Chapter 8

Laura quickly called her personal driver, as well as the bodyguard who would be guarding Charlie. After the car was ready, Laura again said, "The car is ready; you guys should be careful. I'll get in first."

After saying that, Laura quickly went inside. Leaving Charlie and Stella in front of the house.

"Is she your mom?" Stella asked Charlie, but her gaze was still on Laura, who walked into the house.

Charlie frowned. "Yes," he replied briefly.

"So pretty! She looks so young!" Stella was excited herself; she couldn't lie if Laura was indeed beautiful and looked young.

Charlie rolled his eyes lazily, then grabbed Stella's hand and dragged her into the car.

"Damn you, Charlie," Stella cursed when her head hit the car door, because Charlie pushed her to get into the car quickly.

While Charlie didn't really care about Stella, he chose to get into the car casually. On the way, Charlie began to tell him everything that happened to him, starting from the time he was about to commit suicide. Even then, it was because Stella forced Charlie to tell her; otherwise, Charlie wouldn't tell her everything.

"Wow, that's bad! Dion and his friends have gone too far; they can't be allowed!" Stella cursed angrily at Charlie's story; how could she not? Her best friend almost died because of Dion and his friends.

Charlie massaged his temples, and he sighed harshly at Stella's relentless ranting. "Never mind; I don't want to add to the problem," he said while leaning back.

"No way; after the doctor, we'll go see them. I'll teach them a lesson," Stella said with a serious look on her face.

Charlie chuckled and said, "Do you dare to fight them?"

"Of course! I'm not like you," Stella replied shortly.

Charlie's hand moved to push Stella's head lightly. "Damn it, I'm not scared. I just don't want to create more problems in my life," he said.

"By giving in to them hurting you, You almost died because of them; that's already a crime!" Stella had no end to her ranting.

Sighing again, Charlie just looked at Stella with a flat stare. Then she said, "Never mind; let's not talk about them anymore. Besides, after going to the doctor, I have to go to the spa to change my appearance."

Hearing Charlie's words, Stella immediately looked at Charlie with a look that was difficult to interpret. "What? Are you serious?" she asked, still dumbfounded by Charlie's words just now. Because in the past, Stella had told Charlie to change his appearance, but the man always refused on the grounds that he was more comfortable with himself as he was.

"Yes, my father told me to," Charlie replied softly. Of course, he couldn't refuse Jonathan's request.

Stella's eyes lit up, and she smiled as she said, "Good, I'll help you change your appearance. Leave everything to me."

Charlie rolled his eyes lazily, not knowing what Stella would do to him later. Charlie surrendered!

***

The day went by quickly, after a long day wandering around the shops with Stella yesterday looking for the right style. Now Charlie is ready to start the morning with a new look. As usual, before leaving for campus, he stood in front of the mirror. Staring at himself in the reflection of the glass.

"Well, my appearance has gotten better thanks to Stella. I'll have to thank her later," Charlie murmured still with a sweet smile, the curves on his cheeks looking dazzling.

Charlie had indeed changed 180° from his usual self; he no longer wore glasses. His hairdo is also not like before; it looks more messy but is still good. His clothes were also no longer shabby; there were only expensive clothes and the latest models that he was wearing at the moment. Of course, Jonathan had prepared them in the closet. Now that Charlie's life has changed, would Dion and his friends not bother him anymore?

"Mr. Charlie, you are waiting at the dining table for breakfast." A servant in the house knocked on the door while speaking a little loudly.

Charlie, who heard it, immediately picked up his bag and waltzed downstairs as ordered.

"Wow, Charlie. Your appearance is very different from before; you look handsome," said Laura, who smiled happily at seeing Charlie change his appearance.

While Charlie could only smile in embarrassment, it was certain that only his appearance had changed. Charlie's nature and attitude were still the same as before.

"Don't just change your appearance; you also have to change your attitude to be braver. Not weak like before." Jonathan suddenly said it casually.

The smile on Charlie's lips slowly faded. Was he that weak in everyone's eyes? Charlie really didn't know how to behave. He just stayed where he was.

"Don't talk anymore; let's eat first, Charlie," said Laura, who understood Charlie's feelings; however, Jonathan shouldn't have said that.

"Sorry, mom. But I think I'll just have breakfast on campus; I have a class this morning. I'm leaving now," Charlie said with a faint smile, then turned around and left.

This time Charlie no longer took public transportation to campus; he was driven by a driver who had been assigned by Jonathan to take Charlie wherever he went. Before getting out of the car, Charlie took a deep breath. He looked nervous. Why? Of course, because he was afraid that their responses would not match his expectations.

"Huh, remember not to be weak anymore," Charlie said, calming himself down.

After calming down, he got out of the car. He was walking leisurely towards the class he was going to take that morning. Sure enough, he had just entered the campus. Charlie was already the center of attention, but he kept walking as if he didn't see anything.

"Wow, look at Jack! That nerdy boy has changed his look."

Charlie's steps were forced to stop when Dion and his friends blocked his way; he had expected Dion to never change that quickly. Even if Charlie's appearance changed, he would still be weak in their eyes. Unless Charlie wanted to fight them?

"No matter how you change your appearance, you're still weak! Don't be so stylish!" Dion said it with a little shout, making all the students who heard him laugh.

Dion walked around Charlie, who was still in place. With a reminiscent look, he said, "Where did you get this expensive stuff?" Dion held the jacket Charlie was wearing with his fingertips, then said again, "The result of stealing, huh?"

Charlie was still silent, holding back his emotions. He wanted to fight back, but his body seemed to refuse.

"Or your mother became a harlot and extorted people's money to buy you these expensive clothes," Kevin chided, accompanied by loud laughter from all of them. In fact, many of them did not know that Charlie's mother had died. Indeed, who cares about Charlie?

Enough! Charlie couldn't stay silent anymore; he could still stand to be humiliated. But his mom? He wouldn't let anyone insult his mother. He suddenly raised his head, staring at Kevin with a sharp gaze. A second later, he hit Kevin brutally.

"You're dead! You think you can insult everyone with that filthy mouth of yours?" Charlie beat Kevin many times; his emotions could not be contained.

Dion and Jack, who didn't accept Charlie fighting back, started to attack Charlie. "How dare you fight us!" Dion snapped, grabbing Charlie by the collar.

Bugh...

Before Charlie could answer, Dion had already hit Charlie back. He hit Charlie mercilessly, and Charlie couldn't hit back.

"Stop!" Everything stopped after the yell of someone who had just arrived.

Dion stopped hitting Charlie; he looked up at the two people who had just arrived. Of course, he recognized the person.

"Dad?" 

Yep, the one who came just now was Alexander-Dion's father and the owner of the college. But Alexander wasn't alone; he was with Jonathan, who had business there.

That made Charlie immediately get up and look at his father.

"You two come to my room!" Alexander snapped.

Without refusing, Dion and Charlie followed Alexander's orders, and now they were in Alexander's room as well as Jonathan's.

"Dion, you've gone too far. You've bullied Charlie enough; don't do it again!" Alexander scolded his own son; this was the first time he had done so.

A confused Dion frowned and said, "Why, you've never scolded me if I've bullied that damn kid."

Jonathan, who heard his son being insulted like that, of course, did not accept it; he got up from his seat. Staring at Dion with a sharp gaze "The one you said is a fucking kid; that's my kid! Don't ever bother Charlie again, or you and your father will get what's coming to you," he snapped angrily, after which he pulled Charlie's hand away from there.

Jonathan had originally gone to the college to introduce Charlie as his son, as he was the college's biggest donor and Alexander's most influential business partner.

Jonathan took Charlie home; during the trip, he didn't say a word. Charlie did not dare to open his voice, seeing his father, who looked very angry.

Arriving home, Charlie was pulled into the living room. There, Jonathan began to show his true colors.

"Oh my God, Charlie. What's wrong with you?" Laura rushed over to Charlie and hugged him.

"You've embarrassed me, Charlie! How long can you be weak like that? I don't want to have a weak child like you; starting tomorrow, you have to practice martial arts." Jonathan scolded Charlie with a bit of emotion. He walked over to Charlie and said, "I don't want to hear you lose to anyone. You must win and dare to fight anyone who dares to disturb your life; that is the real life."

After saying that, Jonathan walked away. Leaving Charlie still in his place. He thought his life would be better after meeting his father, but in reality,

'Am I just a doll who must fulfill his wishes and orders?' Charlie thought with teary eyes, his gaze still looking at Jonathan, who slowly disappeared from his sight.