The Amazing Son-in-Law: Chapters 1601-1605

Chapter 1601

Charlie Wade sat in Trevor's car, en route to the Sun residence. Loreen sent him a WeChat message: "Charlie Wade, I've booked our air tickets back to Aurouss Hill. It's nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Okay?"

"Yes," Charlie replied. "How much are the tickets? I'll transfer the money."

Loreen protested, "It's just a plane ticket! You don't have to pay me! You're being too formal!"

Charlie insisted, "You paid for me; I should repay you."

Loreen retorted, "You've saved me several times! When will Mr. Wade give me a chance to repay you? When?"

Charlie, speechless, sighed, "Fine. I won't be polite about the ticket. See you at the airport tomorrow morning."

Loreen instructed, "Be at the airport before eight o'clock. Don't be late."

Charlie assured her, "Don't worry. I'll be on time."

After hanging up, Trevor anxiously asked, "Mr. Wade, you're going back to Aurouss Hill tomorrow?"

"Yes."

Trevor pressed, "Mr. Wade, when will you return?"

"I'm not sure yet."

Trevor felt a chill. He'd hoped that while Charlie stayed in Eastcliff, he could curry favor by visiting his uncle every few days, eventually earning forgiveness and regaining his fertility. But Charlie's departure meant the end of those opportunities. What could he do? If Charlie returned only in three to five years, how could he survive?

Charlie, seeing through him, said calmly, "Even if I'm not in Eastcliff, you can still perform well for your uncle's family. If they're satisfied, I might consider restoring you sooner."

Trevor breathed a sigh of relief. "Mr. Wade, don't worry, I'll work hard!"

Upon returning to the Sun residence, Orrin had already left for the Sun Group. Recovering well from his illness, he was intensely focused on strengthening his control within the company. Besides the servants, Charlie only found Stefanie on the sofa, reading. The underfloor heating kept the villa comfortably warm at a constant 28 degrees—like summer. Stefanie was in a lace nightdress, her long legs casually crossed.

Her figure was exceptional, even surpassing Aurora's. Stefanie possessed the "perfect nine-heads proportion," a rare ideal body ratio where a woman's height is nine times the length of her face.

Chapter 1602

Seeing Charlie, Stefanie happily ran to him. "Charlie Wade, why are you back so early? I thought you wouldn't be back until evening!"

Feeling her grip on his arm, Charlie, though slightly flustered, remained composed. "It was just a birthday banquet. I returned when it ended."

He asked, "Are your parents here?"

"No," Stefanie replied softly. "Dad's at the group, and Mom's at a charity dinner with an auction and party. They won't be home for dinner."

Charlie nodded, understanding Angie's need for a high-profile comeback to support her husband's return.

Stefanie tentatively asked, "Brother Charlie Wade, are you sure you're leaving tomorrow?"

"Yes," Charlie confirmed.

Stefanie looked dejected. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "Charlie Wade, will you accompany me for a walk?"

Charlie questioned, "You're a big star. Won't the paparazzi follow us?"

Stefanie smiled, "We can disguise ourselves, like when I picked you up at the airport!" She continued, "Let's go to Millenia Square, where we played as children. Do you remember?"

Charlie frowned, finding the name both familiar and strange.

Stefanie explained, "It's where we went with our parents. There were many vendors, shops, and fun things. It's next to Heathbrook, where we went ice skating in winter. Remember?"

A childhood memory surfaced in Charlie's mind: him and Stefanie, with their parents, at Paddock Alley, eating candied haws, and ice skating at Heathbrook. He remembered Stefanie's parents' beautiful courtyard house there, and the visits they made.

The memory of Stefanie, bundled in a thick coat, clinging to his clothes, calling him "Charlie Wade" in her sweet, shy voice, flooded back. He hadn't been to that beloved place in eighteen years. Nostalgia welled up. He asked, "Daisy, is your courtyard house still there?"

"Yes!" Stefanie beamed. "It's a protected building. Dad renovated it two years ago. If the traffic wasn't so bad, we'd live there permanently." Excitedly, she asked, "Charlie Wade, shall we go now?"

His heart stirred. "Yes!"

Chapter 1603

Stefanie excitedly changed into a long down jacket, a warm mask, a furry hat with rabbit ears, and round glasses, transforming into an adorable girl.

Charlie saw the girl he remembered from childhood. She was a sweet burden—though he didn't always want her clinging to him, deep down he enjoyed her devotion.

Stefanie, noticing his pensive gaze, blushed. "Charlie Wade, why are you looking at me like that?"

Charlie, recovering, smiled awkwardly. "I was just thinking about childhood memories."

Stefanie's heart fluttered. "Let's go quickly!"

To avoid attention, they drove Charlie's old Volvo to the city center. Heathbrook, in the heart of Eastcliff, was a prosperous yet undeveloped area with well-preserved courtyard houses.

After a half-hour drive, they arrived at an alley near Heathbrook, where wealthy and impoverished families lived side-by-side in courtyard houses. Some were cramped and dilapidated, while others, outwardly unassuming, concealed opulent interiors.

Stefanie's courtyard was of the latter type.

Chapter 1604

Inside, a magnificent Nine Dragon Wall—a feature of ancient imperial architecture—adorned the walls, along with nine intricately carved Tamrons. The courtyard also featured a miniature Eastcliff garden.

Only a few loyal Sun family servants were present. Stefanie removed her mask, took Charlie's arm, and said, "Charlie Wade, do you remember this yard? We played hide-and-seek here."

Charlie nodded. "I remember, but it's different from my memory."

Stefanie smiled. "It's been renovated." She pointed to the frozen pond. "There used to be many koi. Some have lived here for over thirty years. It's cold now, so they're in the wing. Want to see them?"

Charlie was surprised. "How long do koi live?"

Stefanie smiled. "Twenty-five to thirty years. With good care, longer. There are many long-lived pets: koi, tortoises, parrots—macaws and sunflowers can live sixty or seventy years."

She led him to a wing housing a large, temperature-controlled fishpond filled with huge koi. She pointed to a meter-long fish. "Remember? You named him Dax, after Doraemon's Dax."

Charlie nodded, remembering it as the largest koi in his childhood memory. Stefanie revealed that it was a Taisho Sanshoku koi, worth the price of a three-bedroom apartment in Eastcliff's Third Ring Road.

Stefanie called to the koi, which swam over, allowing her to touch it without fear. She spoke to the fish, "Dax, look, Charlie Wade's here! Do you remember him?"

Stefanie continued, addressing Charlie, "My dad said Dax is thirty. With good care, he can live another forty years. We played with him when we were young. Charlie Wade, when we have a baby, they can play with him too!"

Chapter 1605

Charlie's childhood memories intensified, bringing him closer to Stefanie. He imagined his parents still alive, and himself married to Stefanie.

He knew his father, Bruce, would have approved of a marriage to Stefanie. He imagined he would have married Stefanie at twenty-two, and they might have two children by now.

Stefanie quietly asked, "Charlie Wade, what are you thinking?"

Charlie sighed. "My parents."

Stefanie softly sighed, "I was thinking about Uncle and Aunt Wade, too. If they were still alive, we might be married with children; three generations together."

Charlie was taken aback. He worried about how he'd face Orrin and Angie, and how he'd face the memory of his parents' expectations.

Stefanie, sensing his distress, gently held his hand. "I'm sorry, Charlie Wade. I shouldn't have mentioned them."

Charlie shook his head, smiling. "It's okay. After all these years, it's more regret than sadness."

Stefanie pulled him up. "Let's go out and play!"

They strolled around the courtyard and went to Heathbrook. Stefanie held his hand the entire time.

Heathbrook was bustling with people ice skating. They rented a two-seater ice cart.

Suddenly, a shocked gaze fell upon Charlie. It was Loreen, also at Heathbrook for a nostalgic skate with her cousin.