Chapter - 6044

When the two of them returned to the Sun family mansion, Angie was busy directing the servants to prepare lunch, while Orrin was preoccupied with feeding a pond of koi he had raised.

He had invested a lot of effort into this koi pond. In Eastcliff, where temperatures dropped significantly below freezing, he had installed a complete system of circulation and heating equipment to maintain the water temperature at about 25 degrees Celsius.

Noticing Charlie and his daughter returning together, he smiled and said, "Stefanie, your mother asked you to go help her in the kitchen when you got back. Why don't you go ahead, and let Charlie stay with me for a bit?"

Stefanie was slightly taken aback. Her mother rarely asked her to pitch in with housework, so why the sudden request?

However, Stephanie was perceptive and quickly realized that her mother might have something important in mind and wanted to discuss it with her, so she smiled and replied, "Dad, you and Charlie can chat for now; I'll head in to help."

Charlie didn’t think much of it, nodded, and said, "Go ahead, and let me know if you need my help."

Stefanie smiled and replied, "In our family, it’s a rule that men don’t go to the kitchen."

With that, she turned and casually walked away.

Seeing his opportunity for a private conversation with Charlie, Orrin wanted to engage in a heartfelt discussion. However, he recalled his wife's previous advice to avoid sensitive topics until he received a signal from her, so he decided to tread carefully and steer clear of core issues.

He smiled and said to Charlie, "Charlie, I’ve noticed that Bruce Automotive has been quite active lately. Are you set on securing this project?"

Charlie nodded earnestly and replied, "Uncle Orrin, this project was initiated by my father, and it represents a significant risk for the reputations of both the Wade and the Evans families. We have to give it our all."

"That's great to hear!" Orrin exclaimed. "As Chinese, we have often been too subtle. We used to think that naming companies or brands after ourselves was boastful, but I hold a different view. Isn’t this a brilliant opportunity to leave a lasting legacy? You must ensure it’s a success!"

Charlie responded respectfully, "Uncle Orrin, you can rest assured that we will put forth our utmost effort."

While the two men conversed, Stefanie had already made her way to the kitchen.

Angie was busy organizing the servants to prepare the ingredients. Upon seeing Stefanie enter, she quickly pulled her into the empty dining room and asked, "Stefanie, did you talk to Charlie? Your dad just called him Grandpa Wade, and your grandpa has already told him what he needs to say. If you continue to act oblivious, I will just have to handle it myself and bring it up at dinner."

Stefanie quickly responded, "Mom, don’t just tell Charlie directly. He’s sensitive and doesn’t handle rejection well. If he can’t agree immediately, he might feel uncomfortable."

Angie, feeling anxious, said, "You silly girl, you’re so thoughtful of him. While I'm grateful to and admire Charlie greatly, I also have my reservations about him. Our family has sacrificed so much for him. You’ve waited for him for years, and even after knowing each other for so long, he still hasn’t given you clear answers. How can that be?"

Stefanie replied, "Oh, Mom, the situation is truly unique. Charlie and I have had an honest discussion. He is concerned that he might not defeat his enemies and mentioned he would prepare enough rejuvenation pills for the three of us, so I could live happily with you. But I told him that while I can live well with my parents, if something were to happen to them, I wouldn’t want to continue living alone."

Angie sighed, understanding her daughter well enough to know she wasn’t joking.

If Charlie were to meet a tragic fate, she feared that the only thing keeping Stefanie going would be her and her husband. Without them, her daughter might struggle to cope.

So she asked Stefanie, "What did Charlie say to you?"

Stefanie replied, "He was trying to persuade me, but I didn’t really pay attention. I told him that if he and his parents were to leave this world, I wouldn’t be able to survive alone unless he gave me a son."

"What a good girl!" Angie praised, raising her thumb. "You should be straightforward with him! Before, we thought too much about his feelings. He was hesitant. If we give him time and space, he may keep stalling instead of making a real decision!"

Then she quickly inquired, "By the way, after saying all that to Charlie, did he give you any response?"

Stefanie, lying slightly, said, "He mentioned that he would consider it carefully. So I believe I’ve expressed everything I needed to clarify to Charlie. He won't let this drag on; he will definitely give me an answer."

Speaking of this, she wrapped her arms around her mother’s and said sweetly, "Mom, I’ve said my piece. Please don’t bring it up during dinner. Can you give Charlie some time?"

Angie sighed softly, stroking the back of Stefanie's hand sincerely, "Stefanie, I just want you to become a mother soon. My reason for wanting this isn’t just to continue the Wade family lineage, but also to ensure you have companionship. Charlie himself is uncertain if he can defeat Morgana. If he were to face any accidents, he and his parents won't be there for you, but your child can still provide you support as you grow older."

Then she asked Stefanie, "How about you make more of an effort and get closer to Charlie first? If it really doesn’t work out, we can always clarify to him that whether or not you marry doesn’t matter. Marriage is just a formality; the bond created between you two is what truly matters."

Stefanie didn’t shy away from the topic and stated firmly, "Mom, we’ve already talked about this. I have nothing to hide from you. I do want to have Charlie's child as soon as possible, but I don’t want him to agree out of pressure..."

As she spoke, Stefanie blushed slightly and whispered shyly, "I think... I believe Charlie loves me in his heart. I hope he gives me a child out of love and not just to acquiesce to family expectations."

Angie sighed with concern, "Stefanie, Charlie resembles his father closely, not just in looks but also in personality. I worry that he might approach relationships in the same way his father did. I fear he’ll always reject you."

Stefanie gave a bitter smile, "If Charlie ultimately rejects me, I have no other choice. I can only pray for him in my heart, hoping that he can turn his misfortune into fortune and find happiness in life."

At this, Angie felt a pang of fear for her daughter’s future loneliness, and her eyes welled up with tears.

She grasped Stefanie's hand, choking back her emotions as she said, "How wonderful it would be if Aunt Evans were still alive. She adored you and would have certainly made the right decision for you..."