Out of nowhere, Charlotte's voice took on a sorrowful tone.
"I used to think that as long as I was under my family's protection, I could live carefree, that everything I saw and experienced was beautiful and full of light. But now, I realize there's so much in this world that I never even imagined. Beyond what we see, there's cruelty… and ruthless battles being fought in the shadows."
Jack frowned, confused by the sudden shift in her mood. But before he could ask, she turned to him and said, "Do you know that far from here, in places like Afrona, people are living in warzones, struggling through unimaginable poverty? Can you even picture what their daily lives must be like?"
Jack listened intently. He wasn't particularly well-versed in global conflicts, but he could hear the weight in her words.
Then, something clicked in his mind.
"Your uncle—he's trapped in a war-torn country in Afrona, isn't he?"
Charlotte's eyes widened in shock. "How did you know?"
Jack chuckled. "Your brother mentioned it once at the foreign language faculty."
She nodded slowly. "Yeah. He's in Crawford, and things have gotten so bad there that they can't get out."
As she spoke, Jack pieced it together. Crawford was currently a disaster zone, caught in a violent civil war. And her uncle, a diplomat, along with his family, was stuck there. Political complications had made their evacuation nearly impossible.
Jack's mind raced. Maybe… just maybe, he could do something about this.
But he kept his thoughts to himself for now. Until he fully understood the situation, he wasn't going to make any promises.
At that moment, Zane, Neil, and Leo finally arrived at the tennis courts.
After a few quick greetings, Neil suggested, "Let's play a round together."
Zane grinned. "I'm in."
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