Chapter 2: Return

The mention of Eldoria unleashed a torrent of memories and old wounds for Charlotte, as if someone had pried open a sealed vault of the past she’d longed to forget.and aflicker of struggle crossed her eyes as she met Brad's gaze. "Can someone else handle this task?" she asked. But Brad's expression was serious."This is about the future of the research institute.“I trust you more than anyone else.” Meanwhile, Noah and Andy were already leaning closer, wide-eyed and alert, soaking in every word with the quiet intensity only children could muster.

The twins exchanged a knowing glance, their eyes gleaming with barely contained excitement. Eldoria—wasn’t that where their long-absent father lived? Charlotte’s stomach tightened; she had done everything she could to keep that part of her past buried.but Noah and Andy were too smart for that. They had connected the dots when they saw James's business empire on TV—they looked too much like James,almost as if they were simply copied and pasted. At that time, Charlotte clenched her fists, eager to ask more, but Brad let out a deep sigh.

"I'm sending you back to Eldoria to focus on traditional herbal medicine," he continued."It could greatly help with your current cancer treatment research and possibly help you break through the bottleneck." Charlotte's lips pressed into a thin line at this,while Andy wrapped his arms around her leg, his wide, bright eyes gazing up at her. “Mommy, we want to see your hometown too.”Let's go back to Eldoria together." Noah hugged her right leg, speaking sweetly, "Mommy, don't worry. We won't cause any trouble."

A hint of struggle crossed Charlotte's face as she could never resist Noah and Andy's pleading. Turning back to Brad's serious expression, Charlotte ultimately gave in,Her eyes softened, a mix of fondness and weary surrender shining through. She crouched to meet their gaze and murmured, “Alright—but you remember your promise, okay? No mischief today. Deal?”

Noah's eyes turned into beautiful crescents as he nodded vigorously. "Mommy, we'll be good." Charlotte forced a smile and sighed inwardly. 'James, will we meet again?'

Charlotte packed their suitcases with Noah and Andy and boarded the plane to Eldoria at noon. Noah and Andy were especially excited, looking out the window the entire way.

The plane touched down in the fading afternoon light, and as Charlotte stepped into the terminal, the familiar scent of home wrapped around her. A rush of nostalgia, relief, and unease surged within her—a homecoming that felt both comforting and foreign.

She pulled the suitcase with one hand, looking down to remind Noah and Andy. "The airport is crowded. Stay close to me and don't get lost." Andy nodded repeatedly,The child glanced around with wide-eyed curiosity, tugging at her mother’s sleeve and pointing toward the noisy crowd ahead. “Mommy, what are those people doing over there?” she asked, her voice bright with wonder. Charlotte instinctively looked up, but her smile froze instantly. Even with the crowd, she recognized the man at the center of the circle immediately.

It was James! Six years had reshaped him—the same striking features, now sharpened by confidence and the quiet weight of experience. He looked not only handsome, but formidable, as if time had refined rather than changed him.

If he had once been a sharp blade, now he resembled a sheathed sword, concealing his true edge. He wore a black trench coat,Reporters swarmed around them, cameras flashing in a relentless storm of light. At James’s side stood Daisy in a soft pink dress, her serene smile catching every lens. Together, they looked flawless—too flawless, as if perfection itself were part of the show.a striking couple. A reporter eagerly asked, "Mr. Martin, there are rumors that you and Ms. Lynn are getting married soon. When's the wedding?"

At the comment, Daisy’s cheeks warmed, and she instinctively reached for James’s arm—but he shifted away before she could touch him. A flicker of discomfort clouded her eyes, gone almost as soon as it appeared.but she quickly regained her composure and replied politely, "Everyone, please be patient. James and I are still young; we're focusing on our careers for now,“But we’ll keep you updated once the wedding plans are finalized.” James’s face stayed like stone, unreadable beside Daisy, who effortlessly charmed the reporters, her practiced smile masking what his silence could not.

Charlotte stood nearby, absorbing it all as a sour feeling spread silently within her.

Were they finally getting married?

Even overseas, Charlotte couldn’t escape James’s presence—his name and image surfaced in the news from time to time. At every gala, every interview, Daisy stood beside him, their smiles polished into perfection, the media’s favorite picture of love.everyone waiting for their grand wedding. However, Charlotte, who had been Mrs. Martin for three years, had never once appeared publicly with James.

Charlotte’s fists tightened until her nails bit into her palms, each breath thick with frustration she thought she’d let go of. If she had truly moved on, why did resentment still pulse beneath the surface?

Charlotte looked down to see Noah and Andy, their eyes focused on James, and a surge of unease washed over Charlotte. "Noah, Andy, let's go!"

She swept the two children away before they could protest, her movements brisk with urgency. Charlotte’s heart tightened—she couldn’t bear to imagine how much of that conversation their young ears had caught.

Watching their father prepare to marry another woman was a heavy burden for their tender hearts.

Noah and Andy kept turning back, making a conscious effort to remember James's face. Meanwhile, James, tired of the media,felt a surge of irritation. His eyes scanned the crowd and suddenly caught sight of a woman hurrying away. His pupils contracted instantly.

That silhouette—so familiar it made his heart lurch—looked just like Charlotte. Before reason could intervene, James was already forcing his way through the throng, driven by instinct rather than thought.chasing after Charlotte. But the airport was too vast, and by the time he made it outside,Charlotte had disappeared into the chaos—only a restless sea of faces met his search. The fleeting spark in his eyes faded into a cold, hollow stare, tinged with bitter self-derision.

What was he thinking? How could Charlotte suddenly come back? She was so heartless that she could abandon her own children!