Chapter 284 Sean Has Lost Weight

Chapter 284 Sean Has Lost Weight

So now he cares about Seraphine? Where was he before?

Hearing Charles's words, Eli's mouth twitched. He felt completely helpless.

But considering Charles was still his boss, he kept his true feelings hidden.

"All right, Mr. Stuart. I understand what you mean."

After letting out a soft sigh, Eli pulled out his car keys and straightened in his seat.

"I'll contact Mr. Smith's assistant shortly, just as you requested. But first, let me drive you back to your villa. You've been stuck at the police station for days—you must be exhausted. You need rest."

"Don't take me home."

Charles waved him off, a flash of cold light flickering through his eyes.

"If I'm counting right, Seraphine should be at her studio now. Take me there. I want to see her."

Eli's grip tightened on the steering wheel, his expression conflicted.

"But Mr. Stuart, personally, I don't think Ms. Lavien wants to see you right now."

"Just drive me to her studio. I'll handle the rest myself."

Charles dismissed his concern entirely, pulling out his phone to text the Stuart Family's butler while urging him to get moving.

"Fine."

Eli had no choice. He resigned himself to his fate and started the car.

"Mr. Stuart, we're here."

Two hours later, they arrived at Seraphine's studio.

A Maybach was already parked outside.

As soon as Charles's car pulled up, the Maybach's door opened.

The Stuart Family's butler stepped out with Sean.

"Daddy, I missed you so much."

Sean ran straight to Charles and wrapped his arms tightly around his father's leg.

Charles looked down, his brow furrowing involuntarily.

"What happened to Sean? I was only gone a few days—why has he lost so much weight?"

Sean's face used to be round and chubby. Now he looked gaunt, his face pale, with dark circles thick beneath his eyes. Clearly, he hadn't been sleeping well.

"Mr. Stuart, please let me explain—what happened to Sean has nothing to do with me."

The butler had anticipated Charles's anger the moment he saw Sean's condition.

The second Charles spoke, the butler stepped forward and quickly recounted everything that had happened while Charles was detained.

During Charles's absence, Vivian had been the one taking care of Sean.

Ever since Seraphine and Charles divorced, Sean's attitude toward Vivian had grown noticeably colder. To change that, Vivian had been frequently taking Sean out for fried chicken and pizza—high-calorie junk food—and letting him stay up late playing video games.

Sean's health had never been strong to begin with. With his sleep schedule and diet both in shambles, he'd rapidly lost weight.

Yesterday morning, Sean had even been rushed to the hospital with stomach pain.

"I tried to intervene. I asked Ms. Brooks to set some boundaries for Sean, but Ms. Brooks told me she's the lady of the Stuart Family and Sean's temporary guardian. I'm just a servant—I have no right to order her around."

The butler paused, a self-deprecating smile crossing his face.

"Oh, and after Ms. Brooks chewed me out, I called Mrs. Grace Stuart and Miss Mia Stuart. I thought maybe Mrs. Grace Stuart could take Sean to the Stuart estate."

"But Mrs. Grace Stuart said she's been very busy lately and doesn't have time to look after Sean."

Grace usually doted on Sean more than anyone. How could she say something like that?

Charles's gaze darkened. His voice turned cold and sharp.

"What is my mother so busy with?"

The butler shrank back, head bowed, unable to answer.

"Are you mute? Why aren't you speaking?"

Charles pressed his lips together tightly. His tone grew several degrees more menacing.

"Mr. Stuart, I had someone look into it. The truth is, Mrs. Grace Stuart hasn't been busy at all. She didn't want Sean at the estate because she simply doesn't want to take care of him herself."

Terrified, the butler couldn't hesitate any longer. He told Charles the truth.

"In the past, when Sean went to the estate, Ms. Lavien would personally drop him off. She'd pack his clothes, his medications, his homework—everything."

"When it was time for Sean to take his medicine, go to bed, or do his schoolwork, Ms. Lavien would call the estate's butler and have the staff remind him."

"On top of that, Ms. Lavien would visit the estate during the day to check on Sean herself."

"Every time Ms. Lavien came to the estate, Mrs. Grace Stuart would take the opportunity to humiliate her. She'd make Ms. Lavien wait on her or cook for her."

"In other words, whenever Sean stayed at the estate, it looked like Mrs. Grace Stuart was taking care of him. But in reality, it was Ms. Lavien and the household staff doing all the work."

"The only thing Mrs. Grace Stuart had to do was agree with Sean whenever he complained about Ms. Lavien."

"But now that Ms. Lavien has divorced you, she's not there to cover for Mrs. Grace Stuart anymore. Naturally, Mrs. Grace Stuart doesn't want Sean at the estate."

The butler paused, watching Charles's expression carefully. Once he confirmed Charles seemed calm—no signs of rage—he bit his lip and forced out the last sentence he'd been holding back.

"After all, Mrs. Grace Stuart only ever wanted Sean's admiration and gratitude. The actual responsibility of caring for him? She never wanted any part of that."

'This' is the wonderful mother I've respected all these years.

For the past few years, he'd let Seraphine suffer humiliation again and again—for 'this' woman.

He really was an idiot.

Charles closed his eyes. Though he believed the butler, he forced down his anger and turned to Sean. He had to be sure—he wouldn't wrongly accuse anyone.

"Sean, is what the butler said true? Your grandmother didn't want you at the Stuart estate? And you've been eating junk food with Vivian? How could you be so irresponsible? When Vivian told you to eat that stuff, why didn't you say no?"

"I didn't dare say no."

Sean kept his head down. Before he even spoke, his eyes were already red.

"Vivian told me you and Mom have completely fallen out. She said soon, she's going to marry you. Once you two get married, you'll have a new baby right away. And once you and Vivian have a kid, you won't want me anymore."

"So if I want to stay in the Stuart Family, I have to do whatever Vivian says—no questions asked."

"That way, when you kick me out of the Stuart Family, Vivian might put in a good word for me."