Chapter 525 Stay
Benjamin stood off to the side, feeling a pang of sympathy as he saw how upset Dean was. He gently took Dean's hand.
"Dean, Mr. Percy isn't that bad. Otherwise, Mommy wouldn't be helping him."
Diana, after scolding Dean, fell silent and looked at him. After a moment, her heart softened.
"Dean, I promise I'll be fine. Trust me. Take Benjamin back to the Alliance. Once things are settled here, I'll come back right away."
She opened her arms and pulled Dean into a tight hug, patting his back firmly to comfort him.
"Mommy, I want to stay with you. Mr. Percy saved me before."
Benjamin blinked his eyes, expressing his desire. Diana poked his forehead.
"If you stay, how am I supposed to take you back? Go with Dean. Be good and don't cause trouble."
"But I don't want to! Mommy, I'm strong too. I can help you! That bad guy is back, right? I can help you deal with him."
Seeing his request denied, Benjamin started to whine.
But with Diana and Dean both there, he knew he was outmatched.
Before he could plead further, Dean spoke sternly.
"You're coming back with me. Don't make things harder for your mommy."
Benjamin pouted, on the verge of tears, when a phone call interrupted.
Diana stepped back a few paces to answer the call, distancing herself from the two.
Whatever the caller said, it made her expression darken.
Dean and Benjamin exchanged glances. When she finished the call, Dean asked, "What happened?"
"There's an issue at the company. I need to go. Benjamin, stick with Dean and don't trust anyone else."
Clearly, the call was related to Benjamin.
Without further explanation, Diana tidied her hair and went to find Nolan.
-
In the hospital room, after Diana left, the atmosphere between Charles and Nolan became a bit awkward.
Nolan quickly broke the silence, starting to unpack breakfast for Charles.
"Mr. Percy, the doctor said you can only have liquids for now, so I got you these."
Charles glanced at the unidentifiable liquid, a mix of yogurt and fruit puree, not particularly eager to drink it.
But Nolan was considerate, even handing him the straw.
Remembering Diana's words about Nolan being a good person, Charles took a few sips.
Nolan, facing his amnesiac boss, felt a wave of emotion.
Though they hadn't talked much, it was clear that the current Charles was much easier to get along with than before.
But then Nolan remembered that with Charles awake, Diana would leave. What would happen to the company?
Was he, just an assistant, supposed to hold everything together?
Nervous, Nolan didn't notice he was gripping the bedsheet, pulling it askew.
Charles noticed his tension and frowned.
"What's wrong?"
Nolan paused, quickly releasing the sheet and shaking his head.
"Nothing, Mr. Percy. Just thinking about the company."
"What about it?"
Charles, groomed by Juniper to be a successor from a young age, found company matters manageable even with only his 17-year-old memories.
The interpersonal dynamics and unwritten rules, however, were still a mystery.
Seeing Charles's interest, Nolan felt a surge of hope. He checked the hallway to ensure no one was around before speaking.
"Mr. Percy, I know you don't remember me, but I swear everything I'm about to say is true."
Charles lowered his lashes, giving a faint nod.
Nolan spoke quickly but clearly.
"Mr. Percy, the company is currently managed by Ms. Spencer. She promised to step down once you recovered."
"But there were many misunderstandings between you two. She agreed to manage the company because I begged her. We agreed that once you woke up, she would leave."
Charles's expression changed, his frown deepening as he recalled Diana's words from the previous night.
Their marriage lacked affection and was heading for divorce.
"How long have we been married? Why are we divorcing?"
"Just married..."
Nolan hadn't finished when Charles's eyebrows shot up. Just married and already divorcing? What kind of jerk had he been to end up in this situation?
"Go on."
"You and Ms. Spencer were married seven years ago, arranged by your grandmother. You were very unhappy with Ms. Spencer, so you divorced two years later..."
Nolan detailed their complicated history, not sparing any of Charles's past misdeeds.
The more he spoke, the darker Charles's expression became.
No wonder she was so resistant to him.
Had he really grown into such a cold, heartless person?
"Who is that child, and the man from earlier?"
Though he had only seen them briefly, the child's resemblance to him was striking.
"That's your brother's illegitimate child, kept at home as a hostage."
Nolan paused, choosing simpler terms.
"And the man is Ms. Spencer's brother."
He didn't elaborate on the blood relation.
"Zachary's child looks that much like me?"
Charles asked first.
"When Zachary was reported dead, his body was never found, so no paternity test was done. Based on the child's words and Elise's reaction, it seems he is indeed Zachary's child."
"Zachary is back now, isn't he? Have them do a paternity test. If he really is Zachary's child, why hasn't he done anything yet?"
Charles felt a strong sense of familiarity with the child. Even if the results were disappointing, he needed to know for sure.
Nolan noted this immediately.
"Is she really leaving?"
Charles asked again.
"Yes."
"If I were my old self, what would I do?"
Charles took a deep breath, as if making a decision.
"Not let her leave."
Nolan answered without hesitation.
Hearing the answer he expected, Charles rubbed his temples.
"Then that's what we'll do."
Nolan was momentarily speechless. So, no matter the age, Charles was always cunning.
"Got it."
But after agreeing, Nolan felt a pang of guilt. He had begged Diana to stay, but now that Charles was awake, he was turning on her.
His thoughts were interrupted as Diana burst into the room, urging Nolan.
"There's an issue at the company. Let's go."
"Okay."
Nolan quickly stood, but then remembered Charles alone in the room and hesitated.
"Ms. Spencer, what about Mr. Percy?"
Diana glanced at him briefly, replying offhandedly.
"The nurse will come."
But then she paused, as if remembering something, and corrected herself.
"Have Eugene come over. And increase the room's security."
Charles didn't have many friends, but Eugene, though unreliable at times, was trustworthy.
"Understood."
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