Charles knew that Bob’s death had hit Emily just as hard avit had him, and he also know she’d been swamped with all these issues lately. So whateve Emily said, he just took her word for it and never pressed her for more,
But when it came to Austin, who had been sitting quietly beside him, peeling an apple and not saying a word, Charles asked a few more questions. “You seen pretty laid back lately. Don’t you have any work to do?”
Of course, Charles had already tried to look into Austin’s background before asking.
But Austin was like he’d just popped suddenly. Charles couldn’t dig up a single thing about him.
In Cloudridge, Austin was the very first person Charles had ever come across who left absolutely no trail behind.
Austin froze for a second while peeling the apple. Suddenly, he remembered what Charles had said to him as he was leaving last time.
Is he really finding fault with me right in front of Emily? Austin thought to himself
stin’s fa
In a split second, Austin’s face lit up with a sunny grin. He looked Charles straight in the eye and said calmly, “Come on, Mr. Bennett, of course, have a job. Right now, I’m working as Emily’s assistant.”
Charles wasn’t the only one left stunned by Austin’s words. Even Emily was completely thrown for a loop
Austin looked like he was just lazing around in his apartment all day, but Emily knew he was always up to his things. Since when did he become my assistant?” Emily thought, bewildered.
As if he didn’t even notice Emily’s confused look, Austin set down the half–peeled apple and pulled out his phone, bringing up Emily’s online art account.
I’m the one who manages this account for Emily,” Austin said. “Whether it’s editing videos, running ads, or interacting with fans, I take care of everything myself”
Austin didn’t brag, but he didn’t hide his hard work either. He introduced the account, called Tato, in a straightforward, earnest way
Charles knew Emily had loved drawing ever since she was a kid, but back then, her artwork was only ever appreciated by her teachers, classmates, and a
few friends.
Now, seeing so many total strangers online raving about Emily’s art Charles was so overjoyed that he completely forgot about his usual grudge against Austin. He started chatting away with Austin, all smiles.
Austin was sharp; he picked out some of the most glowing comments from fans and showed them to Charles, making the old man so happy that even the pain that had been weighing on his heart lately seemed to melt away.
Emily stood there in a daze, watching the two of them get along so quickly as if she’d been completely forgotten. She was still processing what was
happening
Emily knew Austin could talk his way out of anything, and that was why, when she was taken away by the police, she’d asked him to cover for her with
Charles.
But Emily never expected him to be this smooth. Even Charles, who’d seen through everything in his life, ended up being won over by Austin.
Emily could only sigh, but sering Charles finally relax and smile like that, she felt more relieved and happy than anything else.
Ever since what happened to Bob, even though Charles always put on a brave face in front of her, Emily could clearly feel the pain and sadness he was carrying inside.
Charles was taking even more pills with every meall than he used to, and the doctors kept reminding her again and again that Charles absolutely couldn’t take any more big shocks.
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Chapter 218
That was why she’d even had the bodyguards stationed right inside the hospital room, just in case anyone tried to take advantage of Charles:
Emily didn’t want to interrupt this warm moment. She picked up the apple Austin had set aside and continued peeling I
It was rare to see Charles in such high spirits, and Emily decided to stay at the hospital a little longer. She even wheeled Charles out to the garden for a stroll, not leaving until it was almost dark.
As they stepped out of Charles’s hospital room, Emily was about to turn to Austin and say something when her expression suddenly changed.
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