Chapter 535 Thunderstorm Night
By the time they got back to the Percy Mansion, it was already dark.
It was early autumn, and the night air in Evergreen City was refreshingly cool.
Jacob had dinner ready, just waiting for Diana to come back and join him.
She now felt like she had taken over Charles's role, staying home with a young wife and a child. Her days were filled with work and family time.
This change made Diana feel a bit strange, and she found herself distracted when facing Charles and Benjamin.
It wasn't until Benjamin started chattering at the dinner table about how he and Charles had gone to pay respects to his great-grandmother that her expression softened a bit.
"You took Benjamin to pay respects?" she asked.
"Yeah, even though I didn't remember anything, I still wanted to go," Charles replied honestly.
The point wasn't whether he could remember anything after the visit, but that he had taken Benjamin with him.
Benjamin was just his brother's child, an illegitimate one at that...
Back when she wanted to visit the cemetery, she was strictly forbidden. Charles had really changed a lot.
She pursed her lips and followed his lead, "You don't need to rush to remember everything. Just let it come naturally."
"Okay," Charles said, his eyes crinkling into a smile.
Benjamin, eager to show off, changed the subject, "Ms. Spencer, try this! Mr. Percy and I made it together!"
Benjamin wasn't very skilled at cooking; he just wanted to give it a try. As for the food he claimed to have made himself, he had only cracked an egg.
Diana was a bit surprised as she took a bite. The taste was fine, but she was unlucky enough to bite into a piece of eggshell.
Seeing Benjamin's expectant expression, she chewed and swallowed without changing her expression.
"It's good, but Charles isn't fully recovered yet. It's better to let the chef handle these things."
Benjamin nodded, but Charles spoke up, "I can't do much at home, and it's boring. Making a meal for you is nothing. I want to learn to take care of you, not always be taken care of by you."
His words struck Diana like a small hammer to her heart. She turned her head to avoid Charles's intense gaze.
Sensing the subtle atmosphere between them, Benjamin couldn't help but say, "I wish every day could be like this. I would definitely eat more and grow up faster to protect you both."
With that, he stuffed his mouth full, looking like a little hamster.
Charles chuckled and patted his head, "Eat slowly."
The meal was harmonious. That night, Diana started working and called Charles over to sit beside her, explaining the company's current situation as she worked.
It was just like how Charles used to teach Diana, except she was doing it to free herself sooner.
Charles listened quietly. He was smart, and even though he had lost his memory, he quickly grasped work-related matters.
But he knew Diana's intentions, so he pretended to be confused.
Diana's mouth was dry from talking, and when she turned her head, she saw him staring at her in a daze.
She immediately poked his forehead, leaving a small crescent-shaped mark with her nail, making him look a bit silly.
"Are you listening?"
"Yes."
"How much did you understand?"
"About a third."
Charles snapped out of it, looking guilty, "Am I too stupid? I'll try harder next time."
Diana rubbed her temples. With his attitude, she couldn't get angry and could only continue, "It's okay, let's keep going."
After finishing her work, Diana realized the biggest problem of the day—sleeping arrangements.
Charles wasn't fully recovered and couldn't be left alone at night. In the hospital, a nurse had always stayed with him.
Now that they were home, she had completely forgotten about this. Unless she went downstairs to call a servant to stay with him.
"I'll ask Jacob to find someone to stay with you tonight," Diana said first.
"No, I don't feel comfortable with strangers in the same space," Charles immediately shook his head, gripping the blanket tightly.
He had just come home from the hospital, and aside from Diana, everyone else was a stranger to him.
Thinking of this, Diana frowned slightly, then heard him say, "I'll sleep in the guest room. You should rest early."
With that, he picked up his crutch and hobbled towards the door. His back looked somewhat forlorn.
"Wait."
Just as he reached the door, Diana called out to him, "You can sleep here. The bed is big enough; it won't be a problem."
The bed was so large it could easily fit two more people.
They had slept together before, she reassured herself, not noticing the triumphant smile Charles hid from view.
They lay on the bed, one on each side, with a person-sized gap between them.
Silence...
Diana closed her eyes, trying to ignore the fact that someone was beside her.
A flash of lightning split the night sky, followed by a deafening clap of thunder.
Diana wasn't prepared and shuddered in fright.
Charles immediately spoke, "Are you scared?"
"No," Diana stubbornly replied, "It's going to rain. Let's sleep early."
Unexpectedly, Charles turned his face in the dark and whispered, "I'm a little scared."
Diana thought she had misheard, but then she felt a hand grasp her wrist, tightening with each thunderclap.
"The day my mother died, there was thunder like this..." he began, bringing up that dark memory.
"She was a gentle person, but my father didn't like her. I was abandoned by my father before I was even born. So when I heard you say he died, I didn't care at all."
Charles let out a self-deprecating laugh, "At seven, I watched my mother die in a car accident right in front of me. If she were still alive, I wouldn't have returned to the Percy family. Maybe this is God's punishment for me."
Diana listened silently. She didn't know much about Charles's past, only bits and pieces from others.
The 30-year-old Charles would never have told her these things, nor shown such vulnerability.
But now, the 17-year-old Charles was gradually leaning towards her.
She felt him turn over, and in the brief flash of light from outside, she could see his intense gaze, as if seeking comfort.
Diana, an orphan who grew up in the alliance, had no strong feelings about parental roles.
She could only awkwardly pat his hand, "Don't be sad."
Even this short sentence seemed to give him immense encouragement.
The distance between them closed further.
Charles pulled her hand to his cheek. It felt warm.
Diana's fingertips touched something wet, possibly tears.
"You're so kind. Thank you," he whispered, his breath tickling her ear, making her shiver.
Her fingers were held in his hand, sending a tingling sensation through her.
His leg was still not fully functional, so he subtly pulled Diana closer. Soon, they were almost face-to-face, no longer separated by a large gap.
"I'm scared. Can you stay with me?"
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