Chapter 188: The Unbridgeable Chasm

Chapter 188: The Unbridgeable Chasm

Charles opened his mouth, but the words "I don't mind" refused to come out, his jaw clenched tight.

How could he truly not mind?

Every time he looked at Jason and Daisy, his heart couldn't help but ache. It wasn't whether the children were his that bothered him—it was the knowledge that if he hadn't lost Diana these five years, if he hadn't walked toward Laura at that accident scene, then his and Diana's child could have been born safely.

This crushing guilt made it impossible for him to answer Diana's question with any conviction.

Diana watched him struggle, fall silent, then finally let his head drop in defeat. The mocking smile at the corner of her mouth grew more pronounced, and colder.

"You see, Charles, you can't even be bothered to lie to me." Diana turned away, leaving with finality.

"Diana..." Charles reached out to catch her sleeve, but she deftly evaded him.

"Mrs. Young's ongoing recovery will be transferred to Dr. Foster's team. If you're not satisfied, feel free to find someone else." Diana walked toward the elevator without looking back. "From now on, Mr. Windsor, please conduct yourself accordingly. The only unfinished business between us is completing our divorce proceedings."

Charles stood rooted in place, watching the elevator numbers descend, feeling as though his very soul had been drained from his body.

Nathan, following behind, felt uneasy seeing his boss in such a state. But more than anything, he was puzzled—were those two children really not Charles's?

Nathan frowned, Jason's stern little face floating through his mind. The way that boy furrowed his brow, the appraising look in his eyes when he studied people—it really was remarkably similar to Charles.

"Mr. Windsor, do you really believe what Ms. Johnson said?" Nathan couldn't help but speak up.

Charles let out a self-deprecating laugh: "She said it herself—how could it be false? Besides, that DNA test report..."

"Mr. Windsor, that report was tampered with by Laura before." Nathan reminded him. "Don't you think it's too much of a coincidence? Jason looks so much like you—that kind of resemblance can't be explained by 'coincidence.'"

Charles waved his hand, looking weary: "Nathan, you don't need to console me."

He didn't dare contemplate that possibility, because if Jason and Daisy truly were his children, then the debt he'd accumulated over these five years might never be repayable in this lifetime.

However, Diana was true to her word.

After that day, she seemed to vanish completely from Charles's world.

She resigned from all her positions at Evergreen Hospital and severed all social connections that Charles might access.

Charles searched frantically every day, only to end up sitting alone until the early hours outside her empty villa.

One month, two months...

Windsor Group's performance continued to soar under Charles's almost self-punishing work schedule, but his eyes grew increasingly hollow.

He used to believe that money and power were a man's badges of honor, his foundation for standing tall in Emerald City. But now, looking at the seemingly endless string of digits in his accounts, he felt only irony.

Without someone to share them with, these things were nothing but cold symbols.

He began frequenting bars—not the noisy nightclubs, but quiet establishments tucked away in old alleys with dim lighting. He didn't want hookups or socializing; he only wanted the momentary numbness alcohol provided, allowing him to glimpse, in that haze, Diana's smile.

"Mr. Windsor, you can't drink anymore."

Nathan looked at the empty bottles piled on the bar, his brow furrowed deeply. This was the fifth time this week he'd had to carry Charles out of a bar at two in the morning.

Charles pushed away Nathan's hand, his eyes unfocused, his tie askew. The face that had once made countless socialites swoon now bore nothing but decadence and desolation.

"Nathan... do you think she really never wants to see me again?" Charles smiled bitterly, pouring himself another whiskey.

"Ms. Johnson is heartbroken—she needs time to heal." Nathan sighed, trying to take away his glass.

"Time? I waited five years for her—isn't that enough?" Charles's voice suddenly rose, carrying a broken note of tears. "Five years ago I thought she was dead, and every day was agony. Now she's finally back, but she's leaving me again... Nathan, it hurts... here, it feels like it's about to explode."

He pointed to his heart, his eyes bloodshot.

Nathan fell silent. He knew Charles was paying his debts—debts for neglecting Diana years ago, debts for not trusting her.

Another late night found Charles drowning his sorrows at a bar again.

The bartender here already knew him—this most powerful man in Emerald City, who always sat in the darkest corner, wanting no company, only the strongest liquor.

"Mr. Windsor, the usual tonight?" the bartender asked respectfully.

Charles said nothing, just nodded, and carelessly tossed out a stack of bills.

Three drinks in, Charles's mind was completely fogged. He seemed to see Diana in that elegant dress, standing in the soft lamplight, beckoning to him.

"Diana... don't go..." he murmured, reaching out to grasp her, but catching only cold air.

He suddenly started laughing, laughing until tears streamed down his face. He pulled out his phone, wanting to dial the number etched into his very bones, but his fingers trembled so badly he couldn't hit the right keys.

"Mr. Windsor, you're drunk. Let me get you home." The bartender saw his condition and came over to help.

"Get away from me!" Charles suddenly exploded in rage, shoving the bartender aside.