Chapter - 6049

Lord Wade and his daughter, Cynthia Wade, felt no chill from the cold wind; instead, a profound sense of loneliness filled their hearts as they sensed their lack of welcome.

In stark contrast to the Sun couple, who beamed with warmth and vigor, their demeanor was strikingly different.

Nonetheless, neither of them dared to blame Charlie internally, knowing full well that their current situation was a result of their own actions.

As they invited everyone into the house, Lord Wade promptly instructed Cynthia, "Cynthia, please make some tea. It’s still early for dinner. Orrin and Charlie, let's enjoy some tea and have a chat."

Cynthia no longer embodied the poised Lady of the Wade family that she once was. Instead, she wore a smile reminiscent of a professional server, displaying humility and respect. "Dad, please hold on a moment; I’ll prepare the tea and tea sets right away."

With that, she busied herself diligently.

Cynthia didn’t expect Charlie to gift her a rejuvenation pill, but she harbored a slight hope: from this moment on, she would seize every opportunity to show kindness and vulnerability to him. Who knows? Maybe Charlie would take a liking to her and grant her a pill in the future.

Observing this, Angie felt it was unfair for Cynthia to work alone while being Charlie's aunt, so she leaned over and whispered to Stefanie, "Stefanie, why don’t you go help your uncle and aunt out?"

Stefanie quickly nodded, "Sure, Mom, I’ll go now."

However, as soon as Cynthia heard this, she stopped her with a smile. "Oh, Stefanie, you’re a guest! There's no need for you to help. Just enjoy your time with your parents and Grandpa Wade."

With a quick smile at Charlie, she added, "Charlie, you should sit back and relax, and spend some time with Stefanie."

Charlie nodded slightly, reflecting to himself, "My aunt has really changed from how she used to be. Cynthia was once quite a rigid person; even though she isn't old, her spirit was more vibrant than many younger folks, and her temper was quite fierce. Now, however, she seems to have undergone a transformation. It’s almost as though she’s been reborn."

As the host, Lord Wade invited everyone to take a seat in the living area. Once they were settled, he sighed and said to Orrin, "Orrin, if you have the time, please come around more often. This old man feels so lonely at home; I sometimes just need someone to talk to."

Respectfully, Orrin replied, "Of course, Uncle Wade! We don't have much going on at the moment. Stefanie is back to rest and prepare for the New Year. If you’re feeling lonely, our family of three will definitely come by often to keep you company!"

Lord Wade's face brightened, and he replied excitedly, "That would be wonderful! Most of the Wade family is busy at Wade Mountain now. At my age, it’s not convenient for me to go there, so I truly appreciate your company."

He then glanced at Charlie, releasing a sigh, "Honestly, I wish Charlie could stay in Eastcliff a bit longer. Every time he visits, he seems to rush off shortly after arriving. If I want some time with him while I’m still around, it feels like I won’t get that chance."

Charlie smiled but said nothing.

He thought, 'After all, I’ve got my own family in Aurous Hill now, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to engage in such conversations at this time—especially since bringing up my engagement with Stefanie could lead to an awkward situation.'

At that moment, Stefanie chimed in, "Grandpa Wade, Charlie is often swamped with work and doesn’t have the time to visit you. But don't worry! Moving forward, I’ll be taking a break from the entertainment industry and will definitely visit you often!"

"That’s fantastic!" Lord Wade beamed with delight.

He held a special fondness for Stefanie, having watched her grow up since childhood. During the years when Charlie was missing, he had even given up the search for him, but Stefanie never stopped looking. Seeing a young girl display such loyalty and affection for his grandson filled him with appreciation.

More importantly, when Dragon Temple attacked Wade Mountain, the Sun family was well aware of the Wade family’s vulnerability yet still stood firm with them. Their loyalty was invaluable.

The old man realized he couldn't play matchmaker for Charlie, otherwise he would have long arranged for Charlie to marry Stefanie and merge their families.

Since Charlie had given rejuvenation pills to the Sun couple, it made it awkward for them to bring up the engagement in front of the old man, which eased Charlie's sense of urgency, making him feel much more at ease.

At this moment, Aunt Cynthia Wade returned with a tea set and brewed a pot of exquisite tea for everyone.

They conversed while sipping tea, steering the topic away from engagement.

Aside from being concerned about the engagement, the old man was also interested in the status of the Warriors Den.

He thus inquired about the related progress from Charlie.

Charlie provided a brief update and then recalled Stephen Thompson, asking, "Grandpa, have you heard anything about Stephen Thompson lately?"

"No news at all," Lord Wade sighed. "He seems to have vanished completely. I’ve tried various methods to trace him, but nothing has come up."

Charlie felt a twinge of regret and sighed, "I’m unsure why he would leave without a word, but I believe he harbors no ill intent towards me or the Wade family."

Orrin, standing nearby, questioned, "Why would Stephen leave? It seems illogical, especially since Charlie needs assistance now. He has served the Wade family for so many years and knows its workings inside out. Moreover, he has managed the family's operations efficiently over the years. Honestly, I hold him in high regard both for his abilities and character. If he had remained to be your right-hand man, it would have been invaluable. There was no reason for him to leave quietly, disappearing as he has."

Charlie nodded thoughtfully, considering, "I have a lingering feeling that while Stephen Thompson has been around for years, he hasn't truly worked for the Wade family directly."

Orrin asked curiously, "Charlie, do you sense something deeper here?"

Charlie replied, "Recently, an album from my father unexpectedly surfaced. Stephen Thompson likely wanted me to see certain things within it. Since then, he has vanished, indicating that he may not have meant to serve the Wade family at all. If he’s working for my father, he probably never anticipated that it would be 20 years before anyone would seek him out. Someone else must have instructed him to act this way."

Orrin, confused, questioned, "If Stephen Thompson has other obligations that he’s been hiding for so long, why would he just disappear without saying anything? Doesn’t that imply he’s willingly exposing himself?"

Charlie let out a sigh.

There were matters he couldn't explain to Orrin with complete transparency.

For instance, Orrin didn’t know that Charlie possessed the ability for psychological suggestion, allowing him to easily alter a person’s mindset and shift their self-perception.

Stephen Thompson's sudden departure following the album’s appearance was likely out of fear that Charlie would use that ability to uncover hidden truths about him. Knowing he couldn’t resist such psychological influence, he probably chose to vanish entirely to avoid that risk.

At that moment, Lord Wade turned to Charlie and asked, "Charlie, do you think we should arrange for people worldwide to track down the whereabouts of Stephen? With your AI model, it shouldn’t be too complicated to find out where Stephen Thompson is hiding."

Charlie waved his hand dismissively. "No need for that. I know Stephen Thompson poses no threat to me. If he has secrets he’s unwilling to share, there’s no reason for me to pry into those secrets."