At dawn, Charlie wade drove an unassuming van out of the Wade family estate toward the airport.
Stephanie, traveling back on a private jet, had her itinerary hidden from the public.
As the first light broke, the plane touched down, and Charlie wade waited outside the VIP terminal until a group of sharply dressed, well-trained men and women in black escorted a young woman—wearing a cap and mask—briskly toward him.
Charlie wade rolled down the passenger window, and Stephanie spotted him instantly, quickening her pace to jog over.
Wrapped up tight, only her big eyes peeked out, but Charlie wade could still see the joy and excitement in them.
A female bodyguard from the Gu(Sun) family stepped ahead, opening the passenger door for her.
Stephanie hopped in, beaming at Charlie wade, her voice sweet, “Brother Charlie wade, how long have you been here?”
Charlie wade smiled faintly, “Just got here a bit ago.”
Stephanie quickly shut the door and window, saying, “Brother Charlie wade, let’s head straight home, Mom and Dad are waiting.”
Charlie wade asked, “Uncle Orrin and Aunt Angie are up this early?”
Stephanie giggled, “Not usually, but today’s special since we’re both coming back!”
“Got it.”
Charlie wade nodded, starting the car and driving off toward the Gu(Sun) family estate.
The sun was only half-risen, Eastcliff’s traffic smooth as silk, and in under forty minutes, they pulled up to the Gu(Sun) residence.
Lord Orrin and Angie came out to greet them personally, and when Charlie wade parked and stepped out with Stephanie, the couple was over the moon.
It’d been a while since Lord Orrin last saw Charlie wade and Stephanie, with his daughter abroad for so long, he’d missed her dearly.
Seeing them return together now felt like his daughter had married and come back to visit with her husband.
He mused to himself, if they tied the knot someday and popped by often, that’d be a thrill worth getting excited over.
After yesterday’s talk with his grandfather, Charlie wade felt a mix of nerves and guilt facing the couple.
He approached a bit stiffly, greeting them, “Hello, Uncle Orrin, hello, Aunt Angie.”
Lord Orrin already saw him as a son, clapping his shoulder with a gratified smile, “Your Aunt Angie and I were just talking about you a few days ago, wondering when you’d drop by, didn’t expect it’d happen so soon.”
Angie, doting as she stroked Stephanie’s face, smiled at Charlie wade, “Charlie, you don’t know, your Uncle Orrin mentions you a dozen times a day, more than he does Stephanie.”
Lord Orrin laughed, “Stephanie’s out performing, I mostly feel bad for her, not worried, but Charlie’s always tangling with those shady types, open or underhanded, it’s dicey, as an elder, I can’t help but fret.”
He grabbed Charlie wade’s arm, chuckling, “Come on, Charlie, let’s head in and chat, Uncle’s got a lot to ask you.”
Charlie wade’s nerves tightened, but he could only steel himself and follow inside.
Once in, Lord Orrin gestured him to the sofa, the Gu(Sun) living room lined with three sets, Lord Orrin and Charlie wade on one, Angie and Stephanie on another.
Lord Orrin looked at Charlie wade, concern in his voice, “Charlie, how’s everything going lately?”
