemingly kind but truly ruthless.
As for Zachary, Diana had no memory of him.
Zachary had been sent abroad after Charles took over the family business.
Now, Benjamin being mistaken for his illegitimate child was absurd.
They hadn't done a paternity test yet, so Benjamin could temporarily assume another identity.
But this wasn't a long-term solution. With this identity, Benjamin couldn't escape.
Diana's expression grew more serious as she read Dean's messages.
He had thoroughly investigated the situation.
Seeing that Zachary was dead, Diana was stunned.
This meant there was no way to confirm Benjamin's paternity unless they decided to test Charles and Benjamin.
Diana was so engrossed in the messages that she didn't notice a passerby with a suitcase looking at the display screen.
They collided.
Diana rubbed her shoulder, frowning. "Sorry."
She thought it was just an accident, but the person suddenly called out, "I know you! Aren't you that...?"
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