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.

this habit..." Haines trailed off,

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

mixed emotions-heaviness, worry, confusion-all of them

He didn't know where to start or what

Haines insisted, clearly

that during my last mission... there

"...

tortured. Some people were still looking for her body. Had it not been for another group saving me, I would've been dead," he continued, causing

disbelief.

dead? How could a dead person

the desk, the one Haines hadn't noticed among the others. He

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

the photo

"That's her Charles whispered

his breath. "And it's

it on the way 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

eyebrow in confusion when

shake. The latter's complexion paled, and his eyes barely

called, now

far as Charles knew, he had shared the details of

them.

had never had

was reacting to

he asked, feeling as though

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

"You... killed her?"