Chapter 348: A Volatile Reunion
Charles approached Emily, his face dark as storm clouds. He loomed over her, his eyes suppressing both fury and a barely perceptible trace of jealousy.
"Emily, what are you doing here?"
Emily leisurely set down her coffee cup, lifted her gaze to meet his, her face wearing an almost provocative smile: "Charles, what a coincidence. I don't recall you mentioning any upcoming trips to Seraphim?"
Her tone was light, but every word dripped with mockery of his deception.
Charles took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm: "Emily, don't cause a scene. This isn't where you should be."
"Excuse me?"
Emily raised an eyebrow and stood up. In her heels, she was nearly eye-level with Charles. "Then where should I be? At home like a good little wife waiting for you to return? Or being kept in the dark like a fool?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but each word was crystal clear, laced with suppressed fury.
"I didn't—" Charles tried to explain, but the words died in his throat. He had deceived her—that was the truth.
"Didn't what? Didn't lie to me? Didn't turn off your phone? Didn't have Nathan lie to me about some project inspection? Charles, do you think I'm that easy to fool?"
Her accusations came one after another, each one backing him further into a corner.
Charles found himself stepping back, overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness. He was in the wrong, but more than that, he was worried—worried about her safety, worried about her getting pulled into danger.
"Emily, some things... you're better off not knowing." He tried to soften his tone.
Emily laughed coldly, "Really? Well, now I know. What are you going to do about it? Drag me back to Thalassia? Or keep spinning more lies?"
Just then, a voice interrupted: "Jane? Who's this...?"
Samuel had returned. He'd forgotten his documents and come back to retrieve them, only to find Emily confronting a stranger. The man radiated authority and had ice-cold eyes—he looked dangerous.
Almost simultaneously, another voice came from the side: "Mr. Windsor, there you are. Who's this...?"
Gregory Lopez, Charles's business partner, had also found them. His eyes lit up when he saw Emily: "Jane? Is that really you? Long time no see!"
Gregory knew Emily from when she'd worked in Seraphim—they'd collaborated several times.
The situation suddenly became delicate.
Samuel looked between Charles and Emily, somewhat confused: "Jane, this gentleman is...?"
Before Emily could respond, Gregory enthusiastically made introductions: "Samuel, this is Charles, a business partner from Thalassia. Charles, this is Samuel, a very talented designer from Seraphim, and an old friend of Jane's."
He turned to Emily with a smile: "Jane, I never expected to see you here. This Mr. Windsor... you two know each other?"
Emily glanced at Charles, her lips curving into a meaningful smile: "Know him? Of course I know him. This Mr. Windsor is..."
She deliberately paused, watching Charles's face tense, feeling a surge of satisfaction.
"Is what?" Samuel asked curiously.
Emily said slowly: "He's quite the impressive figure. Abandoning everything back home to rush to Seraphim for a 'project inspection,' not even bothering to say goodbye. So very... dedicated."
Her tone was calm, but the sarcasm was unmistakable to everyone.
Charles's expression grew even darker. He wanted to say something but held back due to the company.
Gregory clearly missed the subtext and laughed as he tried to smooth things over: "Mr. Windsor is indeed dedicated. This trip to Seraphim is also for business expansion. Jane, you're here for the Arcturus runway activities too, right? Perfect, Samuel's here as well—you can catch up properly."
Samuel nodded: "That's right, Jane, we haven't seen each other in years. We were just talking about having dinner tonight."
As he spoke, he naturally moved to Emily's side, his posture intimate.
Charles's gaze instantly turned frigid. He stared at Samuel's hand on Emily's shoulder, his fists unconsciously clenching.
Emily noticed his reaction and sneered inwardly, deliberately leaning closer to Samuel: "Yes, Samuel mentioned this wonderful restaurant. Would you like to join us, Mr. Windsor? Though you're probably very busy with your 'project inspection.'"
She deliberately emphasized "project inspection."
Charles took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay composed: "Emily, let's talk privately."
Emily raised an eyebrow: "What can't be said here? Or does Mr. Windsor have something shameful to hide from others?"
Her tone grew increasingly sharp.
Samuel felt uncomfortable and quietly advised: "Jane, don't be like this. This Mr. Windsor is a guest after all..."
Emily laughed coldly: "Samuel, do you know what this 'guest' did? He abandoned everything back home to rush to Seraphim without giving a single reason. Someone at home is waiting for him, but he..."
She stopped suddenly. Not because she couldn't continue, but because she caught a flash of pain in Charles's eyes that unexpectedly softened her heart.
But the words had been spoken and couldn't be taken back.
Gregory listened in confusion: "Abandoned everything back home? Mr. Windsor, you...?"
Charles closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze had returned to calm: "Personal matters. Sorry for the scene, gentlemen."
He looked at Emily, his voice low: "Emily, let's talk privately. Just five minutes."
Emily studied him, silent for a few seconds before finally nodding: "Fine."
Samuel and Gregory tactfully retreated to one side but didn't go far. Samuel seemed worried, standing nearby and glancing over occasionally.
Charles noticed and felt his jealousy intensify, but he forced himself not to react.
He lowered his voice: "Emily, I know you're angry. But this place is truly dangerous—you shouldn't have come."
Emily looked at him, her gaze icy: "Charles, do you think only you can face danger while I should hide somewhere safe and wait for you?"
"That's not what I meant..."
"Then what did you mean? Lying to me, turning off your phone, having Nathan deceive me. Charles, we're married. Shouldn't spouses be honest with each other?"
Her voice carried suppressed fury, but more than that—disappointment.
Charles looked at her, guilt washing over him. He knew he'd done wrong, but he'd had no choice.
"Emily, there are some things I don't want you involved in. The situation here in Seraphim... it's complicated. The Campbell family has significant power here. I came to investigate certain matters."
Emily pressed: "Investigate what? Something related to the Campbell family? Related to Kismet? Or related to your mother's death?"
Charles's pupils contracted: "How do you know...?"