Chapter - 5997

After reaching an agreement with Tawanna, Charlie chose not to inform his wife Claire about it right away.

He intended to surprise her once Tawanna arrived in Aurous Hill.

As for Don Albert, he, too, planned to keep it under wraps.

So, Charlie called Don Albert and inquired, "Don Albert, do you have any guests at Heaven Springs tomorrow afternoon?"

Don Albert replied, "Master Wade, some friends have made reservations for Heaven Springs tomorrow, but I've kept the diamond box free for you just in case you need it."

Charlie nodded and said, "Tomorrow, please prepare a banquet of the highest standard at Heaven Springs. I have a friend coming over, so it would be best if you could be there then."

"Absolutely." Although Don Albert had recently learned that Tawanna was attending the concert, he wasn't a fan and didn't know much about the specifics, let alone the connection between Charlie and her. Therefore, when he heard that Charlie had a distinguished guest, he didn't think too deeply about it.

Later that evening, Charlie asked Claire, "Honey, you don’t have any plans for tomorrow afternoon, right? Let’s go out for dinner."

"I don’t have any plans," Claire replied. "Why do you suddenly want to eat out?"

Charlie responded, "Let’s just go out and enjoy each other's company."

"Alright!" Claire agreed, curiosity piqued. "Where are we going?"

Charlie said, "I haven’t decided yet, but don’t worry about it. I'll pick you up at the office tomorrow."

"Okay!"

...

At noon the following day, Tawanna flew from Tokyo to Aurous Hill on her private jet.

The Japanese media covered the entire process of her departure, with Fuji TV even airing a live segment titled "Goodbye Tawanna." Countless fans gathered at the airport, some lining both sides of the guardrail outside the runway to bid her farewell. The scene shocked many, reminiscent of the days when Michael Jackson dominated the world stage.

Not only were fans in Tokyo excited, but the enthusiasm from Chinese fans was equally fervent.

Fans familiar with civil aviation had already learned the registration number of Tawanna's private jet, so as soon as it took off, they began tracking its movements. Thousands of fans prepared to welcome her at the Aurous Hill Airport.

On the plane, Tawanna settled into a luxurious, comfortable seat, lost in thought as she gazed out at the vast ocean below. Occasionally, she'd glance towards the horizon, eager to see land again, knowing that when she spotted it, she would be almost there.

These past few days, Tawanna found herself missing Charlie more than ever.

It was a strange sensation for her.

Since her debut, she had a colorful romantic history and prided herself on being someone who embraced love and heartbreak. However, when it came to Charlie, she found herself only daring to think about him internally, never revealing her feelings to anyone.

Trevor, sitting next to her, also felt a sense of distance. He sensed that his girlfriend had been uncharacteristically detached over the past few days.

Initially, he thought it was due to a prior argument that might have left her feeling upset with him.

But as the days passed, he realized that her behavior wasn't due to anger but rather absent-mindedness. For instance, she sat quietly, staring out the window as if lost in thought. This was unusual for a woman known for her vivacity and cheer.

In the past, when on a plane, she filled the space with conversation, played her travel guitar, or engaged in small games, except for when she was sleeping.

But today was the first time she remained so quiet and contemplative.

He couldn’t help but wonder, "What could have caused such a change in Tawanna? Was it the previous argument or something else? With Mr. Wade’s assistance, the crisis had been resolved; why was she still affected by it?"

Suddenly, a troubling thought crossed his mind: "Could it be that she... has developed feelings for Mr. Wade?!"

"But that can't be! Mr. Wade is clearly married..."

"Is it possible that her sadness comes from the fact he's married and she can't love him freely?"

"That... could very well be the case..."

Reflecting on the distance he experienced with his girlfriend lately, Trevor felt an overwhelming sense of disappointment.

He loved Tawanna deeply and could overlook her flaws, her naïve perspective, and her complicated past.

However, he found it intolerable that she might be harboring feelings for another man—especially someone like Mr. Wade, who had saved his life and whom he felt he could never measure up to...

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, he said, "Hey babe."

Tawanna, lost in her reverie, didn’t hear him.

Trevor sighed, leaning closer and raising his voice, "Hey babe."

Snapping back to reality, Tawanna smiled sheepishly and asked, "What’s up, dear?"

He smiled and asked, "What’s on your mind? You seem a bit lost in thought."

Tawanna brushed her hair back somewhat nervously and replied with a smile, "I was just thinking about the upcoming performances; there are a total of 20, and it's quite a challenge."

Trevor realized she wasn’t sharing the whole truth, but he chose not to press her. Instead, he offered some reassurance: "I know after everything that’s happened, you must be feeling exhausted and wanting a good break. However, this is a commitment to Mr. Wade, so you'll have to hang in there."

He deliberately mentioned Charlie to gauge Tawanna’s reaction to his name.

Sure enough, just hearing Mr. Wade's name brought a genuine smile to Tawanna's face, and she didn’t even realize how her expression had shifted.

Seeing this, Trevor sighed inwardly. This was the first time he had seen Tawanna smile genuinely since she had been so preoccupied.

It seemed his suspicion was indeed on point.

Tawanna seemed to open up as she said, "I've been touring for so long, and I actually feel very worn out. I forced myself to stay cheerful, telling myself it was a way of repaying Mr. Wade."

Then, as if recalling something, she added, "By the way, Trevor, are you heading back to the United States soon for training and competitions?"

Trevor nodded, saying, "The coach and team manager have reached out to me. They hope I can return soon, and I must be back with the team within five days."

Tawanna smiled and replied, "That’s fine. If you have commitments, you should take care of them. I’ll arrange a flight for you. I’ll remain in China to complete these 20 performances. After that, I’ll take a few months off before heading back to the U.S."

Trevor asked, "Babe, when you finish the performances and return to the United States, will things be the same between us?"