Chapter 447 Holding Hands and Not Letting Go
Chase casually glanced at him and immediately felt goosebumps all over his body.
He had been with Benjamin for so many years and had met quite a few people, but never had anyone like this man made him feel afraid with just one look.
Who... exactly is this person?
Just as he was lost in thought, a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
Chase was startled and nearly jumped up, "Don't come near me!"
Alaric's hand froze in mid-air as he looked at him in confusion, "What's wrong?"
Seeing Alaric's face clearly, Chase let out a huge sigh of relief, clutching his chest with lingering fear: "Mr. White, do you walk without making any sound?"
"You were just too focused on your thoughts. I called you several times, but you didn't hear me."
Alaric thought Chase was acting strange. Although Chase was usually a bit unreliable and liked to joke around, he had never lost his composure like this before.
Thinking this, he looked up toward the sofa.
Magnus's eyes flickered, and he hurriedly stood up, extending his hand, "Hello, I'm Benjamin's friend. You can call me—M."
Alaric and Chase both showed surprised expressions and exchanged glances.
So this is M?
They had heard about M from Benjamin before, but this was the first time meeting him.
Alaric suppressed his doubts and reached out to shake his hand.
M's palm was very dry and rough, and there were several burn marks on the back of his hand.
Those scars looked like they had been there for quite some years.
"You must be Benjamin's older brother Alaric. He often mentions you to me."
Magnus felt the warmth coming from their clasped hands, and tears nearly fell.
He hid the surging emotions in his heart, pretending to meet Alaric for the first time, exchanging polite words with him.
This was the first time he had seen Alaric in over ten years. When he left, Alaric was already ten years old.
Before leaving, he had a big fight with Preston.
More accurately, he deliberately provoked Preston, getting scolded one-sidedly, to find a reasonable excuse for his departure.
He didn't have the courage to see his sons and wanted to leave quietly.
But unexpectedly, when he went out, he ran right into Alaric.
At that time, Alaric didn't know he was facing a separation and innocently asked him: "Dad, where are you going? When will you be back?"
He didn't say a word and just left.
He didn't dare to speak, didn't dare to look at Alaric even once. He was afraid he would soften and couldn't bear to leave.
Then all his preparations and plans would have been for nothing.
Alaric lowered his eyes, looking at their tightly clasped hands, feeling somewhat inexplicable.
Is this M really the M that Benjamin mentioned? Why is his behavior so strange?
And... why is he holding his hand and not letting go? And staring at him with such a complicated look?
He tried to pull his hand away forcefully, frowning almost imperceptibly.
If this person wasn't Benjamin's friend, he would definitely turn around and leave in anger.
Magnus snapped back from his memories, realizing he had lost his composure, and hurriedly let go, "I'm sorry, you look like someone from my past. I got distracted for a moment."
"Someone from your past?" Alaric's eyes moved.
Magnus nodded with a bitter smile: "Yes, I wronged him. I don't know if he hates me."
Back then, he left without looking back despite Alaric's crying, which must have broken his heart.
Alaric's temper immediately dissipated, but he ultimately couldn't say any comforting words. The two just stood there in a stalemate.
At this moment, Sophia came down from upstairs and asked in confusion, "Alaric, you're here? Please sit down, we'll start dinner soon."
Sophia's arrival broke the strange atmosphere between Alaric and Magnus.
Both Alaric and Magnus quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Alaric immediately placed the food containers on the kitchen counter and looked around but didn't see Benjamin.
"Sophia, where's Benjamin? I need to talk to him."
"He's upstairs organizing documents. If it's urgent, you can go up to find him."
"Okay." He instructed Chase to set out the food while he went straight upstairs.
As he stepped onto the staircase, he keenly sensed that someone's gaze had been following him from behind.
It was M's gaze.
He just didn't understand why M would look at him that way when they were clearly meeting for the first time.
Could they have known each other before?
It seems he needs to investigate M's identity thoroughly.
Downstairs, M's gaze was too obvious, and even Sophia noticed something unusual.
She followed his line of sight and frowned slightly, "M, are you looking at Alaric?"
Magnus suddenly came back to his senses and waved his hands repeatedly: "No, I was just looking around."
"Okay." Sophia didn't ask further and handed him the porcelain bottle in her hand, "This is for you."
"What's this?" Magnus looked at the bottle in his hand, already understanding.
Robert had given him this kind of bottle before, containing scar removal medicine.
He had specifically used it last night and found it really effective.
It's just that the scars on his face were too deep; once was far from enough. He would need to use it consistently for a long time.
He didn't expect that Sophia would be willing to give him such precious medicine after just their first meeting.
Sophia explained with a smile: "This is a burn medicine I developed myself, and it works pretty well. Benjamin said you were seriously injured, so you can try it."
"How can I accept this? This is too precious." Magnus suppressed the smile at the corner of his mouth, feeling a bit embarrassed to refuse.
But Sophia insisted: "Take it. These are just ordinary ointments, but you saved Benjamin's life."
"Then I'll accept it, thank you... May I call you Sophia?"
Magnus had a very good impression of Sophia as his daughter-in-law, especially since she was Robert's student.
Benjamin really has good taste. Sophia is pure and kind, with an innocent heart—so rare and precious.
"Of course. Although Benjamin doesn't say it, he already considers you family and an elder in his heart. I will respect you too." Sophia's eyes curved with a smile on her lips.
Magnus suddenly felt his throat tighten and his eyes sting.
If he could have stayed with the children all along, perhaps they would be better off now.
It's his fault as a father for being useless and not taking good care of them.
At this moment, Chase came out of the dining room, interrupting their conversation.
"Mrs. White, the food is ready. Should I go call Mr. Benjamin White and Mr. Alaric White down?"
Magnus immediately lowered his head, quietly holding back his tears.
Fortunately, the mask covered the expression on his face, so no one noticed anything unusual. He quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Sophia said: "I'll go upstairs to call them. You two go to the dining room first."
She was about to go upstairs to call Benjamin and Alaric when they happened to come out of the room.