Chapter 262. Everyone
Even though Charles felt a twinge of guilt, he had decided not to hide the truth any longer. Anna was his wife; it was a fact he had no intention of changing. No matter what he would have to deal with down the road, he would face them head-on.
Receiving Charles' straightforward and honest response, Elizabeth showed no signs of feeling betrayed. Instead, she let out a sigh of relief.
Tucking the cascading strands of silver hair behind her ear, she replied, "That's great news to hear. Since you admitted it honestly, I will be frank as well. Actually... It's the same for me."
"The same for you? What do you mean?" Charles was confused. Things didn't seem to be following the pre-imagined scenario he had conjured in his head.
Elizabeth stood up and left the room. Soon, she returned with a petite, pretty young girl in tow. The girl was just 1.5 meters tall, and SHE obediently clung to Elizabeth's side.
Charles instantly recognized her—she was Charlie's daughter. Compared to three years ago, she had matured, and her beauty had blossomed. Chart your course back to the origins of this substance at n0v^lbin
Elizabeth leaned down and landed a peck on the girl's lips as if to declare something significant. She then turned to Charles and muttered, "I love you, Charles. But since you never agreed to marry me, I—"
"Wait, hold on," Charles stopped her before she could continue. "Let's not talk about that yet. I'm more curious about when did you change your preference and start liking women?"
Elizabeth shook her head and explained, "Charles, I didn't change my preference. I've always liked women. My preference changes whenever I'm with you."
Charles' gaze flickered between the two women, and an indescribable expression appeared on his visage.
"Are you... angry?" Elizabeth asked cautiously.
"I... I'm not angry," Charles replied as he retracted his gaze.
In the first place, his relationship with Elizabeth had never been a purely romantic one. Much of Elizabeth's affection toward him probably stemmed from gratitude for her current island that he had given to her. Rather than love, Charles felt that their connection was more like a bond of sexual convenience.
Elizabeth liking someone else couldn't really be considered a betrayal toward Charles, especially considering that he had Anna.
Hearing Charles' response, Elizabeth landed a gentle pat on the girl's bottom and said, "Since you don't mind, that's really wonderful. Darling, call everyone in and let Charles meet them. We're all family now."
"Everyone?" Charles felt that his mind was struggling to keep up.
"Hey! Charles! Didn't you say you were not angry?" Elizabeth called out as she followed him out into the main hall. Apparent anxiety painted her visage.
"I'm not angry, I just can't really wrap my mind around this situation. Let's take some time away from each other to cool off," Charles replied with a sour expression, and he quickened his steps.
"Charles!" Elizabeth cried and embraced him from behind.
Charles tried to struggle out of her grasp but hadn't expected Elizabeth to be much stronger than he had expected. It seemed that she had inherited her Haikor grandfather's strength.
The two stood frozen on the street. Meanwhile, the Narwhale crew on their way back to the ship watched the scene with much amusement.
"Mr. Charles seems to be in trouble. Should we go and help?" a crew member asked.
A tipsy Feuerbach let out a burp before shaking his head.
"You can't help with this. It’s something he has to deal with on his own."
Lily scratched her cheek with a tiny paw as she squatted to the side and watched. Soon, some grilled squid snacks appeared in her hands.
"Lil' Lily, can your mice dig a hole? Tunnel under them to hear what they are saying." Feuerbach suggested mischievously.
Just as Lily cocked her head to brainstorm a plan, the two figures in the distance separated and walked away in different directions.
A windy breeze blew past the docks. With a complicated expression on his countenance, Charles stretched out a hand as if wanting to do something but then withdrew it.
"That's it, then. I'm leaving now. You should go back, too," Charles said.
Elizabeth stood where she was and waved slightly with a faint smile on her visage.
Charles ascended the ladder toward the deck of the massive battleship. Feeling her gaze on his back, Charles slowly exhaled. He felt that their relationship had become even more complicated.
Under the curious eyes of onlookers, the fleet from Hope Island slowly departed from the docks. Both the islanders of Elizarles Shores and the fleet crew speculated about what had transpired between the two governors.
However, only Charles knew that there had been no argument, just a rational discussion. To be honest, he didn't want to break up with Elizabeth either, even if they both slept with someone else. After all, there weren’t many people he could be this intimate with throughout the entire seascape.
1. Dude, that term is called friends with benefits. That's what you and Elizabeth are all along.