Chapter 1601: I once imagined a future with her.

[Bennet Mansion]

Charles was supposed to return to Miller’s Company. However, after picking up that photo, he ended up not going. Instead, he locked himself in his study and asked Butler Jen not to disturb him.

"Slater..." he whispered, his elbow propped on the armrest, eyes fixed on the photo on the desk. "... where did you get this?"

Or did someone send it to Slater, and his oblivious son just didn’t know?

According to Butler Jen, it must have slipped out from one of Slater’s things. After all, Butler Jen had seen this photo before in Slater’s room. Since that was all Butler Jen knew, Charles didn’t pry further and returned to his study.

His phone buzzed nonstop until he finally put it on silent. Silence quickly reigned in the study, with only his breath filling the space and his thoughts racing. His eyes never left the portrait, his breathing slow and heavy.

"Charles."

After a long silence, Haines’s angry voice broke through. The door instantly flew open, revealing Haines, his displeasure evident on his face. He dragged himself inside, leaning on his cane.

"Charles, what are you doing here?" Haines confronted him, stopping just a step short of the desk. "You were supposed to return to the company. We have an important deal to close. Did you forget that?"

Haines’s teeth clenched in irritation. It was he who had to deal with the consequences of Charles’s behavior. Thankfully, their big client had been appeased by Haines’s efforts, allowing them to look past Charles’s absence. Even so, that didn’t mean Charles didn’t deserve a scolding.

They were old now, and Charles’s antics when they were still in their prime should’ve been fixed.

"Charles, I thought you’d already moved past this habit..." Haines trailed off, watching as Charles slowly lifted his eyes to meet his gaze.

Deep lines appeared between Haines’s brows, noticing the change in Charles’s usual expression. "What’s wrong, Charles?" he asked, his voice quickly shifting with concern. "Did something happen?"

Charles didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he just stared at Haines with mixed emotions—heaviness, worry, confusion—all of them fusing together, making his chest swell.

His mouth parted slightly, but no words came out. He didn’t know where to start or what to say.

"What?" Haines insisted, clearly wanting answers.

Another deep breath escaped Charles before he spoke. "I mentioned before that during my last mission... there was this woman who got caught in a crossfire."

"..."

"And because of her, I was abducted and tortured. Some people were still looking for her body. Had it not been for another group saving me, I would’ve been dead," he continued, causing Haines to furrow his brows even deeper. "I just saw her."

"What?" Haines gasped in disbelief. "How is that possible?"

Wasn’t she dead? How could a dead person come back to life?

Charles shrugged weakly, raising his brows briefly. He reached out and placed his hand on the small photo on the desk, the one Haines hadn’t noticed among the others. He slid it toward Haines, his fingers resting on the woman’s face.

Haines followed Charles’s hand and saw the woman’s portrait beneath Charles’s finger. When Charles finally removed his hand and revealed her face, the lines on Haines’s face faded. His breathing slowed, and his eyes widened in shock.

Slowly, Haines picked up the photo for a closer look.

"That’s her," Charles whispered under his breath. "And it’s in Slater’s stuff. I saw it on the way out, and I knew right then and there... I can’t close a deal with all these questions in my head, Haines. I’m sorry."

Silence followed his words as Haines continued to stare at the photo.

Charles raised an eyebrow in confusion when he noticed Haines’s finger starting to shake. The latter’s complexion paled, and his eyes barely blinked.

"Haines?" he called, now completely puzzled.

As far as Charles knew, he had shared the details of his traumatic experience with Haines and his children, but he had never had proof to show them. So, seeing how Haines was reacting to the portrait was baffling.

"Do you... Do you know her?" he asked, feeling as though something was off.

Haines swallowed hard, still unable to look away from the photo. His lips parted, trembling, before he forced out a question:

"You... killed her?"

Technically, Charles hadn’t targeted her. It had been an operation, and sadly, she had been one of the casualties. But the truth was...

"Yes," Charles nodded. "Because of me, she’s dead."

The moment those words left Charles’s mouth, Haines stumbled. He barely managed to reach the desk in time to catch himself from falling.

"Haines!" Seeing him nearly collapse, Charles jumped from his seat, rushing to steady him. "Haines, are you okay? What’s wrong?"

Haines felt a lump in his throat, trying to swallow it down, but it wouldn’t go. It was like something was lodged there, no matter what he did. His heart clenched, as though a hand was squeezing it, forcing him to meet Charles’s eyes.

When their gazes locked, Charles’s brows furrowed. His eyes mirrored the shattered look on Haines’s face, as if his heart had just exploded into a million pieces.

"What?" Charles asked under his breath, his concern growing. "What is it, Haines?"

"Not... nothing." Haines swallowed again, brushing Charles’s hand away. "It’s nothing, Charles."

With that, Haines dragged himself toward the door, still holding the photo. As he walked, his grip tightened on it, causing it to crumple slightly.

"Let me borrow this photo," he whispered, not looking back at his cousin.

Charles kept his eyes on Haines’s retreating figure, watching him drag himself out of the study. Just as Haines reached the door, Charles spoke again.

"Do you know her, Haines?" he asked. "You hadn’t answered the question."

Haines paused, not answering right away. His grip tightened on the doorknob, his jaw set.

"I once imagined a future with her," he whispered, his quiet voice still carrying to Charles. "Yes, I do."

With that, Haines twisted the knob and left, leaving Charles in complete shock.

"What?"