Chapter 392: Family Misunderstandings
Emily stood between two mountains of hatred, feeling suffocated by helplessness.
She loved Charles, but Campbell blood ran through her veins.
She was just one person, torn apart by historical vengeance.
"Grandfather, I understand your hatred, and I understand your caution. But I still want to stay. Even if we divorce, I don't want to leave with misunderstandings and hatred unresolved. I want to try to investigate. Not to prove who's right or wrong, but so that those of us still living can at least see clearly the shadows of the past."
She lifted her head, a stubborn light burning in her eyes. "If I truly uncover the truth and prove the Windsors really did those things back then... then I'll leave him. Completely. But what if—what if there's even the slightest possibility that there's more to the story? Grandfather, you've investigated for thirty years. Have you never once had even a shred of doubt?"
Beau stared at her for a long moment without speaking.
The only sound in the study was the ticking of an antique clock.
Finally, he slowly sank back into his chair and waved his hand dismissively, his voice carrying deep weariness and a barely perceptible softening.
"Fine. You're grown now. You have your own ideas. If you want to investigate, go ahead."
"But Emily, remember—protect yourself. The Windsor situation is more complicated than you imagine. Whatever you discover, whatever the outcome... the Campbell family will always be your safe haven."
Tears stung Emily's eyes. She nodded firmly.
"Thank you, Grandfather."
This was perhaps the greatest concession Beau could make. In the face of a blood feud, he was allowing her to chase after a truth that might not even exist.
When Emily left the estate, dusk was falling.
She sat in the car, watching the scenery fly past the window. The courage that Charles's coldness and scandal had shattered seemed to be slowly piecing itself back together.
But this time, her goal was no longer simply to win Charles back.
She would pierce through sixty years of fog and see clearly the truth behind the Campbell-Windsor feud.
For herself. And for the love between her and Charles—a love whose ending fate might have already written.
When Emily returned to Johnson Manor from Beau's estate, night had completely fallen.
The moment she stepped into the living room, her phone rang. The name flashing on the screen made her heart clench—Charles.
She stared at the name for several seconds, took a deep breath, and answered.
"Hello?"
There was a moment of silence before Charles's low voice came through, emotionless. "It's dark out."
"Yes." Emily replied tersely, unsure what he was getting at.
"The children... they should want to come home. While we were abroad, they stayed at Johnson Manor the whole time. Now that we're back, if I keep avoiding them, they'll think something's wrong."
Emily's fingers tightened around the phone. She understood what he meant—they needed to go home together and play the loving couple in front of the children, as if nothing had happened.
"What do you want to do?" she asked.
"In a bit, I'll come to Johnson Manor to pick up you and the kids. We'll go home together."
His arrangement was thorough, sounding exactly like an ordinary couple coordinating their evening plans.
Complex emotions surged through Emily. On one hand, she hated this hypocritical performance; on the other, she couldn't refuse—she couldn't let the three children sense something was wrong between their parents.
"All right. We'll wait for you at home."
Charles acknowledged her response and seemed about to say something else, but ultimately only said, "Get some rest early."
The call ended.
Emily stood in the center of the living room, gripping her phone, motionless for a long time.
Before long, Charles's car pulled up precisely on time at Johnson Manor's entrance.
Emily had already brought the three children to wait in the living room. Jasper held Emma's hand, Ethan clutched his little backpack, and all three children's eyes lit up when Charles walked in.
"Daddy!" Emma was the first to rush over and throw herself into Charles's arms.
Charles bent down to scoop her up and kissed her cheek. "Did you miss Daddy?"
Emma nodded vigorously. "Yes! Daddy, you promised to buy me strawberry cake!"
Charles smiled, the expression so tender it stabbed Emily's heart—he was such a convincing actor.
"That's right, Daddy remembers." He held Emma and looked toward Jasper and Ethan. "Jasper, Ethan, come here."
Jasper walked over and looked up at him, a trace of scrutiny in his eyes. "Daddy, are you feeling better?"
Charles ruffled his hair. "Much better."
Ethan simply hugged his leg. "Daddy, are we going home?"
"Yes, home." Charles looked at Emily. "Is everything packed?"
Emily nodded and picked up two small suitcases. "All ready."
Simon stood to the side, watching the scene with complicated eyes. He knew something was wrong between them, but seeing Charles's tenderness with the children made him think perhaps there was still hope for reconciliation.
"Drive safely. Emily, call anytime if you need anything."
"I know, Dad." Emily forced a smile.
The family got into the car. Charles drove, Emily sat in the passenger seat, and the three children sat in their car seats in the back.
The car was quiet except for Emma's voice. "Daddy, can we watch cartoons when we get home?"
"You can, but only for half an hour."
"Daddy's the best!"
Emily stared at the scenery flying past the window, her heart frozen. She could feel Charles right beside her, so close yet so far away.
When they arrived at the villa, night had fully fallen.
The butler and servants had prepared everything and greeted them with delighted smiles.
"Sir, Madam, welcome home."
"Blair, prepare dinner." Charles instructed, then bent down to scoop up Emma. "Come on, Daddy will take you to see if anything's changed in your rooms."
"Has something changed?" Emma asked curiously.
"Guess."
The father-daughter conversation gradually faded as Emily stood rooted in place, watching Charles carry Emma upstairs. An indescribable bitterness welled up inside her.
This man who claimed he wanted a divorce, who had been so cold to her—yet in front of the children, he was so tender and attentive.
What was he really thinking?
"Mommy, let's go up too." Jasper tugged on her hand.
Emily snapped back to reality and looked down at him. "All right."
She took Jasper and Ethan's hands and went upstairs to the children's room next to the master bedroom. Everything was just as they'd left it—toys neatly arranged on shelves, beds made with the children's favorite cartoon sheets.
Charles sat on the edge of Emma's small bed, reading her a picture book. Emma leaned against him, listening with rapt attention.