Chapter 293 It’s An Easier Life Than Being A Civil Servant

James’ was more emotional than usual when he saw Charles agreeing with him. “Finally, someone who understands my choices!” “Tell me this, when Soph and Leah had their disagreement and I chose Soph over the White family, it might end up with the White family becoming bankrupt. When that happens, I would never be able to protect Soph when facing the Jones and Harris families!” Charles’ eyes dimmed slightly when he heard the words ‘never be able to protect Soph’. His right hand subconsciously knocked on the sofa. James continued angrily, “I did so much because of the White family. And yet, everyone is blaming me for it. Don’t they realize who has been the one giving them a good life?!” Charles placed his cup down, and his body moved slightly to the front. With his arms on his knees, he said, “Sophia’s maternal grandparents gave them a good life. Didn’t they give you everything you have now?” Charles smiled. “Isn’t that so?” James' expression stiffened as he tried to change the topic. “… I’m really grateful to them too, but two years ago, the best choice was to give Soph up. Don’t you agree with me on this? Besides, it was only two years of prison, and it wasn’t really a matter of life and death.” Charles gave a sarcastic laugh. “Only two years of prison? Why don’t you try going to prison? I believe if you did voluntarily go to prison for two years, Sophia might consider forgiving you.” James frowned. “If Soph and the others were able to take good care of White Industries, I’ll go straight to prison now without saying another word! All you do in prison is eat and sleep with nothing much to do. It’s an easier life than being a civil servant!” Charles' eyes turned slightly cold. “I’ve finally truly understood the meaning of the term ‘easier said than done’.” An unhappy expression appeared on James’ face. “Since you’ve mentioned this, why don’t you let me take care of White Industries while you go to prison?” Charles’ eyes narrowed as he pulled on his silver-grey necktie. James’ expression turned dark as he tried his best to speak calmly, “How can this work? At the end of the day, you’re still a member of the Harris family. I’ll never feel safe about it!” Charles drank a mouthful of tea and said lightly, “That’s true. After all, you don’t even trust both your children. It’d be too difficult to ask for your trust.” “Don’t you listen to that ignorant Soph’s nonsense!” James attempted to maintain a cultured front, but his expression was saying otherwise. A sarcastic smile appeared on Charles’ lips. “Actually, I’m not the only one who agrees with your choice two years ago. Sophia agrees as well.” James' eyes widened slightly. He drank some tea to hide the astonishment on his face. Charles held up the teapot to pour more tea as he said slowly, “However, we agree if you had done that for the sake of the White family, but if the reason for your choice was to benefit yourself, then it would be a different matter.” James placed his cup on the table. “No matter what my reasons were, won’t the results be the same?” Charles gave a cold laugh. “If your capability matched the extent of the color of your heart, I believe my grandfather would never have given you such judgment.” James did not expect Master Harris’ name to be brought up. When he heard that Master Harris’ judgment of him was not that great, it made his heart fall. He had wanted to ask further about this when he saw Charles stand up. “Are you done unpacking?” Charles walked to Sophia’s side when she came down the stairs. Sophia gave him an affirmative and followed him to the dining room. James walked by both their sides with his head lowered in a frown, seemingly thinking about something. The servants had served all the dishes in the dining room. When the three of them entered, the servants came forward to pull out the chairs for them before standing by the side silently. James frowned and asked, “Where’s your mom? Why is she making the guest wait?” Sophia glanced at him coolly. “You can start your meal if you’re hungry. No one is stopping you from eating.” “How dare you speak that way to me?!” James roared. It took him a while to realize what he had done. When he glanced at Charles, he softened his tone. “Go upstairs and get your mom and the others.” Jenny entered just as he said this. Sterling and Nicole followed behind, each of them holding on to a child. “Wow, what a pweety person!” The older child, Jenna, saw Charles and her eyes brightened. She ran toward him with her short, little legs. She was smiling and requesting for Charles to carry her. The veins on Sterling’s forehead started to form in anger. “He’s a bad guy. You’re not allowed to go near him. Come back!” The little girl shook her head and continued to hug Charles’ leg, rejecting her father. She refused to let go of Charles’ leg no matter what Sterling said. Her little mouth kept repeating, “Such a pweety person…” “What’s wrong with your eyes? Isn’t Daddy better looking than this bad man?” Sterling's expression was filled with anger. If he could not convince her through conversing, then he would take physical action by forcefully carrying his little girl. The little girl looked at him with a scrunched up nose and stared at him with her big, round eyes. Sterling’s heart fell when he saw her behaving this way. The next second, the little girl pouted and suddenly started sobbing loudly. Moments after some scuffling about, the little girl was cradled in Sophia’s arm, sobbing. Sterling, on the other hand, was being lectured by the wife. He was so dejected that he did not dare say a word even though he was angry. “Can’t you cawwy me, pwease?” The little girl looked pitifully at Charles who was sitting next to her. Charles was not swayed at all. He placed a piece of chicken wing into Sophia’s bowl. “The only person I hold in my arms is my wife.” “You are so thick-skinned!” Sterling poked viciously into the rice in his bowl, pretending it was Charles. Nicole glared at him and pinched him on the waist, warning him to stop spouting nonsense. The little girl cocked her head to the side. “I’ll be your wife, then you can cawwy me.” Sterling stood up immediately at this. Before he could roar at this, Nicole pulled on his ear and made him sit down. “A person can only marry one wife. I’ve already got one. Also, you should call me Uncle.” Charles explained seriously to the little girl. She was a smart little girl but did not completely understand the sentence. “What’s uncle?” Charles explained it to her, but the little girl had a hard time understanding. She quickly turned her attention to eating, happily munching on the shrimp Sophia had peeled for her. There were a few times during dinner when James wanted to question Charles about Master Harris’ opinion of him. However, the thought of it being a bad opinion made him swallow his question. James did not really enjoy the dinner at all. It was torturing for James to wait until dinner was over. He said immediately after, “I’ve got an itch in my hands. Charles, why don’t you play a few rounds of chess with me?” “I’m sorry, I have to give it a pass. Sophia has had too much to eat, and I’d like to accompany her for a walk,” Charles said as he pulled Sophia upstairs without giving James another chance to keep him. Taking a walk was an obvious excuse. Sophia turned back to take a glance while walking up the stairs and saw her father looking at them with an unhappy expression. She looked brightly at him with all her teeth shown in a perfect smile. She hung onto Charles under James’ angry glare. Sophia was about to ask Charles about what her father wanted from him after they shut the room door behind them, but before she could say a word, Charles suddenly pressed her against the wall.