"How... how did you suddenly find out?"
President Hart kept his mouth shut.
Benny Palr couldn’t resist gossiping, so he sat up and pressed for details, "Did you go see Alia last night? That foreigner ca again?"
Christopher’s lips were sealed tight, not a crack showing.
"Co on, just say sothing!"
"Aren’t you annoying!" President Hart snapped.
Facing his current dilemma, he had pondered all day without finding a good solution, so after his outburst, he briefly ntioned what had happened last night.
"I thought I could detain him for a few days to vent my frustration. But then, soone from the embassy arrived almost imdiately, even the consulate general called, and he got released after paying a fine."
Before he finished speaking, Benny Palr burst into wild laughter, pounding the table so hard he almost started dancing.
While Lucas King didn’t dare to be so "extravagant," he rely shook his shoulders silently, holding back.
"What are you laughing at?" President Hart snapped, glaring at them.
Benny Palr was chuckling uncontrollably, truly unable to calm down, and naturally unable to speak.
Christopher realized belatedly, anger flashing across his face as he threw the paperwork at hand, "Thinking of cutting ties, huh? Laugh again and I’ll make sure you don’t see tomorrow’s sun!"
Benny Palr waved his hands repeatedly, sitting upright, his face all red.
"Stop... stop, we won’t laugh anymore—" he said, picking up the scattered papers and trying to calm himself down.
"I was wondering why you changed cars this morning. Turns out the Bentley went for repairs," Benny realized as his laughter faded.
Christopher: "..."
Lucas King said, "When I did so research before, I indeed didn’t find out about his noble connections."
"Right!" Benny Palr suddenly rembered sothing, "You said before that Alia’s jewelry brand is quite popular among the European Royalty, right? And thanks to that, she got to know a lot of European elite— I was wondering how capable she was! Now you say that foreigner is nobility; it makes sense."
Lucas King also realized, "Yes, yes, the ’Venus’ brand is indeed popular among European nobles—so that’s the real story! This ans that the guy is a benefactor to the lady."
At those words, Christopher’s face grew even darker.
Receiving a warning look from his boss, Lucas King quickly cleared his throat and changed his wording, "Well... actually President Hart’s wealth is vast enough to rival countries, his power isn’t less than that Countess’s brother—right, Benny?"
Benny Palr smiled encouragingly, "Not bad, strong survival instinct."
"No, I’m telling the truth."
Worried about further slips of the tongue, Lucas King grabbed the signed docunts and hurriedly made his escape.
After the laughter had subsided, Benny Palr shook his head helplessly and sighed.
Christopher glanced at him, "What do you an?"
"I’m saying, you... you’re being more childish as you age. If you want to see her, just go and talk to her straightforwardly, explain things, and express your feelings sincerely—you hit her car, nearly got her arrested; aren’t you just forcing her to hate you and pushing her further away?"
Christopher’s face displayed unbearable embarrassnt, yet he stubbornly retorted, "I ant to have a proper talk with her, I waited outside her studio all night. But then I saw that foreigner picking her up with roses, and they were hugging and cuddling in the street—put yourself in my shoes, would you have stayed calm?"
"I understand you’re jealous and envying, but you can’t lose your reason!"
"Alright, stop talking about it! It makes my blood boil just thinking about it!"
Benny Palr could understand his feelings.
The more agitated he was, the more it showed he couldn’t let go.
Since he couldn’t let go, he might as well take action.
"Every ti I give you advice, when you execute it, you always incorporate that distinct ’Hart Clan’ flair. At this point, I don’t even know how to advise you anymore."
"Are you not the self-proclaid master of emotions?" President Hart mocked.
Benny Palr spread his hands. "Even the best emotion guru can’t teach a steel-straight guy like you!"
"..."
"Can’t you just put your pride aside, calm down, and have a proper talk with her? Even if she mocks you or is set on her decisions, don’t get angry, don’t push back. Just bear it even if it bleeds inside, and let her vent."
After saying this earnestly, Benny paused thoughtfully, his expression deep and aningful.
"After all, you owe it to her. Think about how she felt when your family wrongly accused her, unable to defend herself, and compare it to your little loss of face now. Who is in more pain, who is more wronged?"
"Alright, I’m off work. You think about it yourself."
After leaving behind these words, Benny got up and left, leaving him alone in contemplation.
So people, having stood too long in the clouds and grown accustod to everyone’s admiration,
find it very difficult to bow their heads and admit their faults.
Yet no matter how hard, it’s not harder than the loneliness of being alone, or the longing in the quiet of the night.
————
Lately, Hope had been fussing about wanting her mom, seeming down and listless day after day.
After several rainy days this autumn, a clear sunny day finally ca. The little girl, on impulse, expressed her wish to go to the amusent park.
Aunt Harper hurriedly asked Christopher Hart for instructions.
"Hope, daddy said he’ll be ho soon to take you to the amusent park. Can we wait a little longer?" Aunt Harper finished the call and turned back, her voice soft as she coaxed the little girl.
But Hope pouted angrily, "I don’t want daddy to co along! I dislike daddy!"
"Hope, you shouldn’t speak about daddy like that. He loves you so much," Aunt Harper squatted down and soothed her patiently.
"What good does his love do? If he was capable, he would bring mommy back! I finally found mommy, and just after a few days, he made her leave again!"
Hope was quite astute.
No matter how much she’d been causing a fuss to see her mom, her dad wouldn’t take up the topic or call her mom—she knew they must have argued, and dad had driven mom away.
Seeing Aunt Harper not responding, Hope jumped off the sofa, took Aunt Harper’s hand, and started pulling her towards the door, "I don’t want him to co. If he cos, I won’t go! I just want to play by myself!"
Aunt Harper knew father and daughter hadn’t been seeing eye to eye these days, so reluctantly, she called Christopher Hart again.
Christopher was almost ho, but hearing that his daughter insisted on not having him co, otherwise she wouldn’t go—he had no choice but to let go of the idea.
"Alright, Aunt Harper, you go with Fuller, and don’t stay out too long. She’s still recovering from surgery, don’t let her get too tired or cold."
"Okay, Mr. Hart, I’ll take good care of Miss Hope."
Finally being able to go out alone, Hope clapped her hands happily and cheerfully, eager to get in the car and leave.
As the car reached the bustling streets, not yet arriving at the amusent park, Hope suddenly called a stop, "Aunt Harper, I want that."
Aunt Harper looked out of the car window and saw a vendor selling helium balloons.
A bunch of balloons, variously shaped and appealing to kids, swayed in the sunlight.
"Alright, you stay in the car, and Aunt Harper will go buy it for you."
"No, I want to go down too."
"Hope..."
"I want to pick the one I like."
Hearing this, Aunt Harper had no choice but to let Fuller pull over and wait while she and Hope went to purchase the balloons together.
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