Chapter 525

Charles’s expression darkened noticeably the moment he stepped out of the car.
He was just about to retort when Josephine’s affectionate “Brooks” cut him off, the way she said it leaving no room for his words.
That same tone he used to be the one she greeted like that when they were ten.
But now…
Thinking of how distant Josephine was with him these days, a bitter taste filled his chest.
He looked at her, face clouded with regret.
But Josephine acted as if she hadn’t even noticed the look he gave her.
Her gaze was fixed warmly on Brooks.
One text from Evelyn, and Brooks had rushed over without hesitation.
The way a man treated a woman’s friends and family showed just how much he valued her.
Her Eve had been deeply hurt before she needed someone gentle like Brooks, someone patient enough to quietly break down the thick walls she had built around her heart.
Right in front of Charles, Josephine reached out and took Brooks’s hand.
“Brooks, now that I’m out of the hospital, why don’t you come over for dinner whenever you have time? I’ll make you something delicious. You’ve been so busy with work lately, you’ve lost so much weight.”
Evelyn: “…”
There’s a special kind of “skinny”-the kind only a caring older relative can see.
Brooks’s physique was perfect-clearly someone who worked out, slim in a suit but athletic underneath.
But instead of objecting to being called thin, Brooks just smiled, eyes gentle.
He didn’t agree right away he turned to Evelyn, who had just stepped out of the car after him. “Evelyn, would that be alright?”
With Brooks’s words, Charles’s gaze followed to land on Evelyn as well.
“Evelyn, don’t keep him waiting!” Adam piped up, clearly enjoying the show.
He loved seeing Charles knocked down a peg.
It wasn’t necessary, perhaps, but remembering how Evelyn had once been neglected by Charles, Adam never missed a chance to make Charles uncomfortable.
It’s what he deserved.
“Sure,” Evelyn replied, not deliberately keeping her distance from Brooks.
She wanted to let things happen naturally.
That single word, “sure,” seemed to make the shadows in Charles’s eyes deepen. His lips parted, as if to protest, but he realized he had no right to object.
“Ms. Josephine, the wind’s picking up down here. Let’s get you upstairs,” Charles said, forcing down the turmoil in his heart, still worried about Josephine’s health.
He hadn’t forgotten what Andrew said—Josephine shouldn’t catch a chill in her current condition.
“Brooks, let’s go upstairs,” Josephine replied, not even acknowledging Charles. She took Brooks by the arm, held Evelyn’s hand in her other, and led the way forward.
They looked for all the world like a happy family of three.
Charles’s bitterness only grew, his gaze following them, body tense.
Suddenly, Josephine stopped and turned.
Charles’s eyes brightened a bit, hope flickering in his expression as he looked at her.
But Josephine wasn’t thinking of him-she was thinking of Adam.
She hadn’t forgotten her godson, who, though not related by blood to Eve, was closer than a real brother.
“Adam.”
“Coming, Godmother!” Adam answered cheerfully.
As he passed Charles, Adam paused for just a second.
Without a hint of politeness, he pulled $50 out of his wallet and stuffed it into Charles’s suit pocket. “Cab fare,” he said, then skipped off after Josephine and the others.
The four of them walked into the entrance, laughter and conversation filling the air, leaving Charles alone in the chilly wind.
He stood there for a long time, unmoving.
…
As soon as they entered the apartment building, Evelyn noticed something was different.
She hadn’t had time to come clean lately, so she’d asked the building’s cleaning service to help out.
It had been a while since she’d been back.
Looking around at the sparkling entryway and the freshly polished elevator, she was surprised.
Adam, who had been here before, noticed it too. “Did the building management finally grow a conscience?” he joked.
Evelyn didn’t answer, but she had a hunch-this was Charles’s doing.
And she was right.
Charles knew that after Josephine was discharged, Evelyn wouldn’t want to stay
at Brooks’s place anymore-she’d come back to Maple Grove.
Maple Grove was an old complex.
The motion sensors and elevators were always breaking down.
It was one thing for the younger people to take the stairs, but Charles worried
about Josephine’s health.
So he’d arranged for the best
property management company to
come in ahead of time-renovating
the hallways, fixing the elevators,
revamping the common
areas-everything looked brand new.
He was doing everything he could to make sure Josephine was comfortable here.
But Evelyn didn’t say a word.
Just then, the elevator arrived and the doors opened.
Immediately, they saw piles of boxes stacked on either side of the door.
Aiden was waiting nearby. When he saw Evelyn and Josephine, he stepped forward respectfully. “Ms
Josephine, Ms. Evelyn, these arene
daily necessities Mr. Jenkins personally selected for you, Ms. Josephine.”
As he spoke, he handed over several sets of property deeds.
“These homes were specially chosen by Mr. Jenkins for you, Ms. Josephine. They’ve all been
transferred to Ms. Evelyn’s name. If you or Ms. Evelyn ever want to move in, you can do so at any time.”
Charles had thought of everything.
The choice was in Josephine and Evelyn’s hands now.
Josephine looked at all of it, her heart unexpectedly moved.
All this time, Charles had been quietly keeping track of her illness, arranging the
best nutritionists and physical therapists for her.