The issues with Scott Group were obvious to anyone, but Ahmad had no intention of pursuing them. It was unclear whether he didn’t take Jaquan seriously or if Nelson was too important a pawn.
“I heard you took Maeve to see your grandfather a few days ago.”
Every time Nelson heard the name “Maeve” used for Charlotte, he felt uncomfortable, even though it was her real name.
“Yes, Grandpa was very happy to hear the news.”
Charlotte timidly looked up. “I will visit your grandpa often when I have time. I miss him a lot.”
Nelson took a sip of his drink and responded indifferently.
“You did well. Nelson’s grandfather took good care of you in the past, so it’s only right to visit him,” Ahmad said, then added, “And you, you and Maeve have known each other since childhood. You should stay in touch.”
The implication was too blatant. Sienna coughed lightly and said, “They are grown-ups now and know what to do. You don’t need to worry too much.”
Nelson exchanged a glance with Charlotte. He felt tired, as if Ahmad had plans for them, ignoring his marriage as if it didn’t exist.
He lowered his eyes and thought of Callie. She refused to come with him, and he wondered if she would overthink things.
Nelson mingled with his drink for a while before slipping into an empty lounge. A waiter entered and asked if he needed anything.
“Don’t let anyone in.”
As soon as he spoke, the door opened gently. The waiter turned around, looking unsure.
“Miss Ellison…”
It was Charlotte, holding a glass of wine and looking at Nelson cautiously. “Nelson.”
Since it was such a coincidence, he gestured for the waiter to leave.
The lounge was now just the two of them.
Charlotte sat beside him. “Father overstepped earlier. Nelson, don’t mind it. I won’t interfere with your marriage to Miss Marsh.”
Nelson pondered her words. “You didn’t call her Miss Marsh before.”
Charlotte felt awkward. She used to call her Mrs. Oconnor, but now the title seemed downgraded.
“If it bothers you…”
“I mind it more than she does,” Nelson interrupted.
Charlotte’s expression grew softer. She had the typical delicate features of a southern girl, looking pitiful and endearing.
She actually resembled Marilyn a bit.
But compared to Callie, she was different. When Callie was upset, she would confront him and cause trouble.
“Nelson, you really like her,” Charlotte asked cautiously. “But I just want to know, at the beginning, did you have any feelings for her because of me?”
She meant their resemblance.
“Don’t get me wrong, I just want to know if I ever mattered in your memory.”
Charlotte’s question seemed selfless, purely curious. Upon seeing this, Nelson’s cold tone softened.
“It wasn’t because of you.” His relationship with Callie wasn’t simple, but it wasn’t because she looked like Maevelyn.
Though they did argue about it many times later.
Charlotte couldn’t smile anymore.
She took a sip of her wine. “It turns out that from the beginning, we were on different paths, starting new lives.”