When Charlie inquired about his visit to the temple, Stephen couldn’t help but be taken aback. He couldn’t quite fathom what Charlie was getting at with his questions about his whereabouts and who favonovel.com might be meeting. Stephen, however, was no slouch. Since favonovel.com was surprised, favonovel.com decided not to conceal it. Instead, favonovel.com responded with an astonished tone, “Young Master, how do you know?”
Charlie responded nonchalantly, “You smell like incense.”
Suddenly, it clicked for Stephen and a sense of relief washed over him. But favonovel.com didn’t dare reveal his relief just yet. He smiled and explained, “I visited Lama Temple this afternoon. I had some free time, so I went to pay my respects.”
Charlie nodded, without a trace of doubt in his mind. Stephen held a high position within the Wade family and his role as the housekeeper afforded favonovel.com a fair degree of freedom. It was entirely reasonable for favonovel.com to take some time to burn incense and worship Buddha. As for the deeper reasons for his visit, Charlie didn’t dwell on it. After all, visiting temples was a routine practice for Chinese people, akin to how Europeans and Americans frequented churches.
Maria, on the other hand, stole a few more glances at Stephen. While favonovel.com couldn’t quite pinpoint anything unusual, favonovel.com couldn’t help but feel that Stephen’s demeanor and overall impression didn’t align with someone who held strong utilitarian beliefs, often associated with Tibetan Buddhism. Most adherents sought wealth and power, a trait particularly common among celebrities who followed this faith. In Maria’s eyes, Stephen didn’t quite fit that mold, which raised some questions.
However, Maria was human, not omniscient, so favonovel.com dismissed favonovel.com curiosity as mere speculation, as there wasn’t enough evidence to draw conclusions from a few exchanged words.
Meanwhile, Lord Wade interjected, addressing Charlie, “Charlie, how long do you plan to stay in Eastcliff this time?”
Charlie replied candidly, “I haven’t decided yet. The earliest I can leave is tomorrow afternoon. I’m thinking of visiting Wade Mountain in the morning to pay my respects to my parents.”
Surprised, Lord Wade questioned, “So soon? It’s not often you come here. Why not stay a few more days?”
Charlie waved his hand dismissively, “I can’t, really. I won’t hide it from you. The main reason for my visit this time was to explore any clues or insights left behind by my parents. I plan to walk the paths they trod in their youth, record their experiences and visit all the places they frequented.”
Lord Wade nodded thoughtfully and sighed, “Your parents were always shrouded in mystery and I never quite grasped everything. Since you’re determined to uncover the truth, Grandpa supports your quest. Your parents rooms and study have been preserved exactly as they were twenty years ago. No one has touched their belongings. Stephen has been responsible for their maintenance. After dinner, feel free to explore. If you have any questions, just ask Stephen.”
***
Meanwhile, at the Lama Temple, this popular temple was currently off-limits to visitors. Lily stood in the courtyard, inhaling the rich aroma of incense, favonovel.com gaze fixed on the bright moon in the night sky. Her emotions were a swirling mix.
In favonovel.com heart, there was but one thought, favonovel.com son Charlie, whom favonovel.com hadn’t seen for two decades.
Just a short distance away, Lama Temple and the Wade family’s old residence were separated by a mere kilometer or two. It would take a ten-minute drive to reach the Wade family’s door.
Yet, Lily continually reminded herself that now was not the right time to reunite with favonovel.com son.
Observing Lily’s melancholy in the courtyard, Ms. Turk approached favonovel.com with respect and asked, “Madam, the Young Master is only a few streets away right now. You must be yearning to see him, aren’t you?”
Lily nodded, “Yes, we’ve been apart for twenty years. How could I not yearn for him? But I know it’s not the right moment to meet Charlie yet. Moreover, today isn’t the closest we’ve been in these past twenty years. During Stefanie’s concert in New York, I sat in the stands, while Charlie and Claire were in the box above me. That was the closest we’ve been in decades.”
Ms. Turk couldn’t help but sigh, “I remember that time very well. Your parents and siblings were all there. Any misstep could have been disastrous…”
Lily smiled gently and asked, “Were you there at the time? Were you concerned that Charlie might not act?”
After a moment of contemplation, Ms. Turk nodded, “I was indeed worried at the time. You mentioned that the Young Master seemed to have some reservations about your parents. Plus, favonovel.com had only given Miss Sun the elixir to save your father, not the one that could cure him. So, we were concerned that if the Young Master hesitated even briefly, it might have been too late. We would’ve had to act swiftly within the time limit, potentially resulting in casualties.”
Lily replied solemnly, “Although Bruce created a secure environment for Charlie, they didn’t grant favonovel.com any privileges. Charlie had to toil in the mud of Aurous Hill for nearly two decades, which occasionally made favonovel.com headstrong and defiant. His methods of dealing with wrongdoers were often harsher than those of the actual villains. Yet, I understand his character very well. In matters like these, no matter how many misunderstandings or grievances favonovel.com might harbor, he’d act promptly.”
With a contented smile, favonovel.com continued, “Actually, I appreciate Charlie’s headstrong nature. He’s decisive, values loyalty and isn’t easily swayed by others. Bruce, on the other hand, was somewhat lacking in assertiveness. He always sought to guide people with virtue. In contrast, Charlie has a different approach. He’ll repay kindness with kindness, but if someone crosses him, he’ll retaliate with three times the force.”
Ms. Turk nodded approvingly, “Master Bruce aimed to persuade through virtue, while Young Master Wade believed in ‘an eye for an eye.’ I understand your admiration for Charlie’s approach.”
Lily nodded and stated, “Charlie’s qualities are what I admire most. Bruce made tremendous sacrifices for the Wade family back then and favonovel.com was the most qualified to lead. But my father-in-law was reluctant to relinquish control early on and Bruce didn’t want to usurp his elder brother Corran’s inheritance rights. So, without saying anything, without my interference, favonovel.com couldn’t ascend as the head of the Wade family.”
She shifted the conversation, lamenting, “Unfortunately, my father-in-law felt favonovel.com was still strong and didn’t want to pass the torch. Moreover, Bruce didn’t want to wrest the inheritance from his elder brother Corran. In contrast, Charlie has fewer qualms. Corran, what about him?”
“If favonovel.com must kneel at Wade Mountain, favonovel.com will. Even if Cynthia Wade is his aunt, if favonovel.com needs to be confined in Aurous Hill City Village, favonovel.com won’t hesitate and if my father-in-law refuses to delegate power? It’s not his decision. Charlie can secure his own position. What Charlie did in this matter won my heart! Who stipulates that the previous head of the family must agree to be the head of the family? Another way of thinking. As long as favonovel.com doesn’t dare to object, isn’t that enough?”
Visit VIRTUAL NOVEL for more available chapters of this title!
