Chapter 500
Mateo sighed. "Charlie, I know this situation is difficult for you, but you must agree to it. Your mother rarely asks me for anything, yet she's doing so for J."
As he spoke, his eyes showed signs of fatigue. "Consider this a father's plea. If we don't let your mother try, she won't give up."
"Dad, I don't know what happened between you and her in the past, nor am I interested in knowing. But I hope you understand that I'm no longer the young child I once was. You can't control my thoughts anymore."
"I understand!"
Charles chuckled lightly, twirling a pen in his hand. "Whatever is going on between you and my mother, you'd better resolve it yourselves. Don't let it get to the point where I have to intervene."
Mateo's face stiffened, and then he laughed awkwardly. "I've failed as a father, haven't I? We should've resolved these issues ourselves, but instead, we've dragged you into it. Your sister blames me, you blame me, and Liliana as well..."
Mateo closed his eyes wearily and let out a heavy sigh. "Charlie, I've let you and your sister down!"
"I don't care. It's Liliana and her mother you've wronged!" Charles suddenly stopped twirling his pen.
"The reason I opposed Liliana's return to the Hoffman family back then wasn't because I disliked her. It was because I thought she was a good kid who shouldn't have to pay for what your generation did. She's pure and kind-hearted. She's not suited for the Hoffman family!"
Mateo was stunned, his body stiffening as disbelief filled his eyes. This was the first time as a father that he learned his son's true thoughts about that part of their past.
He had always believed Charles had so firmly opposed Liliana joining the Hoffman family simply because Charles resented him for betraying Clarisse. Now, it seemed that was not the case at all.
"Charlie, do you... really mean that?"
Charles chuckled softly. "I have no
reason to lie to
you. Liliana truly isn't suited for the Hoffman family, which is why I opposed her return." After taking a pause, he added, "J can stay, but you have no right to interfere with how I handle the situation!"
"Alright, that's fine. I only promised your mother that J could join Collosus Group, not what specific role she'd have. How you arrange things is up to you." Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.
Having secured Charles' agreement, Mateo felt somewhat relieved. "I'm getting old. I'll try to interfere less in these matters from now on. "Charlie, are you still thinking about Kelly? She..."
"Dad, you're overthinking things. My relationship with Kelly isn't what you imagine it to be!"
Charles was unwilling to discuss Kelly further. "You should focus more on your issues with my mother."
Mateo waved his hand helplessly,
"Fine, fine. Handle your own affairs as you see fit! Oh, by the way, there was quite a commotion about something a while back. Zachary passed along some information, saying you stepped in to resolve the matter? What's your relationship with that woman called Suzy?"
Suzy?
Charles furrowed his brows. "We have no relationship whatsoever!"
"Charlie, don't try to deceive me. I don't oppose you dating, but for a woman like that, I think..."