Chapter 1941

Charlie never understood why Meredith and Frank were so cold and distant. It was as if an invisible wall stood between them, and neither of them were willing to cross. Foster Manor was like an ice-cold prison. Frank and Meredith were like strangers who barely acknowledged each other's existence. They never spoke, never interacted. Frank, in particular, treated him with complete indifference. When Charlie was little, he had once tried to be affectionate by mimicking his kindergarten classmates who would cling to their fathers. Yet, all he got in return was a cold, indifferent stare. Frank never spent the night at home. Meredith was always alone. For the longest time, Charlie believed that all families were like this. But soon, he realized they weren't. One day, his teacher assigned the class a project titled as "My Father". The other kids talked about strict but loving fathers—men who hugged them and told them bedtime stories. Charlie had never known anything like that. It tu