It was Benedict who took Gwendolyn’s phone and contacted Charles personally. “Charles, I’m on my way to the oceanarium with Daddy, Mommy, and Zendaya.”
Charles was stunned for a moment and a little delighted. “Are you finally willing to accept the oceanarium?”
Benedict, on the other end of the line, sounded haughty. “You gifted it to me without allowing me the chance to reject it, so what right do I have not to accept it?”
“Fine.” Judging by his tone, Benny hasn’t forgiven me yet. It seems like it is my wishful thinking.
Nevertheless, Charles didn’t give up. Instead, he asked in a gentler voice, “This is your first time taking the initiative to call me. Is this what you want to talk to me about? The oceanarium is yours, Benny. I’m just paying someone to manage it for you. You can go there and have fun whenever you want. There’s no need for you to ask my permission.”
Benedict snorted arrogantly. “You’re overthinking. I just want to inform you that I’m planning to renovate the oceanarium a little to include more new and interesting animals.”
“Sure, that’s not a problem. You can keep any animal you want in there.”
“Hmph. Don’t speak so soon. I’m afraid you may not be able to afford it later. If you’re free now, come over, and we can discuss this in person.”
His voice might sound childish, but he spoke with the mature cadence of an adult, arranging everything perfectly.
“Okay,” Charles agreed without a second thought since Benedict had taken the initiative to invite him over. There was no way he would refuse the latter.
Benedict hung up the call rudely and aloofly without even saying “goodbye” or any other parting words.
Charles decisively turned his steering wheel at the next intersection, heading in the opposite direction toward the oceanarium.
Whitney noticed the change in route and hastily asked, “Where are you going?”
“Mr. Jenson and his family are going to the oceanarium. I’m going to join them.”
“In that case, should I get out of the car now?”
Charles pondered briefly before replying, “Let’s go there together. Zendy is also there. You’ve spent several years in the oceanarium and know it better than I do. I think you’ll be able to explain it better if you were to introduce some marine life to the kids.”
Zendy is also there. Whitney quite missed that clever little girl.
Still, she found it weird for her to tag along.
“Mr. Newton, we’re a secretly married couple. You said we shouldn’t announce our relationship in public, so how should I introduce myself when I show up there with you later?”
Charles fell silent, seriously considering that problem.
Whitney also spaced out. I saw the caller ID earlier was remarked as “Gwen,” but the person who spoke on the phone was clearly a child. If Zendy is also there, could it be that the childhood sweetheart he hasn’t been able to forget is the twins’ mother? Her children are already five years old, yet Mr. Newton still holds that woman so dearly in his heart. The more I think about this, the more I’m curious to know how beautiful that woman must be.
She suggested, “Why don’t you just say that I’m your personal maid? You can tell them you brought me to grocery shopping and received the phone call on the way. That’ll explain why we’re going there together.”
He shook his head in refusal.
Because Zendaya was fond of Whitney, Charles promised the little girl he would attempt to date and get into a relationship with Whitney.
He figured Zendaya would undoubtedly be displeased if Whitney suddenly became his personal maid instead.
A few moments later, Charles uttered, “Girlfriend.”
Whitney was rendered speechless. “How is that different from a wife? Both are intimate relationships.” Isn’t he afraid his childhood sweetheart will get upset?
Charles said firmly, “It’s not the same. A girlfriend is a lover while a wife is a life partner, a legally-binding relationship.”
She pursed her lips and argued with an undertone, “You can break up with a girlfriend, so you can divorce a wife too. There’s not much difference, honestly.”
Charles didn’t respond. He agreed with her point of view, but he didn’t want to let Gwendolyn know about his marriage so soon. “Just do as I say. Don’t forget that our marriage is a secret. Aside from members of the Newton family, it’ll be best if we avoid letting anyone else know.”
Figuring he had a point, Whitney nodded in agreement. “Okay. I’ll cooperate with you.”
Approximately twenty minutes later, the duo arrived at the oceanarium.
From afar, they could see Cedrick, Gwendolyn, and the two kids standing outside the deserted entrance of the oceanarium.
The scene featuring the family of four standing together was harmonious and heartwarming.
Charles got out of the car and strode forward, leaving Whitney behind.
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