Chapter 7

Jonathan smiled, and he put his arm around Charlie's shoulders. He proudly said, "This is Charlie Andrew, my son."

While Charlie could only smile slightly, he bowed his head. Afraid that the woman in front of him would not accept him into the family, what could Charlie expect?

Laura looked at Charlie intently, with a look that seemed intimidating. But a moment later, she laughed lightly as she hugged Charlie. "Gosh, why the tense look on your face? Are you scared of me?" she asked with a sweet smile.

Charlie looked up to see Laura, and he smiled forcibly. It didn't seem as bad as he imagined, seeing as the woman in front of him seemed nice to him.

"Introduce. I'm Laura. Your father's wife, and now I'm your mom too," she said, extending her hand.

Charlie was speechless, swallowing his saliva. Not sure how to react—a replacement for his mom? Of course, he couldn't. In Charlie's heart, Monica remained the best mom of all time.

Although surprised, Charlie shook Laura's hand politely and said, "I'm Charlie, Mom."

Laura laughed lightly at Charlie's nervous look. "Charlie, think of me as your mom. Although I may not be able to replace your real mom, I hope you can accept me," she said sincerely.

Charlie was confused. Shouldn't he be the one hoping that Laura would accept him? After all, Charlie was new to the family, and after all these years, he had finally met the father he thought was dead.

"Yes, thank you for accepting me," Charlie said, still bowing his head.

"Already, you'd better prepare lunch. I'll take Charlie to his room." After a long silence, Jonathan spoke up again. He took Charlie upstairs to the room that had been prepared.

"This is your room; just rest first. When it's time to eat, someone will call you." Jonathan only walked Charlie to the door because he had a lot of work that had been delayed for a few days.

"I have to go to the office; all your needs are already in the room. But if you need anything, you can just call the maid downstairs with the mobile phone there," Jonathan continued, pointing to a landline that was used to call their maid.

Charlie could only nod obediently; he was still dumbfounded by the technology and luxury of the house. Even his room looked very spacious, very different from his old room. Charlie didn't know whether to be happy or sad, having to leave a small house full of memories.

"One more thing: starting tomorrow, you have to take extra lessons to learn how to be a company leader." Jonathan patted Charlie's shoulder a few times, his eyes looking Charlie up and down. Then he took off Charlie's cracked glasses, saying, "These glasses are no longer fit for use; tomorrow, before the extra lessons, you must see a doctor to normalize your vision. And also to improve your appearance."

After saying that Jonathan had just left, Charlie could only sigh rudely. He went into his room and locked the door. Could he do everything Jonathan wanted in the future?

Charlie walked towards the large glass in the corner of the room. He looked at himself in the reflection of the glass. Pathetic—that's what Charlie had in mind.

"No wonder; he told me to change my appearance." Charlie laughed lightly, then said, "Maybe it's time for me to change; I'm sick of being belittled by everyone because I'm poor and ugly. I'll never forget anyone who made me suffer."

Charlie clenched his fists. He recalled how Dion and his friends had beaten and tortured him to death. Charlie would never forget that!

"Pain in return for forgiveness is cheating; pain must be repaid with pain, and life must be repaid with life," Charlie muttered with emphasis on every word.

***

The day went by so fast; today was Charlie's schedule to go to the doctor and change his appearance. As Jonathan had ordered. But Jonathan did not accompany Charlie; instead, he sent his bodyguard and driver to accompany Charlie.

Charlie was currently in the dining room with Jonathan and Laura, in the large house that was only occupied by the three of them now, along with Jonathan's household assistants and subordinates.

The three of them ate quietly; of course, Charlie still felt awkward, even though Laura and Jonathan occasionally engaged him in conversation.

"Mr. Jonathan, I..." After a long silence, Charlie decided to speak up.

"Say that again?" said Jonathan, frowning.

Charlie was silent, not sure what to call Jonathan. Daddy? Daddy? Or Mr. Jonathan? Charlie didn't know.

"Daddy, I want you to call me that. I'm your father; you have to get used to calling me Daddy. Okay?" Jonathan explained at length.

Charlie scratched the back of his neck, which wasn't itchy, and replied, "Sorry, Daddy."

Laura, who understood the situation and didn't want Charlie to feel awkward, replied, "Never mind; Charlie will get used to calling you Daddy eventually."

"Oh yeah, you had something to say earlier, right? What?" Laura asked, returning to the subject.

Charlie nodded. "Yes, I just wanted to ask permission to invite my friends to accompany me to the optometrist," he allowed, bowing his head.

"That's fine; you can also bring your friends to this house, or if you want, you can take your friends on holiday. Just use the card I gave you last night and buy whatever you want with it," Jonathan said at length.

Jonathan got up from his seat, hugged Laura and Charlie, and said, "I'm off to the office, and you, Charlie. Don't ever put your head down again; raise your head. You are not weak." After saying that, he patted Charlie's head a few times. Then I left from there.

Charlie looked up at Jonathan; his gaze continued to stare at Jonathan, who slowly disappeared from his sight.

"Charlie. Mommy and Daddy are sorry, aren't they? I can't take you to the doctor," Laura said, trying to find an atmosphere because she saw Charlie's gloomy face. Laura was afraid that Charlie would feel uncomfortable with Jonathan's pressure, as she knew all too well what Jonathan was like.

Charlie smiled slightly and said, "It's okay, Mom."I'll go with my friend later."

"Alright, let's continue eating. Finish it; I don't want you to get sick." Laura put the jam-smeared bread on Charlie's plate; she seemed to genuinely love Charlie.

While Charlie felt that sincerity, he smiled. After his mom died, he felt the love of a mother again.

"Yes, Mommy," Charlie said, still with a smile on his face.

"Let go! What are you doing? I want to meet my friend!"

As they were eating their food quietly, a sudden noise came to Laura and Charlie's ears. They both looked at each other for a while.

"Who?" Laura asked Charlie.

Charlie shook his head. The sound wasn't very clear, but he was sure it was coming from the front of the house.

"Let me look ahead; you finish the food." Laura got up from her seat and walked to the front of the house.

Charlie, who had been silent, has now stopped his activities. As Charlie remembered something, he tapped himself on the forehead.

"Gosh, I forgot!" muttered Charlie as he went to follow Laura to the front. Who made the noise in the morning?

Charlie was right; it was Stella. Who else? Charlie had already told Stella that he had met his father. But Charlie hasn't had time to tell her everything; he deliberately invited Stella to accompany him to the eye doctor today. To explain everything to Stella, what happened to her

"Stella, it's still early; don't make a scene," said Charlie, who had just arrived.

Laura looked confused. She looked at Charlie and asked, "Do you know him?"

"Yes, she's my friend," he replied with a faint smile.

"You heard me, right? I'm not a thief here!" Stella snapped at the two security guards who chased her away.

The security guards immediately shut up and left after Laura waved her hand as a code for them to leave.

Laura's gaze shifted to Stella. "I'm sorry about them," she said softly.

"Yes, Auntie. I'm fine," Stella replied with a friendly smile.

"So you're going to accompany Charlie to the optometrist?" Laura asked again, looking at Charlie and Stella in turn.

Stella nodded her head and replied, "Yes, please?"

"Of course."

Hearing Laura's answer, Stella smiled, happy that Charlie had been accepted into her new family. Although Stella had no idea who the woman in front of her was,

"Shall we go now?" asked Stella to Charlie, who had been silent.

"Okay," Charlie replied briefly.