Chapter 314: Chapter 290: Return to the Imperial Capital
Translator: 549690339
The dwelling of Old Master Lane was a single-story house in the front courtyard.
When William Lane arrived, the Old Master was feeding birds on the porch. Hearing footsteps, he turned his head to the back.
After seeing the exhausted and self-blaming expression in Williamās eyes, he put down the spoon, placed his left hand behind him, and rubbed the longevity lock in his hand.
āGrandfather,ā William called as he walked to the porch.
Old Master Lane was dressed in a Tang-style suit. Over eighty years old, his hair was completely white, but he stood tall and appeared quite spirited. He looked at William, his expression and voice calm and steady throughout, āWhen did you come back?ā
āArrived in the Imperial Capital last night.ā
āDidnāt sleep a wink?ā asked Old Master Lane.
āMm.ā
The old man glanced at him and walked toward the room. It seemed he deliberately avoided giving any bad news, so he specifically asked, āDid Olivia get into trouble again?ā
William followed him, āHenry Clark returned to the Imperial Capital. Kidnapped Olivia.ā
Old Master glanced back at him, and it seemed as if a hurricane had swept through his eyes, but they quickly returned to calm, āHowās Olivia?ā
āSheās fine. Arthurās girlfriend was recording a show at her school.ā William said, āShe rescued her just in time.ā
Old Master Lane felt relieved, sat in the Spring and Autumn chair, and looked at William. āArthurās girlfriend? Does Arthur have a girlfriend now?ā
āFor almost a year now.ā
Old Master Lane stroked the longevity lock in his hand for a long while without speaking. After a while, he sighed softly, āI always thought Arthur would be my grandson-in-law.ā
William looked at the longevity lock without speaking.
āCharlotteā¦ she liked Arthur so much.ā
William fell into recollection, silent for a while, with the corners of his mouth turning up, āWhen she was one year old, the moment she got into Arthurās arms, she kissed him with a face full of drool.ā
Old Master Lane also smiled and said, āShe really enjoyed spending time with Arthur. If she saw him and wasnāt embraced by him, she would cry endlessly.ā
āArthur took advantage of his good looks, despite hating children, he would carry her around all day.ā
āBack then, you always guarded against Arthur stealing your sister. Just like guarding against a thief,ā Old Master Lane said, āLater, when Charlotte grew older, you didnāt let Arthur see her.ā
āThe little girl kept calling him āBrother Arthur,ā which annoyed me. The more I asked her to call him Third Uncle, the more she wanted to call him brother.ā William thought back to his overflowing jealousy, āI only had that one sister, and I couldnāt let my position as her brother be taken away.ā
āI also really like Arthur,ā Old Master Lane said, āArthur, you, and Charlotte. I trained all of you as my own successors. But in the end, you threeā¦ You were not home, Arthur ruined his own reputation, and Charlotteā¦ā
Back then, Old Master Lane held a high-ranking position, but later retired due to old age.
Because of the existence of the Doomsday Hotel, the old man rarely intervened in the Lane Familyās affairs. His younger brother managed it.
After Williamās father grew older, Old Masterās younger brother handed over the Doomsday Hotel and the entire Lane Family business to Williamās father and went on a world tour.
Now, no one knew where he was, but at least he still kept the family safe every month.
As a result, Williamās father did not take over from the elderly Lane.
Old Master Lane skipped a generation to train them.
āTell me, whatās the matter with coming over today?ā The old man stroked his fingertips and asked.
William sat upright in a single chair beside him, hesitated, and said, āGrandfather, Oliviaā¦ not long ago, she had a dream of seeing Charlotte crying for a long time.ā
Although Old Master Lane was getting old, his mind was still sharp. As soon as William spoke, the elderly man understood, āThis childā¦ā
āGrandfather, I feel that I am a very unqualified elder brother,ā William said with a bowed head. āI couldnāt protect Charlotte, and I couldnāt take care of Olivia.ā
Old Master Lane was silent for a long while before saying, āThis childā¦ I always thought we were spoiling her too much. It turned out that she has fooled all of us.ā
āAs a brother, I am unqualified.ā said William, āI thought I knew her well enough, but it turned out that I didnāt know her at all.ā
Any ordinary person who could deceive the entire Lane familyā¦
āWilliam, you bear too much burden,ā said the old man. āItās not your fault. Your parents and I bear the main responsibility.ā
William shook his head, āIām so sorry for her.ā
Looking at his bowed head, Old Master Lane probably understood his purpose in coming. There were some things he couldnāt decide on, things he could never let go of.
So, after the two were silent for a while, Old Master Lane made the decision for him, āWilliam, return to the Imperial Capital.ā
With his bowed head, bent waist, and hands covering his eyes, William spoke.
āTen yearsā¦ā Old Master Lane held the longevity lock in his hand with trembling fingertips. āThe best ten years, all wasted in F Continent. Let it go, and think about yourself for a change.ā
William didnāt say a word.
āOlivia is also nineteen, and in a few years, she will be of marriageable age.ā Old Master Lane said, āWhile she is still at home, spend more time with her.ā
William returning to the Imperial Capital meant that people would remain in F Continent, still looking for Charlotte. But with William coming back, it was like announcing a piece of bad news to everyone.
Charlotte couldnāt be found.
She disappeared forever.
Perhaps she was no moreā¦
āGrandfather, Iām sorry,ā William said in a muffled voice.
Old Master Lane sighed softly, āPerhaps our fate as grandfather and granddaughter, father and daughter, mother and daughter, brother and sister, and sisters with Charlotte lasted only for those few years. There is nothing to be sorry for. In these ten years, while you were in F Continent, you still managed the family business. Youāre the one whoās the most tired.ā
āItās me who lost Charlotte.ā
āItās not you,ā said the Old Master. āNo one expected the attack, it couldnāt be helped. Itās not your fault.ā
William couldnāt let go of his two younger sisters. But, Charlotte had been missing for ten years without any news. Whereas, Olivia had been living in the shadows, immersed in guilt.
So, Old Master Lane made this decision for him.
After allā¦ it had been ten years.
In that area of the seaā¦ a person falling could simply vanish without a trace. It was entirely possible.
Not being able to find her for ten years, the chances of survival were slim.
William stayed with Old Master Lane until noon before leaving. While he was there, the old man seemed quite normal.
As soon as he left, the Old Master got up from the chair, feeling dizzy and unsteady on his feet, almost falling down.
Fortunately, the housekeeper was close by and supported him in time, āOld Master, are you feeling unwell?ā
Old Master Lane sat back down in the chair, waved off the housekeeper with a gesture and said, āItās fine, itās fine. Just need a little rest, Iāll be alright.ā
āThis wonāt do,ā the housekeeper looked at the nearby servant, āGo to the backyard and call the doctor.ā
Old Master Lane tightly clutched the longevity lock in his hand, closed his eyes, leaned back in the chair, and said in a deep voice, āItās nothing, itās nothing. Perhaps my blood pressure is a little high, but itās not a big problem. Iāll just rest for a while.ā
He hadnāt found his Charlotte yet, hadnāt found her yet.
He couldnāt let anything happen to himā¦