Chapter 73 A Potential Choice

Charlotte began describing Julianne. "Not only is she stunning but she's also incredibly open and honest with us, always ready to share the latest gym gossip. Julianne is a fascinating person. "However, her background is somewhat tragic; she's an orphan, raised in an orphanage. That's why I asked if you had any specific requirements regarding family background." Daniel replied, "I see. Those kinds of details aren't important to me. Based on your description, I'd really like to meet her. But is she even interested?" Relieved that Daniel was not preoccupied with these aspects, Charlotte assured him, "Next time I attend class, I'll ask her." "I'm available anytime; just call me to arrange the meeting." Charlotte nodded. "Sure thing, we've got this covered." Over the years, Daniel's family had often introduced him to various young women, always matching his preferred type. Yet, he felt these arrangements were akin to arranged marriages. He preferred the casualness of dating freely, without such complexities. In their social circle, marriages of convenience were not uncommon, yet few were genuinely happy. Daniel preferred to avoid such an unhappy lifetime commitment. Moreover, women raised in their environment often had complex, multifaceted personalities. Therefore, finding someone as straightforward and genuine as Charlotte or Sofia was indeed rare. Charlotte and Sofia, who were both quite remarkable themselves, thought very highly of Julianne. Their regular interactions with her only deepened this admiration, giving them the confidence to introduce her to others without any second thoughts. Sofia, finding the conversation somewhat dull, suggested, "Why don't we take a walk around?" Charlotte took a moment to admire the estate before getting to her feet. "Let's go for a walk,' she suggested. 'You two can stay here and chat. We'll be back to join you in a bit." Luke, who had been holding Charlotte's hand since their arrival, seemed reluctant to let go at the thought of her leaving, even briefly. "You'll miss me, won't you? I'll only be gone for a little while." Caelan, though more reserved, still expressed his concern for Sofia. "Remember how you sprained your ankle? It's not fully healed yet. Maybe you should wear flats instead. Don't walk too much, and rest if you feel tired." Sofia, in her diamond-studded high heels, gave a playful bounce. "You're acting just like my mom; don't worry, I'm totally fine." "That's not an option," Caelan insisted, producing a paper bag. "Please change into these shoes. I really can't relax with you wandering around in heels." Sofia reluctantly acquiesced. "You really don't trust me, do you? I've told you, I'm fine." Caelan remained adamant, saying, "No, it's not okay." Sofia, unable to argue further, obediently sat down to change her shoes. "Happy now?" Caelan nodded, satisfied. "Yes, that's better. Be careful when you walk; we don't want another injury." Sofia, clearly getting annoyed with Caelan's fussing, shot back, "Okay, okay, I get it. You're turning into my mom here, always on my case. If I'd known you were this protective, I might've thought twice about us." Daniel, sitting nearby, was caught in their affectionate banter. "Isn't this a bit unfair to me?" Daniel complained, feeling his single status more acutely. "Here I am, still single. Don't my feelings count for anything?" "Your feelings?" Caelan glanced back at him briefly. "Your feelings don't matter." Luke, unable to contain his amusement, chimed in with a knowing tone, "Once you have a girlfriend, you'll be just like us." Seizing the opportunity, Sofia sneaked away with Charlotte. Once alone, she exhaled deeply, "Finally, some peace." "Is he always like this?" "Yes, you wouldn't believe how much Caelan can go on. He's so young, yet he talks so much." As they strolled, Charlotte remarked, "He does that because he cares, you know. If he didn't, he wouldn't say half as much." "I know he means well, but it can be really annoying." Charlotte shook her head in resignation, thinking how Sofia, just like in her younger days, disliked being overly managed. Yet, ironically, she had chosen a boyfriend who was precisely that – a caring, instructive figure. Despite earlier impatience, Sofia's obedience to Caelan indicated she had found someone who could manage her. In the vineyard, a rose garden was in full bloom, its scent filling the air and bringing a sense of calm to Charlotte and Sofia as they drew near. However, their serene moment was abruptly interrupted when they encountered three people. Upon seeing them, Charlotte considered turning away, but Bill called out to her. "So you still refuse to acknowledge me as your father?" Charlotte bristled at his words. 'How dare he imply that I'm the one who disowned him? He was the one who turned me away from home, and now he's playing the victim?' "I'm sorry, I don't know you," she retorted. Floriana, standing just behind Bill, chimed in with a sneer, "So, Charlotte, you've worked your way up and now you're just going to ditch your family? You should remember, without us, you wouldn't have made it far. Don't forget where you really come from." "What do you want?" Bill, aware of Charlotte's strong relationship with Luke and that the children she bore were Luke's, still harbored hopes of leveraging his daughter for business advantages, despite the strained relationship. As he observed Charlotte's retreating figure, Bill displayed an uncharacteristically tender expression. "I just want to talk. We haven't seen each other in so long. Don't you miss me at all?" Charlotte unleashed years of pent-up resentment. "You know, when I needed you the most, you shut me out, wouldn't even open your door. That's when I promised myself I'd never come back. And now here you are, acting all concerned? Just to be clear: I'm done. We're nothing to each other now, and I want you to stay out of my life, for good." Shaking with anger, Charlotte couldn't fathom how they had the audacity to confront her after all that had happened.