Lionel still felt guilty about Savannah.
Knowing that she was his stepmother Joanne's own daughter, he hid the fact from them and separated the mother and the daughter deliberately. He knew he was unforgivable, and he thought he might at least apologize.
From his assistant, he was surprised to learn that Savannah forgot some people and some things. It was said that she suffered threatened miscarriage after meeting Charlotte three years ago and lost her memory due to massive bleeding.
The news left Lionel shocked and indescribably guilty.
Luckily, Savannah had been well taken care of by a young man named Kevin Wills. It was said that the two had known each other at the orphanage and had a good relationship.
The day before, Lionel drove to the street near Savannah's apartment just in time to see her walk in.
After three years, the girl looked as beautiful as before, full of youthful spirit.
This relieved him a little.
But there was still a lingering sense of guilt in his heart. He wondered if it was right to withhold the fact from Savannah and Joanne.
This girl should be carefree and always laughing like Charlotte, enjoying the kind care from her parents.
He felt he was an executioner who had cut off her happiness; he could save his stepmother from languishing for her lost daughter, but he didn't.
For three years, every time he saw his stepmother, he hardly dared to look into her eyes, feeling really guilty.
After Joanne married into the Rowe family, she treated him and Charlotte like her own children and loved them. What did he do in return? He knew that Savannah was Joanne's own daughter, and he knew how Joanne missed her, but he never mentioned Savannah's existence to her.
The footsteps pulled back Lionel's mind. He turned and saw his assistant back.
"Mr. Rowe."
"Well?"
"Miss Schultz's preparing to leave. I heard that she's going to return to Italy next week." The assistant reported.
"So soon?" Lionel's eyes flickered with regret. "You said that Wills was still injured, and they wouldn't leave until next month."
"Well, I don't know why Miss Schultz suddenly set her departure ahead."
Lionel gave a slight sign. This time, he didn't even have time to talk with her. Now she was going to leave in such a hurry, maybe she would not return to LA in a short time.
"This morning, your father called and said that he would return at the end of this month with Mrs. Rowe. They know you and your sister are in LA, and they will fly here to see you first before returning to Chicago." The assistant continued.
Hearing that his parents were coming home from abroad, Lionel switched his mind back and wrinkled his brows.
His parents had to worry about Charlotte again when they came and saw she was so depressed because of the man who didn't care about her at all.
Three years ago, when the story of Charlotte's suicide finally reached their ears, they were so worried that they almost flew home immediately. Lionel explained and reassured the couple that Charlotte had been fine and he would take care of her, so they were relieved and didn't insist on going back at that time. However, they also knew that Charlotte had been admiring Dylan but could not get a response, and they asked Lionel to watch over her. That's why Lionel f.o.r.c.i.b.l.y took Charlotte back to Chicago.
"Where's Charlotte?" He called the maid who took care of Charlotte, at the same time wondering how he could explain to his parents.
He should talk to his sister first. She could at least behave herself while their parents were with them.
The maid, however, seemed to be taken aback.
"Miss Rowe's not at home now," she said haltingly, lowering her head.
Not at home? Did she go to Dylan again? Looking at the maid's dodging eyes, Lionel said with emphasis, "Is she looking for Mr. Sterling again?"
As soon as he arrived in LA, he gave strict instructions to the servants, asking them to tell him if Charlotte went to Dylan.
"Sir, Miss Rowe didn't go to Mr. Sterling..." The maid shuddered at his hard tone.
"Where did she go?" Lionel frowned.
"Miss Rowe... She..." The maid muttered.
"Where did she go?" Lionel snapped again. Though he was usually gentle and slow to anger, he looked stern when he was in a temper.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rowe, were living abroad for a long time, and everyone knew he was the real master of the Rowe family. He was always kind, but he never easily spared those who dared to cheat him.
"Miss Rowe said she went out to see her old schoolmate, she called him Edmond." The maid answered quickly. She didn't dare to challenge his authority.
"Well, why did you appear hesitating? Anything special with this guy?" Lionel frowned.
"Miss Rowe had asked me not to say it." The maid was almost crying.
Lionel began to feel suspicious about Charlotte's whereabouts. Why should she go to see old school friends so secretly?
"Does she often look for this guy these days? Edmond, right?" Looking at the maid, he asked sternly.
"Yes..."
"Are they only old classmates?"
"I'm sorry, sir, I really don't know… Miss Rowe didn't say so much to me..." The maid said helplessly.
"You can go." Lionel didn't ask more. Then he turned to his confidential assistant.
"Go check this Edmond, why he's been with Charlotte so often lately."
"Yes, sir," the assistant nodded at once and left first.
Lionel was familiar with Charlotte's circle of friends, most of them were young ladies and gentlemen from big families. But he had never heard of Edmond. They should not be good friends. But since their relationship was not close, why did his sister go out to see him so frequently?
What's more, Edmond was a man. Lionel was afraid that the man would take advantage of his sister or coaxed her into a relationship.
* * *
Dylan took Kaiden to Sterling's house for dinner this weekend night as usual.
"Grandpa!" Kaiden pulled his way from his father's hands and rushed into old Sterling's arms as soon as they entered the door.
"Good boy." Old Sterling hugged his dear grandson, grinning from ear to ear. "I bought you some new toys, Marvel hero series transformers, and multipack! Go and see them in your toy room!"
"Wow! Wonderful! I love you best, grandpa!" Kaiden jumped for joy. Cooper immediately came and led the young master upstairs.
Then old Sterling looked at Dylan with a sigh.
"What are you going to do?"
Dylan sat on the opposite couch, working on a company email with his notepad. His eyes narrowed slightly when he heard that. But he didn't look up.
"I don't know what you mean."