Chapter 68
Chapter 68
In the top-floor office of the Anderson Group, Charles sat on the sofa, holding a document but not turning the pages, lost in thought as he stared out the window.
"Mr. Anderson, you wanted to see me?" Paul entered quietly, holding a folder, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead.
Charles shifted his gaze back and pointed to the chair opposite him. "Sit."
He paused, looking slightly uncomfortable. "What you mentioned last time... it actually helped a bit."
Paul's eyes lit up, and he straightened his posture. "I'm glad it helped! In a marriage, it's all about taking things step by step."
"Step by step?" Charles repeated, then nodded in agreement. "What else should I do?"
Last time, playing the sympathy card had indeed worked; Patricia's attitude towards him had softened considerably.
Paul opened the folder and took out a neatly printed stack of papers. "Mr. Anderson, you could share some secrets with your wife. People tend to open up more when they know each other's vulnerabilities."
Charles's brow furrowed slightly.
Secrets? He had too many—Bruce's betrayal, William's pressure, and those hazy childhood memories.
Which one could he share with Patricia? If he didn't say anything, she might misunderstand; if he did, he might scare her.
After thinking for a while, Charles said, "I'll think about it."
Then he pointed to the folder in Paul's hand. "How's the kindergarten situation?"
"All sorted." Paul quickly handed over the documents. "Golden Radiance Academy is the best private school in the city, with top-notch faculty and facilities. But... it's very hard to get in."
He glanced at Charles's expression and cautiously added, "The waiting list is until the year after next, and both parents must bring the child for an interview."
Charles flipped through the documents, pausing at the name "Principal Genevieve Thomas."
"Can't we just arrange a meeting with the principal?"
Paul looked troubled and hesitated. "Genevieve is known for her strictness and fairness. She never accepts backdoor entries. Even a senator's grandson was turned down last year."
Charles fell silent.
He was used to solving problems with money and power, but now he was hitting a wall with a kindergarten.
He looked up at Paul. "Then we'll follow the rules. Set up a time for me to take Patricia and Emily for the interview."
"You'll go personally?" Paul was shocked, unable to believe it.
Charles was someone who could even skip the Anderson Group's annual gala.
"Of course, I'll go personally for Emily's sake." Charles closed the folder, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "This weekend. Schedule it."
—
Lillian had taken half a day off, using the excuse of running errands to meet Sarah at a coffee shop.
Sarah stirred her latte, her expression cold as she looked at the impeccably made-up Lillian across from her.
"You've been at Rosewood Estate for almost a month now. Tell me, how does Charles see you?" Sarah got straight to the point, wasting no time.
Lillian's face stiffened, then she cleared her throat. "Mr. Anderson treats me differently from others. I told him that Mrs. Anderson doesn't seem to like me, and he comforted me, telling me not to overthink it."
Even if things hadn't gone exactly like that, Lillian didn't want Sarah to think she was incompetent.
She clenched her fists silently, afraid Sarah would see through her.
Sarah's fingers paused on her coffee cup, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes. "Is that so? Then it seems you have a good chance."
"But Lillian, I've heard Mrs. Anderson is quite favored. I'm worried you might not be able to win him over."
"What's her little trick worth?" Lillian scoffed. "She just hides in her studio painting all day. So boring. Mr. Anderson will definitely get tired of her."
Sarah glanced at her, then lowered her head, hiding her impatience.
"That's all well and good, but we need to speed things up." She took a small white packet from her bag and pushed it towards Lillian, her gaze turning cold.
"You know how hard things have been for me since I was kicked out of the Church Group. Only if you win over Charles quickly can I use the Anderson Family's influence to get back in."
Lillian looked at the packet, instantly understanding what it was, her face paling. "Sarah, this... isn't right."
"What's wrong with it?" Sarah raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of threat. "Have you forgotten who got you into the Anderson Family? Who helped you get that face? Now you don't want to do a little thing?"
Lillian's hand gripped her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning white.
She hadn't forgotten; it was Sarah who had given her the money for plastic surgery to look like that person, giving her the chance to infiltrate Rosewood Estate.
But using drugs, that was too risky.
"This drug is colorless and tasteless. A small amount won't harm the body, just make someone temporarily weak." Sarah saw through her thoughts and softened her tone.
"First, gain Patricia's trust, then find an opportunity to use a little on her, and then..."
She leaned in close to Lillian, whispering a few words.
Lillian's face turned redder, her heartbeat quickening. She hesitated for a long time before finally grabbing the packet and stuffing it into her bag. "I understand."
"That's more like it." Sarah smiled in satisfaction. "Once it's done, I promise you'll live a life of luxury."
Lillian forced a smile, but her heart was in turmoil. She looked at the bustling crowd outside the window, suddenly feeling a pang of regret.
But at this point, there was no turning back.
In the evening, Rosewood Estate was bathed in a gentle twilight.
Patricia, holding her iPad, had just come out of the playroom when she saw Charles standing in the living room, holding a bouquet of vibrant red roses, the petals glistening with dew.
"You're back." She was momentarily stunned, instinctively looking at the flowers in his hand. "What's this?"
"For you." Charles handed over the flowers, a bit awkwardly. "I passed by a flower shop and thought they looked nice."
Patricia took the flowers, her fingers brushing against the cool petals, a strange feeling rising in her heart.
Why was he suddenly giving her flowers?
She was about to say something when she heard footsteps behind her.
"What's going on? Flowers now?" Missy had just come in from outside, her expression a bit unnatural.
Charles was also taken aback when he saw Missy. "What brings you here?"
Missy glared at him, her tone unfriendly. "If I didn't come, how would I see this?"
Her gaze shifted between Charles and Patricia, finally landing on the flowers in Patricia's hand, her eyes growing wary.
"Patricia, don't be fooled by these little gestures. A man only does this when he's feeling guilty."
Patricia was taken aback by her words.
"Mom, what are you here for?" Charles asked, feeling helpless, his brow furrowing.
Missy snorted, not explaining, and took Patricia's hand, her tone softening. "Patricia, I'm here to see you. You said the dress was ready, so I came over."
Patricia found Missy's quick change in demeanor amusing. "The dress is ready. I'll go get it."
"No, I'll go with you. I don't want to stay with Charles."
With that, Missy linked arms with Patricia, acting all friendly, pushing Patricia along.
"Charles..."
Missy interrupted, glaring at Charles. "He's not as important as our business."
Charles was left speechless by Missy's words. He opened his mouth to explain but, seeing Missy's "I've seen through you" expression, didn't know where to start.
Watching their retreating figures and then looking at his empty hands, a deep sense of powerlessness washed over him.
What had he done wrong? Why was Missy suddenly targeting him?
And Patricia, her look just now seemed to carry a hint of suspicion.
Didn't Paul say that giving flowers was a good way to bridge the gap? How had it turned into a source of conflict for him?
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration and headed to the guest room.
He stared at the "date tips" Paul had sent on his phone, feeling troubled.
Looking at the "create a romantic surprise" tip, he couldn't help but sigh.
It seemed he needed not just tips but a full "Guide to Family Relationships."