Chapter 802 Looking for Violet.
They couldn't understand a thing.
There was a strange icon on the computer desktop.
Charles had worked on it non-stop for three days and nights.
"What is this?" Patricia asked, curious.
Charles replied, "I put Violet's photo in it. It'll find anyone who looks like her, even if it's just a small part of her features. I'll get a notification."
Patricia was still confused, "How does it recognize Violet?"
Charles explained, "It's like a virus. I'll put it into every phone system. If someone uses facial recognition on any app, it'll compare their features to Violet's. If there's a ten percent match, I'll get the info and track them."
Patricia finally got it, "What if she doesn't use facial recognition?"
Charles said, "She will! Almost every app uses it for unlocking and payments. Once she does, I'll get her info."
Patricia and Martin were shocked.
Especially Patricia, who realized it was basically a virus.
It meant Charles had secretly put a virus into phone systems.
Every phone has a system.
So, the virus is already there when people use their phones.
If they use any app with facial recognition, Charles's virus will find people who look like Violet.
Then, their info goes to Charles.
Luckily, it was Charles doing this.
If it were someone else, Patricia's personal info would be stolen.
It was scary.
"Will every phone have it?" Patricia asked.
Charles nodded, "Yes! The best way is to infiltrate the system. Everyone has a phone, especially young people who use facial recognition. We should find Violet soon."
Patricia muttered, "What if we can't find her?"
She thought Charles was too optimistic.
They had been searching for two years without luck, and now they thought this app would work?
It was a long shot.
But Charles was confident, "As long as we haven't found Violet's body, she's alive! If she's alive, we can find her."
Patricia stayed silent.
She didn't want to tell him that everyone had hope when Billy went missing.
But they only found his body in the end.
People missing for a long time are usually in grave danger.
Though they kept searching, they knew the chances were slim.
Maybe they'd never find her.
But she didn't want to crush Charles's hope. It was good for him.
Martin put a hand on Patricia's shoulder and said to Charles, "If you think it's possible, go for it! Just don't give up on yourself, no matter what. You're the eldest son and have always made us proud. We don't want you to be devastated."
He had been through it.
He knew it too well.
Many heroes fall because of women.
Charles nodded, "I know! I won't make you worry! I'll put it into all systems now, and we should find Violet soon."
He sat back down and started working on the computer again.
Patricia and Martin said nothing, just watched him work.
They couldn't understand anything.
They just saw Charles's fingers flying over the keyboard, white text scrolling on the blue screen.
No one knew how much time had passed, but Charles finally hit enter and exclaimed, "OK! It's done! I should find Violet within a month."
Patricia and Martin exchanged a glance.
They knew Charles was too optimistic but didn't say anything.
Having hope was better than none.
Charles thought he could find Violet in a month.
But three years passed quickly.
Still no news.
He found many people who looked like Violet, some with a ninety percent match, but none were her.
Carter was also searching for Violet.
Ryan and Martin were helping too.
But there was no news at all.
She had been missing for five years.
Everyone knew the chances were slim, fearing she was in grave danger, but no one wanted to give up.
Two years after Violet went missing, the same year Charles found out, Lassie unexpectedly got pregnant and had a daughter.
Her arrival eased everyone's longing for Violet a bit.
Years flew by, and Charles was now twenty-seven.
At twenty-five, Fannie married the Oscar-winning actor she often argued with.
Even Randy got engaged.
But Charles stubbornly waited for Violet, convinced she was still alive and never stopped searching.
Seeing him like this broke Patricia's heart.
Charles had set up headquarters in Germany, so they only saw him a few times a year.
He never talked about Violet with Patricia on the phone.
So, Patricia and Martin made a special trip to Germany.
While visiting Maximilian and his wife, they also took the chance to talk to Charles.
Maximilian said, "Charles, it's been seven years, and we still haven't found Violet! Let it go! Don't wait any longer! According to the law, a person can be declared dead after four years of being missing. Even the law says they're likely gone. How long are you going to wait? You can't stay single forever."
Maximilian added, "Charles, your mother is right! It's been seven years. If Violet were alive, she would've contacted us by now! You can't keep waiting."
Charles snapped, "Are you here to eat or to lecture me?"
Patricia bluntly said, "I'm here to lecture you! Without this excuse, would you have come out? You're the same age as Fannie, and she already has a child, but you're still single! Even Randy is getting married this year! How much longer are you going to wait?"
Charles replied nonchalantly, "Didn't Grandpa search for you for over twenty years? Seven years is nothing compared to that."
Patricia was too angry to speak.
Maximilian explained, "That's different! Your grandpa was looking for his daughter; you're looking for a partner."
Charles confidently said, "What's the difference? Grandpa didn't marry while searching for Grandma and my mom. Didn't he find them after over twenty years? Regardless of the outcome, the process is the same!"
Patricia and Maximilian were left speechless by his rebuttal.
Seeing that Charles had upset them, Carol gently patted Maximilian's back and changed the subject, "Charles, Stella has a classmate from the journalism department looking for a summer internship. Can you find her a spot at your company?"
Stella Reed was Maximilian and Carol's daughter, three years younger than Maria Declan. At nineteen, she was a sophomore in journalism at D University.
Charles frowned, "My company makes mobile games. What can a journalism major do there?"
Carol said, "She can be a secretary or an assistant! She comes from a good family and just wants some experience. Can you help out?"
Charles hesitated, "Why not go to Maximilian's company?"
Carol replied, "You young people have more in common! Maximilian is older, and there's a generation gap."
Charles felt he couldn't refuse any longer, "What's her name? How old is she?"
"Her name is Hannah White, and she's nineteen, same as Stella. They're not only in the same department but also roommates. They get along great."
Charles gave a phone number, "This is my assistant's number. Have her contact my assistant directly."
Carol made an "OK" gesture, pleased.
"Charles, you..."
Before Carol could finish, Patricia wanted to keep persuading Charles, but Martin stopped her with a look.
Patricia had a lot to say but held back.
Charles knew Patricia was worried and tried to comfort her, "Mom, I've regretted it all these years! I regret not going back even once to finish my studies early. By the time I learned about Violet, so much time had passed. Why didn't I notice anything unusual during those two years? I blame myself. I keep thinking if I had known about Violet's kidnapping right away, would the outcome have been different? So, please don't worry about me! I know what I'm doing."
Patricia didn't say anything this time, feeling only heartache.
It wasn't just Charles; they all regretted keeping it from him back then.
If Charles had intervened, would the outcome have been different?
Unfortunately, what's done is done, and no amount of regret can change the past.
Charles's feelings were undoubtedly the same as theirs.
They had no right to ask anything more of Charles.
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