"Do you remember Mom?"

Although Fran's voice was not loud, it caused a violent shock in Charles's heart.

What's going on? Why did she suddenly ask about such a thing?

"Why do you ask?" Barely suppressing the fluctuation in his heart, he still asked with the smile he had just faced.

At the same time as he asked rhetorically, he couldn't help but recall forward, carefully searching for the memories of that mother that remained in this life. But I don't really remember anything - other than that I was pretty good-looking.

She married her father at a young age, and then died in an accident that caused her to give birth prematurely, leaving behind little trace of the world except for a pair of children - this was Charles's last impression of her.

For understandable reasons, Charles was not very noisy since he was a child, so he did not have many opportunities to be disciplined by his mother, and before that tragedy, he and his mother usually only maintained a polite relationship with him, and did not get close to him. Moreover, it is unlikely that in his "childhood" his mother gave him any "special benefits" that made his blood boil, because in those days, aristocratic women basically did not breastfeed their children.

So, even if he really wanted to answer, he couldn't give much.

"I'm just asking, do you remember her?"

"I don't remember, I was only five years old when she died, how can I remember so many things?" Charles laughed a little, "Why did you ask about this kind of thing today?" Fran? Aren't you usually not asking about this kind of thing? ”

"I don't think you remember...... "Fran laughed as well, "yes, how old were you then......"

"So. What's going on? Why are you suddenly asking about this? ”

"It's nothing...... Fran shook her head slightly, then deliberately lowered her voice again, "You don't know yet, do you?" Yesterday we had a guest at home......"

Charles's heart skipped a beat.

Damn, how can this be?

"Oh? What kind of guests are they? He barely kept his composure, and asked knowingly.

"It's our mother's family......," Fran replied in a low voice, "I think my grandfather sent me...... Grandpa received them very kindly. It's strange that they didn't pay attention to us for so many years. Why do you suddenly remember to look for our house now? ”

"Maybe it was because our family suddenly became rich and asked for help, aren't there many such people during this time?" Charles reluctantly replied, "Alright." Don't think about it so much, grandpa and I will cope with the past, didn't you say it before? They have ignored us for so many years, and now they are coming to us again. Our family won't fall for this. ”

"Is that so?" Fran looked at Charles with wide eyes. It wasn't until a moment later, as if she had confirmed Charles's will, that she hung her head and stopped asking. "Well, even if that's the case, they're our relatives, right? Now that they have come to us, and Grandpa has warmly received them, doesn't that mean that our two families can now get back together? That being the case. If I can, I'd like to walk around with them in the future......"

"Nope." What Fran didn't expect at all. Before she could finish speaking, Charles directly interrupted her. "That's not good."

"Why?" Fran felt a little strange, "It's just walking around, not forcing yourself to help them?" I just wanted to see where my mom used to live, and ...... And maybe there are some relics of my mother there......"

Fran's voice grew lower and lower, and she looked up at Charles with a hint of anticipation.

If he had never known anything about it, Charles would have agreed, but now he would have dared to say yes.

Not to mention agreeing, he didn't even know what to say about the reasons for objecting - how many valid reasons could there be for not letting a granddaughter see his grandfather?

"Anything else, I can't promise you this." With a hint of hesitation, Charles reluctantly replied, "Even if we don't do anything, it's too embarrassing for us, isn't it?" Are we servants they can summon and come and go? No, you can't go to them, it's about the dignity of the Tréville family, it's not a trivial matter. ”

"But......" Fran still wanted to say something.

"No, no. That's it. Charles interrupted her again and ended the topic stiffly, "Okay, do you have any other questions?" ”

Seeing Charr suddenly become so stern, Fran seemed to be shocked, an attitude she had rarely seen in many years. She looked at Charles blankly and shook her head slightly, "No, sir, I'm sorry for wasting your time, I'm really sorry......"

Fran's panicked appearance couldn't help but make Charles's heart tighten. He quickly recovered from his anger.

Fran was now pale and panicked, as if she didn't know where she had made another mistake.

I'm really dizzy, what are you doing to be angry with her for such a thing? How can I punish the next generation for the mistakes of the previous generation? What's wrong with her?

Charles couldn't help but feel a little guilty in his heart.

Prompted by this self-reproach, he reached out and hugged his sister tightly.

"Okay, I'm sorry, I was a little heavy just now, don't take it personally." He leaned down, leaned closer, and kissed Fran on the cheek, "Don't ask any more, some things are good to be honest and obedient, I've always been good for you, trust me." ”

Fran didn't answer, letting Charles hold her.

"I'm not angry, I'm used to your attitude towards me like this for a while now. , and there is nothing uncomfortable. She replied calmly, "I know you're doing it for my good, I know." ”

"Don't be like that......" The more she said that, the more reluctant Charles became. Finally, he sighed and kissed her forehead again, "Okay, don't be angry, just do what I say, trust me, will I do something bad for you?" ”

"Okay, if you want that." Fran nodded slightly, "I won't go to them again." ”

"That's great." Charles sighed with relief, "You just have to live happily, you don't have to worry about anything, I will take care of everything, and you can enjoy it freely." So you understand? Just listen to my arrangements honestly and leave nothing else to worry about, so that you can live a peaceful and comfortable life...... Listen to me, okay? ”

"Thank you, sir." As if infected by Charles's words, Fran's voice trembled. "Thank you very much......"

Charles took her answer as an answer, so he sighed in relief.

"Well, if only you understood. So is there anything else? ”

"No," Fran replied calmly. "I'm sorry to delay you so much."

"Well, then I have to leave beforehand, I may not be back until late, if you need any help, leave me a note or a message." Charles let go of Fran and went to pick up his hat and cane, "By the way, you've been writing good reviews in the newspaper lately, so keep up the good work." ”

"Really?" Fran looked up at Charles, and some expression finally appeared on her face, "You read all the comments I wrote in the newspaper?" ”

Following her brother's advice, Fran has been writing comments about paintings in the newspaper under a pseudonym lately, but she didn't expect that her brother would have time to look at these things.

"Yes, it's a lot of progress, much better than it was at the beginning." Charles patted her face again, secretly glad that he had finally changed the subject, "It's very gratifying to me. ”

"As long as you're satisfied, that's fine." Fran closed her eyes slightly, trying not to let Charles discover how excited she was when she had Charles' approval—even if it was a small recognition. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

"It's okay, you have this talent." Charles smiled and bowed slightly, "Goodbye, then, miss." ”

The two men had no interest in exploring how much of Fran's progress had been brought about by the looted treasures.

With that, with a feeling of relief, he strode out of the room and walked downstairs.

Fran had been standing in the doorway, watching Charles' departing back, not moving. It wasn't until Charles faded away that she clenched her fists gently.

After all these years, can't I still see what you were like when you hid something from me?

Only Charlotte would be taken away so easily. A certain sense of superiority suddenly rose in the girl's heart.

Then, with a deep sigh, she walked back to her room.

The way her brother spoke harshly just now still echoed in front of her eyes at this moment, she had never expected to be reprimanded so harshly before. And grandpa is also tight-lipped.

Why? What exactly is inside, and why is it so hidden? What hidden secrets are hidden in my mother's affairs?

She fell into deep thought.

Although she knew that her brother wanted her to be silent and pretend that she didn't know anything, she ...... She still couldn't help but be curious about the mother who had died because of her, and wanted to find out what was going on.

Moreover, from her brother's secretive attitude, she also felt an inexplicable sense of excitement.

A desire to get to know his brother overshadowed the fear that his brother might be angry.

She walked to her desk, and among the precious paintings that had been placed at random, she flipped through a pile of miscellaneous papers, and then pulled out a piece of paper from it, and saw the address recorded on it.

"Just trust him for once." After pondering for a long time, the girl finally made up her mind. (To be continued......)