Pampered by my three brothers: the return of the neglected heiress

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.

past this habit..." Haines trailed off, watching as Charles slowly lifted

noticing the change in Charles's usual expression. "What's wrong, Charles?" he asked, his voice quickly shifting with concern. "Did

he just stared at Haines with mixed emotions-heaviness, worry, confusion-all of them fusing together, making his chest

slightly, but no words came out. He didn't know where to start or

Haines insisted,

before that during my last mission... there was this woman who

"...

people were still looking for her body. Had it not been for another group saving

disbelief. "How is that

How could a dead person come back to

placed his hand on the small photo on the desk, the one Haines hadn't noticed among the others. He

woman's portrait beneath Charles's finger. When Charles finally removed his hand and revealed her face, the lines on Haines's face faded.

Haines picked up the

"That's her Charles whispered

his breath. "And it's in

out, and I knew right then and there... I can't close a deal with all these questions in my head, Haines. I'm

as Haines continued to

an eyebrow in confusion when he

The latter's complexion paled, and

he called, now completely

knew, he had shared the details of his traumatic experience

show them. So, seeing

but he had

was reacting to

Do you know her?" he asked, feeling as though something was

still unable to look away from the photo. His lips parted, trembling, before he forced out

"You... killed her?"