Chapter - 5605

Steve harbored a secret, hidden deep within his heart. If he were to inherit the position of family patriarch in the future, he would never spare a second thought for the Wade Family, a second-rate clan. Once he overcame this current predicament and ascended to power, he would become an untouchable figure to Charlie.

What worth would the Wade Family hold then?

However, Steve kept these thoughts concealed, careful not to let them slip from his tongue.

With a smile, he addressed Charlie, "With your words, Mr. Wade, our families will undoubtedly become each other's most crucial allies in the future!"

Charlie, well aware that Steve was merely putting on an act, played along. The video recording on his phone continued and the more convincingly Steve acted, the more influential the video would be as a deterrent in the future.

Charlie couldn't help but sigh, "I heard that your father, Howard, is over 80 years old now?"

Steve nodded, replying, "Yes, my father just turned 84 this year."

"84?" Charlie sighed again, "That's quite an achievement!"

Steve was curious, "Why do you say that, Mr. Wade?"

Charlie nonchalantly smiled, "Oh in our country, there's a saying that when one reaches the ages of 73 and 84, it becomes a challenging time for the elderly. It implies that these years are filled with hardships, various illnesses and a higher chance of passing away. Since we're already in the fourth quarter of the year, if your father is fortunate, he might just pass away this year."

"Is that so?" Steve's initial reaction revealed his interest, unable to hide his smile and curiosity as he asked, "Mr. Wade, is there any scientific basis for this saying?"

Charlie waved his hand dismissively, "It's merely a folk belief, no scientific basis. But for you, or for us, it's something to look forward to, don't you think?"

Steve thought he had already said what he shouldn't have, so there was no need to hide anymore. In this cutthroat world of powerful families, where everyone secretly wished for their own father's demise, he was no exception.

Moreover, due to the recent Four Treasures of the Study incident, his grandfather had been making a fuss about who would inherit the family legacy. Steve naturally hoped that his father would pass away sooner rather than later.

Charlie's words struck a chord with him, leaving him feeling both embarrassed and exhilarated. He responded, "Then I'll borrow your well wishes, Mr. Wade!"

Charlie nodded, smiling, "Let's wish together!"

After saying this, they both shared a brief laugh.

Charlie, with a tinge of regret, remarked, "Ah, it would be even better if we had a glass of champagne to celebrate this moment."

Royce, standing nearby, quickly interjected, "We do! There's champagne in the liquor cabinet, I'll go fetch it!"

With haste, he retrieved a bottle of champagne and a few glasses, their arrival accompanied by the dim moonlight seeping through the window.

The champagne cork popped, followed by the harmonious clinking of three glasses.

As Steve sipped his wine, he visibly relaxed and grew more jovial.

Intrigued by the Four Treasures of the Study, he turned to Charlie and asked, "Mr. Wade, is there a chance Helena will arrive in Canada tonight?"

Charlie smiled, responding, "Of course, it's possible. Allow me to make the arrangements."

With that, Charlie ended the video recording and dialed Helena's number.

There was a six-hour time difference between Norway and New York.

Being in the more eastern region, it was already morning while darkness still cloaked New York. Helena, currently organizing her schedule for the coming days with her butler, was caught off guard by Charlie's call. She quickly found a way to shoo away her housekeeper. She answered the phone, her voice, brimming with excitement, "Hello, Mr. Wade!"

Hearing Helena's elation, Charlie couldn't help but feel a flicker of warmth in his heart. He smiled and inquired, "Helena, how have you been lately?"

"I'm doing well." Helena promptly replied, "Everything is fine, except for the constant nagging from the royal family, which is quite bothersome. But it's a minor issue."

Curiously, Charlie asked, "You're already a queen, who dares to nag you?"

Helena exhaled a sigh of resignation and said, "Mr. Wade, there's something you might not understand. Despite being the Queen, I am still bound by royal traditions. They're akin to congressional members, constantly inquiring about the minutiae of my life. They scrutinize everything from my attire and diet to my social interactions and speech. What's most vexing is their obsession with my marital status. Their relentless badgering about it is utterly infuriating."

Charlie, intrigued, inquired, "Does the royal family actually pressure the Queen into marriage?"

"It goes beyond mere pressure," Helena lamented. "They're intent on pairing me with a royal prince from another nation. Their biggest concern is preserving the royal lineage. But frankly, I'm indifferent to it. If there's no one to succeed me, I'd rather have the Nordic parliaments abolish the constitutional monarchy altogether after my demise."

Charlie chuckled, cautioning her, "You better not mention that idea to anyone else, or they'll accuse you of going against tradition."

Sighing, Helena confessed, "I know, Mr. Wade. I only confide in you about this matter."

Charlie smiled and inquired, "By the way, I heard you'll be visiting Canada next week?"

"Yes," Helena confirmed, "It's a state visit arranged by the government. There isn't much substance to discuss, mainly just appearances and strengthening public opinion and interaction between our countries."

Charlie asked, "Would it be possible to move up the schedule?"

"Move it up?" Helena queried, her curiosity piqued, "Why do you ask, Mr. Wade? Are you planning to go to Canada soon?"

Charlie didn't hold back, disclosing, "I've encountered some minor troubles in the United States and need to pass through Canada to return to China. If you can arrive in Canada as soon as possible, I can extricate myself from this situation."

Upon hearing this, Helena didn't inquire further about the specifics. Without hesitation, she assured him, "Mr. Wade, rest assured, I will do my best to expedite my departure to Canada. The sooner, the better."

With that, she checked the time and added, "Please wait a moment, Mr. Wade. I'll confirm with the relevant parties."

Typically, diplomatic visits adhere to strict schedules, involving intricate time and itinerary arrangements, as well as security preparations. Changing the schedule is not an easy task.

However, Helena's situation was unique.

Although she held the status of a national sovereign, her role primarily served as the Nordic region's foremost symbol. Moreover, her visit did not involve urgent matters. The main purpose was to make appearances, strengthen public opinion, and foster goodwill between the two countries. Adjusting the schedule wouldn't be too challenging.

In fact, Helena's visit to Canada was at the invitation of the Canadian government. They had shown considerable respect for her personal preferences, even in planning the itinerary and route. This level of consideration afforded her much more autonomy and control over the visit.

Furthermore, Helena possessed several significant advantages.

Firstly, she possessed extraordinary beauty, surpassing anyone in the European royal family. Even the most stunning Hollywood actresses throughout the years couldn't hold a candle to her.

Secondly, she exuded a youthful and optimistic image, radiating health and vitality.

Within the upper echelons of European and American society, who among them didn't have some dark history? Drug abuse, infidelity, promiscuity, violence, imprisonment, or even connections to the underworld. While it wouldn't be fair to brand the entire upper class with these vices, it was safe to say that they had a wide range of flaws.

But Helena was different.

Coming from a noble royal lineage, she received an aristocratic upbringing from a young age. While others were immersed in their rebellious phase, dating, frequenting nightclubs, smoking cigarettes, and even experimenting with drugs, she abstained from such vices. Even now, she remains untarnished.

Her impeccable positive image withstood even the most stringent scrutiny.

In the entire European and American upper-class society, Helena was a rare gem. She garnered a massive following across all age groups. The youth admired her, the middle-aged and elderly held her in high regard. They believed that having a daughter like her, poised, flawless, and continuously striving for self-improvement, was the epitome of an ideal. Even children adored her more than Loreen from "Frozen." Every child harbored a fairytale dream of becoming a prince or princess and liking Helena would garner their parents' utmost approval. She was seen as the most positive and likable role model in today's society.

In other words, Helena's ability to accumulate buffs was comparable to that of a person of color who also had gender identity disorder, extreme environmentalism, and was a vegetarian crossdresser passionately advocating for environmental protection in the United States.

Due to her continuous accumulation of buffs, Helena had already ascended to the ranks of top-tier celebrities worldwide. Various countries in Europe and America eagerly sought her presence, hoping to bask in her popularity and gain public favor. Canada was no exception. They treated her visit with utmost respect, accommodating her personal wishes regarding schedule and route. Thus, she possessed a significant degree of agency in this matter.

Though she didn't explicitly express her desire to arrive in Canada earlier, she informed the Canadian side that she was dealing with minor health issues and required treatment as prescribed by the royal family's doctor. She then presented Canada with a choice: either she would come earlier, or the visit would have to be postponed until the following year.

The Canadian side, eager to capitalize on her popularity and gain public favor, quickly agreed to Helena's request for a schedule change after a brief discussion.

With everything settled, Helena dialed Charlie's number and eagerly shared the news, "Mr. Wade, I've already communicated with the Canadian government and they have agreed to my request to come early. In three hours, at 7 a.m. local time in Canada, the royal family and the Canadian government will announce it simultaneously to the public!"

Charlie, thrilled by the news, quickly asked, "So, when are you departing for Canada?"

Helena, equally enthusiastic, replied, "I've already instructed the crew to get ready. The royal family and diplomats are finalizing the arrangements. We can depart in as little as four hours!"

Relieved, Charlie let out a sigh of gratitude and expressed his thanks, "Thank you, Helena. You've been a tremendous help this time!"