Chapter 8 Who Does He Take After?

Jessica jolted back to reality, her heart hammering in her chest. The heat in her ears was unbearable. She quickly bowed her head, biting down on her lip in silent frustration. Charles noticed the change in her—the slight stiffening, the effort to regain composure. His gaze softened, and once again, he caught that same elusive fragrance. The one that had haunted him for days, perhaps longer. A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes. The space between them seemed to thrum, charged with a subtle tension. Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted the moment. "Jessica, did you get the medicine?" Selene's voice pierced the thick air. She and Arthur had waited long enough in the room. When Jessica didn't return, they had come looking. Jessica forced her emotions down, guilt surging as she remembered her son. How could she have forgotten him? "Got it," she replied, her voice carefully neutral. "How's Arthur now?" "Better, but the doctor said he still needs the meds." Selene's gaze shifted to Charles, her interest piqued. "Isn't that your boss? What's he doing here?" Selene hadn't expected Charles to be even more striking in person. His cool, almost aloof demeanor made him seem untouchable, his very presence commanding the space around him. She had no time for small talk. "Mr. Hensley, I should get back to my son now," she said with quiet courtesy, attempting to sidestep him. But Charles's voice, low and firm, stopped her. "I'll see him." Jessica froze. Surprised. "I—I don't think that's necessary." Her frown deepened. Was he being too kind, or was there something else behind it? Ignoring her hesitation, Charles moved past her with deliberate strides."Which room?" His tone left no room for refusal. She forced a smile, though her patience was thinning. "Mr. Hensley, surely you have other matters to attend to?" "The doctor's with my father," he replied matter-of-factly. "I have time." That's when Jessica understood why he was there. Before she could respond, Selene, with a surprising burst of enthusiasm, stepped forward. "Just around the corner. Follow us." Selene tugged Jessica along. Jessica shot her a quick, reproachful look. "Selene, don't encourage him," she muttered under her breath. Selene simply grinned. "What's the harm? He's just being a good boss." Reluctantly, Jessica led Charles into the room. Arthur lay on the bed, his small face scrunched in discomfort, his posture slack. But when he saw his mother, his face lit up with relief. "Mommy, you're back!" Then his gaze flickered to Charles, and the light in his eyes dimmed. A frown tugged at his little face. "Wait, what's that arrogant mister doing here?" The memory of that day at the airport lingered in Jessica's mind. Arthur had bumped into Charles, and the man had looked down on them with an arrogance that practically radiated from him. His cold, aloof air had grated on her son, who, with a snap of defiance, had dubbed him 'arrogant mister.' A flush of embarrassment spread across Jessica's face as she glanced at Charles. His expression remained as distant and unreadable as ever. She quickly shifted her attention back to Arthur. "Arthur, this is Mommy's boss. You should call him Mr. Hensley." Arthur wasn't impressed. He shot Charles a sidelong glance, his words dripping with sarcasm. "What a coincidence. What's he doing here?" Charles moved toward the bed, his voice unexpectedly soft. "I heard you weren't feeling well. I came to see how you're doing." His eyes studied the boy carefully. A strange sense of familiarity tugged at him, something unsettling that he couldn't quite place. Arthur shot him a skeptical look, clearly unimpressed. He was convinced that Charles, with his superior demeanor, had come only to mock him, to relish in his discomfort. The ice cream incident had to be the reason. It was just like him to show up now and enjoy the spectacle. "I'm fine," Arthur muttered, straightening his small frame. "I don't need anyone checking on me." He forced his face into a mask of indifference, unwilling to admit any weakness. Then, in an instant, his stomach growled loudly. The boy's face turned a deep shade of red, his pride battling the overwhelming need to ignore the sound. His lips tightened, and he refused to acknowledge the inevitable. Charles caught the change in his expression, and an amused smile tugged at his lips. "If you're not feeling well, you can say so. I won't laugh." His tone was knowing, as if he could see right through the act. He patted the boy's shoulder lightly, his gaze softening. "I ... I'm not sick!" Arthur's voice trembled slightly, but his pride kept him from admitting defeat. His face flushed an even deeper shade of red. He would not let this man win. Jessica couldn't help but sigh inwardly as she watched her son. She couldn't help but wonder, Where does that stubbornness come from? She handed Arthur the bottle of medicine and a glass of water. "Why don't you take your medicine?" Arthur grabbed the bottle without hesitation, swallowing the medicine in one swift gulp. He followed it with a large swig of water. "Slow down," Jessica said softly, gently patting his back. Charles stood silently, a faint, unreadable smile on his lips as he observed the interaction. Selene, who had been watching them, felt an odd sensation stir within her. The three of them, standing there, almost looked like a family. She blinked, noticing how Arthur resembled Charles in ways that were unsettling, as though the boy were a mirror image of the man. After Arthur swallowed the medicine, Jessica urged him to lie back and rest. She turned to see Charles still watching her son intently, his gaze heavy with something unreadable. A knot tightened in her chest. Before she could dwell further on it, the door opened suddenly. "Uncle Charles, what's wrong with my grandfather?" The voice was familiar. Jessica's brow furrowed. Was that Hugh?