Chapter 305: Charlotte [3]
Taking a slow breath, Brandon reached out and lightly touched Charlotte’s shoulder "I... understand, Sister. I don’t hate you..."
Charlotte’s eyes flickered toward his hand and a soft smile curved her lips, as if the weight she had been carrying alone for years had finally been lifted.
Elize’s eyes softened at the sight and she brushed a hand over Brandon’s back, "See? He understands."
Brandon’s gaze remained on Charlotte, "So... your other personalities... they just randomly swap with you?" he asked, trying to piece together how such a thing could happen.
Charlotte shook her head quickly, "It’s not random. If they... want something, they force their way into my subconsciousness."
Her fingers tightened slightly over one another in her lap, "Most of the time, I resist. I try really hard. But sometimes they push past me and take over my body."
Brandon’s eyes darkened and his gaze lowered to the floor ’That will be trouble...’
If he couldn’t predict when she would lose control, how could he ever protect Eira? How could he ensure this wouldn’t happen again?
Elize, sensing his growing concern, reached up and patted his head gently, "For years now, dear... Charlotte has been struggling with this. She didn’t want you to know, because she was afraid you would see her differently."
Her voice grew quieter, "Most of the time, her other personalities only surface when she’s with you. That’s why she acted like she hates you... to keep her distance from you."
Brandon blinked in surprise "Huh? Then... all those years of her trash-talking me and acting like she hated me... it was all... fake?"
The blush on Charlotte’s face deepened and she glanced at Elize "S-Sister!" she hissed in embarrassment. "You don’t have to tell him that!"
But Elize giggled softly, "He needs to know, dear. And understand that his Sister never hated him."
Charlotte lowered her head in embarrassment.
Brandon was speechless, and he looked at her again.
His gaze softened and he moved from Elize’s lap, sitting beside Charlotte on the couch.
Without hesitation, he took Charlotte’s hand and his fingers curled around hers, intertwining softly "I’m glad to know that my Sister never hated me."
Charlotte lifted her eyes for a brief moment and, seeing the warmth in his gaze, she nodded quietly.
Elize sat back and watched the scene with a fond smile.
But as she gazed at them, her eyes suddenly narrowed as a worry she couldn’t ignore tugged at her heart.
’It’s better to tell him that too.’ she thought grimly.
"Kael..."
Still holding Charlotte’s hand, Brandon turned toward her, "Elize?"
Elize’s eyes flickered toward Charlotte, who immediately stiffened at the look.
Elize’s gaze returned to him "Even though Charlotte never hated you... her other personality has done some things for the people around you in the past..."
Brandon’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Hm?"
Charlotte panicked instantly, trying to pull her hand free, but Brandon’s grip only tightened gently.
He glanced at her, giving a small reassuring nod before turning back to Elize "Tell me. I want to know the full truth."
Smiling dryly, Elize spoke "It’s just that... in high school, one of the girls had a crush on you... but ’Charlotte’ intervened and scared her off."
"What?"
He turned to Charlotte, who quickly shook her head in panic "Not me... it’s... that Charlotte..."
Brandon’s lips twitched into a wry smile despite himself. "I... see..." he muttered, half amused, half bewildered.
Elize continued, "And also... Yeon."
At the mention of his ex-girlfriend’s name, Brandon’s face changed.
His eyes darkened and he let out a sigh as "Let’s not talk about her, Aunt Elize... I loved her so much... but then she broke up- huh..."
He stopped mid-sentence, and his gaze shifted toward Charlotte, whose head remained bowed with her shoulders trembling.
"Did... that Charlotte... do something?" he asked quietly, as if afraid of the answer.
Elize’s eyes flickered, pain and guilt briefly flashing across her face and she muttered, "Yes... ’Charlotte’ threatened Yeon... and made her break up with you."
Brandon froze and his eyes widened in disbelief, "W-what..."
Elize reached out and gently caressed his cheek "Dear..."
But instead of relaxing, Brandon’s expression hardened "So... Yeon never intended to break up with me?"
Slowly, Elize shook her head in silence, unable to meet his gaze.
Brandon closed his eyes for a moment and a long, heavy sigh escaped his lips, filled with a mixture of pain, anger, and sorrow.
He stood up abruptly and without another word, he turned and walked toward the staircase.
"Kael..." she called softly as Elize stood from the couch, but he didn’t stop.
Elize stood frozen for a moment, watching him go.
Charlotte, who had been sitting quietly with her head bowed, looked up.
She saw him walking away, and her chest tightened.
A few seconds passed before Brandon reappeared at the foot of the stairs, holding his mobile and car keys.
"I’m leaving..."
Without thinking, Elize hurried forward and grasped his wrist, "Where are you going now?"
Brandon turned to her and replied "To Yeon, of course,"
Elize’s lips parted in surprise, but she quickly composed herself. "Then... okay," she whispered, nodding her head "I’m coming with you."
Brandon shook his head and shot a brief glance at Charlotte, then back at Elize. "You stay with Charlotte. I’ll be back."
He don’t know when the other Charlotte will come out and try to kill Eira. Only Elize can stop her now.
He walked to Charlotte and took her hand before leaning down and kissing her cheek "Don’t blame yourself, Sister. It’s not your fault. As for the other ’Charlotte,’ I’ll take care of that later."
"For now, I’ll go and meet Yeon first."
Elize looked at him and spoke "But it’s midnight... Where could you be going at this hour? You can go in the morning."
Brandon shook his head "I would be restless until I meet her,"
Without another word, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a hug.
Then he gently tilted her chin and pressed his lips to her cheek.
Her hands slid around his back, pulling him closer.
When he slowly pulled back, his lips brushed her cheek as he whispered "I will be back..."
With that, Brandon turned and walked toward the door.
Elize turned to look at Charlotte and walked to her before sitting beside beside her.
"Let him go and meet her... he knows it’s not you, so it’s okay."
---
Meanwhile, Brandon walked through the rain-soaked yard and saw the car.
He slid into the driver’s seat, shutting the door firmly behind him.
The scent of wet earth lingered as he tossed his jacket onto the seat and took his mobile phone.
Without hesitation, his thumb dialed Calistra’s number.
The line connected in a few rings.
"Lord Herald?" Calistra’s voice echoed from the other side.
Brandon started the engine, "Calistra, I need you to prepare the jet for me. I’m flying to Japan. As soon as possible."
There was a pause on the other end, "Japan...?"
"Yeah. I’ll send you photos of a girl. I need your people to track her down. Find where she’s living... her exact address."
"The last time I went to Japan, I saw her in Okinawa, so search around there. Find her. Don’t let this drag out."
"Understood, Lord Herald."
He scrolled through his gallery and selected several clear photos and with a few swift taps, he sent them across the secure line.
"Do it discreetly. I want no leaks. I’ll take care of the rest once I’m there."
"Consider it done," Calistra assured him.
Brandon ended the call, and he glanced briefly at the rain streaming down his windshield and the engine revved slightly as he accelerated.