The Amazing Son-in-Law: Chapters 1376-1380 (Cleaned Up)
Chapter 1376
Stefanie said indignantly, “Aurouss Hill has always been the prime suspect in my father's investigation. He's been here several times, using his connections to check every boy around your age. He's even checked every rescue station, welfare home, and NGO in China, and there's no record of you.”
“That's impossible!” Charlie Wade exclaimed. “I lived in the Aurouss Hill Orphanage from age eight to eighteen, and my name has never changed. My parents named me Charlie Wade, and that's the information I gave the orphanage. If Uncle Sun investigated, he would have found me.”
Stefanie countered confidently, “Impossible! In the past ten years, my father has personally visited Aurouss Hill at least five times! He's sent countless others, utilized every connection imaginable, and still found nothing.”
She continued, “I remember the last time my father came to Aurouss Hill. It was the summer before I left for the UK at eighteen. At my insistence, he brought me here. We spent two weeks in Aurouss Hill, employing hundreds of informants and private investigators, and still uncovered no information about you.”
Charlie listened intently, noticing Stefanie's serious, excited expression. Panic surged in his heart. Since his parents' death, he’d rarely been this unsettled. A sudden tension gripped him. He began to suspect his sad childhood might have been a terrifying deception. He’d spent ten years in the welfare home, and Orrin Sun had repeatedly searched for him. It was impossible to overlook the Aurouss Hill welfare home.
So, what prevented Orrin from finding him? Was something wrong with the orphanage? Did they deliberately conceal his information? Who instructed them, and why?
He suddenly realized that with the Wade family's extensive network, he shouldn't have remained hidden in Aurouss Hill for so long. They retrieved his parents' remains and returned them to Beijing for burial, proving they knew his family's movements. In other words, the Wade family must have known he was in the Aurouss Hill Welfare Institute. He might have been under their surveillance all along. This explained why Stephen Thompson could easily find him in the hospital. The truth seemed increasingly complex…
Seeing Charlie fall silent, Stefanie asked with concern, “Charlie Wade, are you wondering about the conspiracy behind this?”
Charlie nodded. “Something seems wrong, but I haven't figured it out yet.”
Stefanie offered, “Let me call my father. I'll ask him to come over!” She reached for her phone.
“No, no!” Charlie stopped her. “Don't tell anyone about seeing me, including your father!”
Chapter 1377
Stefanie was puzzled. Her father's years-long search for Charlie had caused him immense distress and guilt. Finding Charlie was a long-held wish. She was eager to share the news: “Charlie Wade, why can't I tell others about seeing you?”
Charlie sighed. “Regardless of what happened over ten years ago, I'm happy in Aurouss Hill and don't want to re-engage with Eastcliff.”
Stefanie said emotionally, “Charlie Wade, you're the young master of the Wade family. Why stay in Aurouss Hill? Returning to Eastcliff would give you at least 20-30% of the family's trillions in assets.”
Charlie waved his hand. “I'm not short of money and not interested in the Wade family assets. I want a stable life in Aurouss Hill with my wife.”
“Wife?” Stefanie exclaimed. “Charlie Wade, you… you're married?!”
“Yes,” Charlie said casually. “For over three years…”
Stefanie was stunned. “Charlie Wade! Have you forgotten your betrothal?”
“Betrothal?” Charlie chuckled nervously. “It was a childhood joke between our parents. We were just ignorant children. How can that count?”
Stefanie protested indignantly, “How can it not count? For years after your disappearance, my father reminded me daily that I was a married woman, forbidding me from dating. I've carried that burden myself!”
Charlie was dumbfounded. He was eight, she six, when he left Eastcliff. He’d forgotten, but his family hadn't. He felt a pang of guilt. “I’ve had a hard life. Ten years in a welfare institution, then working construction. Then I met my wife.”
Stefanie, angry and distressed, asked with red eyes, “Didn't you consider our betrothal when you married her?”
“Sorry,” Charlie admitted frankly. “I didn’t think about it, mainly because I was struggling, and many things were beyond my control.”
Stefanie asked, “What does your wife do? Is she from a prominent family?”
“No,” Charlie smiled. “She’s an ordinary girl.”
“An ordinary girl?!” Stefanie was speechless, then anger flared. “You, the young master of the Wade family, my fiancé—my father and I have searched for you for years—how could you marry another woman?!”
Chapter 1378
Stefanie wept. Charlie handed her a tissue, gently urging, “Daisy, don’t cry. Things aren't as simple as childhood games. I admit I ignored this. I thought you’d dismissed it as a childish thing, but I didn’t expect you and Uncle Sun to have searched for me for so many years.”
Stefanie said angrily, “A game? A laugh? My father made a vow to Uncle and Aunt Wade!”
She continued, “You lived in Eastcliff for eight years. You know Eastcliff families despise their children entering entertainment. Even wealthy families forbid their children marrying actresses. They see them as inferior.”
“But why did I enter the entertainment industry?”
Charlie shook his head, subconsciously asking, “Why?”
“To find you! I wanted to become a star, to be followed by the whole country, so you might see me, recognize me…”
Charlie said awkwardly, “You’ve changed a lot. Without your nickname, I wouldn’t have recognized you.”
Stefanie retorted, “Haven’t you seen my interviews? I always tell reporters my nickname is Daisy Sun. I say I don't have a boyfriend because I'm waiting for my childhood sweetheart. This has been trending numerous times. Haven’t you seen it?”
Charlie smiled helplessly. “I rarely pay attention to entertainment news or follow celebrities.”
Stefanie pouted angrily. “Then why did you ask me to endorse Nova Dias?!”
Charlie shrugged. “That was Liam’s decision. He said you're one of the most famous celebrities, so he recommended you.”
Stefanie’s self-esteem was crushed. Tears of anger fell. “My years of hard work were for nothing? I’ve announced it to the whole country, and you never saw it!”
She wiped her tears, choking up, “On the plane, I was still thinking I could wait until you were thirty-five, even forty. People in entertainment marry late. I didn't expect you to be so unconscionable! Not only did you not recognize me, but you broke the engagement and married someone else!”
For years, Stefanie had remembered her betrothal to Charlie. It was not only childhood affection but also her father's tireless search. She'd yearned to find him. Her father’s constant reminders solidified the commitment in her mind, especially after she turned twenty. She’d believed she would find him, but he was already married!
Chapter 1379
Charlie felt uncomfortable. He gave a dry cough, apologizing, “Daisy, I am responsible. I’m sorry to you and your uncle…”
“Sorry?” Stefanie raged. “Even if you don’t consider my father an elder, he’s searched for you for years. You should apologize to him! Telling him you’ve been found—what does that even mean?”
Charlie looked at her anger seriously. “Daisy, think about it. I lived in the Aurouss Hill Welfare Institute for ten years, but Uncle came several times and failed to find me. Why? Someone didn’t want him to find me. That person is powerful, friend or foe, I don’t know. Telling Uncle will only cause him trouble.”
As Stefanie’s expression softened, Charlie continued, “Also, why my parents were forced to leave Eastcliff, why they died in Aurouss Hill, it’s unknown. Someone hid my information. There’s a huge secret. I must uncover what happened, find whoever is watching me, and then I'll meet Uncle.”
Stefanie cried, “But my father has missed you for so many years. He has two wishes: to find you and to see me married…”
Charlie solemnly promised, “Daisy, don't worry. When I find out everything, I will personally go to Eastcliff and visit Uncle Sun!”
Stefanie’s expression became even more pained.
She burst into tears. “My father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years ago. He’s had treatment in China, the US, and Japan, but there’s no cure. Top doctors say it's incurable, like Steve Jobs. His condition could deteriorate at any time…”
Charlie exclaimed, “Pancreatic cancer? How is Uncle Sun now?”
Stefanie said, “I just returned from the US. He’s recuperating at home. I took the American film because he was undergoing treatment there. His treatment is finished, so I came back to China for a while.”
She sighed quietly, “The treatment in the US wasn't successful. He’s getting worse. I don't know how long…”
Charlie felt sadness. After years of wandering, he had no feelings for Stefanie's family. If not for meeting Stefanie, he might never have thought of them again. They were too young then. But hearing Stefanie’s account of her and her father’s efforts moved him.
Since becoming an orphan at eight, Charlie had met few kind people. Fewer still truly cared. There was Mrs. Lewis from the orphanage, Lord Wilson, and his wife, Claire. Lord Wilson had passed away. Only Mrs. Lewis and Claire truly cared. But now, there were two more: Stefanie Sun and her father, Orrin. Orrin's persistent search was unexpected.
Chapter 1380
Hearing Orrin was suffering from pancreatic cancer, Charlie immediately decided to save him!
He told Stefanie, “After we finish discussing the cooperation, you return to Eastcliff. In a few days, I'll secretly go to Eastcliff to see Uncle Orrin. I have medicine that can cure his illness!”
Stefanie was dumbfounded. “What medicine can cure this terminal illness? Doctors have told me it's incurable…”
Charlie said seriously, “I can’t disclose that now, but I’ll keep my promise!”
Charlie had medicine. His first elixir cured high paraplegia, medically impossible. One dose for Orrin would likely cure his cancer. If not, he had Rejuvenation Pills. He had many left. This medicine could revive the dying. Even if that failed, he had Reiki, the purest energy, capable of curing any disease. Charlie wouldn't let Orrin die. He was his father's brother, his elder, and benefactor.
However, Charlie wouldn't give the medicine directly to Stefanie, as his previous medicine had caused trouble with Ichiro Kobayashi of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical. It was safer to give it to Orrin directly.
Stefanie doubted Charlie’s words. She’d studied the disease extensively and knew it was incurable. But Charlie’s confidence gave her hope. Even if he couldn’t cure her father, visiting him would bring comfort.
She asked tentatively, “Charlie Wade, will you really come to Eastcliff in a few days to see my father?”
Charlie nodded firmly. “Definitely!”