Chapter 432 Night Talk
Charles paused, his brow relaxing as he asked, "You've been with your mom since you were a kid and don't know your dad. Why are you asking about him?"
'Moreover, he's already dead now.'
Charles didn't say this last sentence out loud, not wanting to upset Benjamin.
Benjamin, determined to talk, closed his eyes and said loudly, "I just want to know what kind of person he was."
Looking at the young boy in front of him, Charles suddenly thought of himself.
Over twenty years ago, when he was just seven, he witnessed his mother's death and felt like his world had collapsed.
It was Juniper who took him in and told him he still had a family, that he was a son of the Percy family.
When Charles was young, he never knew he had a father.
His mother raised him alone, ensuring he never lacked food or clothing.
Charles always thought his parents were divorced or that he was just a child his mother had when she was young and naive.
It wasn't until he saw his father that he realized he was an unacknowledged child, which was why his mother never told him who his father was.
The day he returned to the Percy Manor was a night when the rain that had been falling for days suddenly stopped.
The puddles on the road reflected the streetlights, making them dazzling.
Seven-year-old Charles had wet shoes, and the damp, cold feeling made him curl his toes uncomfortably.
He clutched his clothes with one hand while Juniper held the other.
In front of him was the grand, brightly lit Percy Manor.
When he saw it from across the river, Charles thought it was a castle from a fairy tale.
But as he got closer, an inexplicable fear rose in his heart.
A man and a woman stood on the steps not far away. The man was tall, his upper body hidden in the darkness, making his expression unclear.
The woman stood on a lower step, arms crossed, with curly hair and nails painted a vivid red. Her slightly upturned eyes looked at Charles with a hint of coldness.
He heard Juniper beside him say, "Charles, that's your father. Come, call him Dad. From now on, you'll live with us."
Charles' shoulder was gently pushed. He stood in front of the two, bewildered, and this time he saw the disgust in his father's eyes.
The man frowned in disdain and said coldly, "I don't have this child. Mom, can you stop causing trouble?"
Young Charles felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar.
Although he had never met his father, they looked alike, and that blood connection made him feel a natural closeness to this stranger.
But the man hated him.
He heard Juniper's angry scolding, "What nonsense are you talking about? His mother just passed away. He's a Percy family child. How can you let him be out there?"
"We already have Zachary at home! Why bring him back? His mother deserved to die. She took the money and lived well, didn't she?"
Despite his age, Juniper was still strong. Hearing this, he stepped forward and slapped him hard.
Elise's face changed, and she quickly intervened, "Mom, Zachary is at home. Don't hit James here."
Juniper shook his sore hand and pulled Charles behind him. "Zachary is my grandson, and so is Charles. His mother owes us nothing. But you, as his father, not only refuse to acknowledge him but also hurt him. He just lost his mom, and you might as well be dead to him!"
James covered his face, stunned. Spoiled since childhood, this was the first time he'd been hit like that.
Furious, he spat out, "He's a bastard. If his mom's gone, send him to a children's home. I won't acknowledge him. I don't have this son!"
Juniper raised her hand to hit him again, but Charles stopped her.
She paused, not wanting to scare the child, and patted his back, saying loudly, "It's not up to you. He's a Percy. If you won't acknowledge him, I will! If you won't raise him, I will!"
With that, she took Charles out of the Percy Manor. This was not his home.
Charles looked back and saw Elise tenderly blowing on James's face.
A younger boy ran out of the house, crying and throwing himself into James' arms. Both of them started comforting the child.
James and Elise didn't care about their departure.
Coldness, disgust, hatred—these were all the feelings Charles experienced from his father.
"Mr. Percy, you can start now. I'm ready."
The childish voice pulled him from his memories.
Charles came back to his senses and realized Benjamin had climbed onto his bed at some point.
The dog plushie was placed beside him, both the boy and the toy waiting for him with bright eyes.
Charles pressed his thin lips together, about to scold him, but Benjamin quickly played the pity card, "My mommy isn't here, and my dad is dead. I've never met him. Can't I just know a little about him?"
Charles walked to the edge of the bed, his voice cold, "I wasn't close to your dad. Asking me won't help."
Benjamin chuckled, blinking, "No one knew him better than you. Mr. Percy, just say whatever comes to mind. I can handle it."
Maybe it was his sincerity, or perhaps Charles was moved by the anticipation in his eyes. He lifted a corner of the blanket and got on the bed, saying, "Your dad was an idiot, a fool."
Benjamin almost burst out laughing but bit the plushie's ear to hide it, nodding vigorously.
"He was hypocritical, good at pretending. But more like a snake, always trying to bring me down. Too bad I was better than him."
Benjamin continued nodding, this time genuinely. Charles' abilities were well-known. Otherwise, he wouldn't have inherited the Percy family estate.
Now everyone looked up to him, forgetting his illegitimate status.
As Charles spoke, he felt it was pointless.
He never considered Zachary a brother, and Zachary felt the same.
Two people who hated each other couldn't say anything good about one another.
"That's it. You can sleep now."
Charles lay down mercilessly, turning his back to Benjamin.
Benjamin stared at the ceiling and suddenly asked, "Mr. Percy, what do you think of me?"
Charles, eyes closed, was annoyed, "What do you mean?"
"You hated my dad. Why did you take care of me and even take a bullet for me?"
Benjamin turned to look at the back of his head.
The atmosphere was silent for a few seconds.
Just when Benjamin thought he wouldn't answer, Charles' deep voice came.
"You're different from him. You didn't grow up with him. You're not as stupid."
With that, he closed his mouth, saying no more.
But Benjamin understood what he meant.
So Charles did like him.
His dad wasn't so bad after all.
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