Chapter 481


    "Uncle Charles, it''s been a long time since you''ve seen me. Did you miss me?"


    "Of course, I did!" Charles yfully pinched Anna''s nose. "Did you miss me, Anna?"


    "Yes, I missed you very much." As if afraid Charles would not believe her, Anna took his hand and


    nted a big kiss on his cheek, making everyone in the Hoffman family burst intoughter.


    "Now that everyone''s here, let''s start dinner," Maxwell said. As the head of the family, he


    understood the situation between his children but chose not to mention it.


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    Fortunately, Anna''s presence helped ease the tension. With the child around, the conversation


    topics became much lighter.


    After dinner, Chloe carried Anna over to Charles. "Was the urgent phone call just about this?" She


    nced at risse and J in the living room. "Mother really shouldn''t have brought her along."


    Chloe harbored no goodwill toward J, stemming from an incident years ago. "It''s gettingte,


    and Anna needs to sleep," she said.


    "Yes, I should be going too. Let''s leave together," Charles replied. He had never nned to stay


    overnight at the Hoffman residence.


    Chloe smirked. "You''ve be quite cunningtely."


    Charles narrowed his eyes and took Anna from Chloe. "She''s grown taller."


    "Yes, and heavier too!" Chloe could not help but smile. "You''re not getting any younger. When are


    you going to bring a woman home for me to meet?"


    Charles raised an eyebrow, his eyes hiding a hint of amusement.


    Chloe paused. "You''ve found someone?"


    Charles did not confirm it, so Chloe could only shrug. "Well, it''s your business. Just know that unlike


    our mother and the others, I''ll support whoever you choose."


    After the previous incident, Chloe realized that despite Charles'' power, he had shown her mercy. If


    he had not considered their rtionship, she would not be chatting sofortably with him now,


    given her past actions.


    Charles nodded slightly. "When the time is right, I''ll certainly bring her over for you to meet."


    "So, there really is someone? That''s great. I was worried you''d be stuck in the past, but now..."


    Chloe grinned.


    "Chlo!" Charles eximed, seemingly exasperated.


    Chloe paused. "Alright, alright. I''ll stop, okay?"


    It was the first time in a long while that Charles called her by her childhood nickname, indicating


    significant changes in her brother recently. "Let''s go say goodbye to Grandpa and Dad," she


    suggested.


    Due to his age, Maxwell retired to his room shortly after dinner, assisted by James.


    Meanwhile, Henry, who was concerned about Nancy''s health, also took her upstairs after the meal.


    Mateo and risse had grown increasingly distant over the years, so he went straight to his study.


    This left only risse and J in the living room.


    J wanted to approach Charles, but Chloe''s constant conversation with him left her no


    opportunity. She could only watch Charles anxiously from afar.


    risse''s attention was not on the TV either as she asionally nced upstairs.


    Noticing J repeatedly looking toward the Hoffman residence''s backyard garden, she frowned


    slightly. "If you want to talk to Charlie, just go. It won''t cause any trouble."