Chapter 1601: I once imagined a future with her.
[Bennet Mansion]
Charles was supposed to return to Miller’s Company. However, after picking up that photo, he ended up not going. Instead, he locked himself in his study and asked Butler Jen not to disturb him.
"Slater..." he whispered, his elbow propped on the armrest, eyes fixed on the photo on the desk. "... where did you get this?"
Or did someone send it to Slater, and his oblivious son just didn’t know?
According to Butler Jen, it must have slipped out from one of Slater’s things. After all, Butler Jen had seen this photo before in Slater’s room. Since that was all Butler Jen knew, Charles didn’t pry further and returned to his study.
His phone buzzed nonstop until he finally put it on silent. Silence quickly reigned in the study, with only his breath filling the space and his thoughts racing. His eyes never left the portrait, his breathing slow and heavy.
"Charles."
After a long silence, Haines’s angry voice broke through. The door instantly flew open, revealing Haines, his displeasure evident on his face. He dragged himself inside, leaning on his cane.
"Charles, what are you doing here?" Haines confronted him, stopping just a step short of the desk. "You were supposed to return to the company. We have an important deal to close. Did you forget that?"
Haines’s teeth clenched in irritation. It was he who had to deal with the consequences of Charles’s behavior. Thankfully, their big client had been appeased by Haines’s efforts, allowing them to look past Charles’s absence. Even so, that didn’t mean Charles didn’t deserve a scolding.
They were old now, and Charles’s antics when they were still in their prime should’ve been fixed.
"Charles, I thought you’d already moved past this habit..." Haines trailed off, watching as Charles slowly lifted his eyes to meet his gaze.