Even Lord Wade was momentarily taken aback.

Stephen Thompson spoke up, his voice icy: “I never intended for Master Charlie to return. I’m merely stating the facts—today, Master Charlie stands on par with Bruce Wade, who once wielded immense power in Eastcliff! Regarding the marriage proposal, it was the master’s idea, not mine!”

“Moreover, there’s no need to feel anxious here. Master Charlie has no desire to return. From what I know of him, even if I were to kneel and plead, he still wouldn’t come back, let alone leave his wife for a marriage with the Banks Family!”

As the crowd absorbed this, a wave of relief washed over them. He won’t come back? That’s even better! Lord Wade’s eyes narrowed slightly.

After a moment of contemplation, he stated firmly: “Honestly, if Charlie were to return, I can’t say he wouldn’t have a chance at marrying Zara Banks.”

“How could that be?” Corran Wade exclaimed, almost incredulously. “The Banks Family has high standards, and even Jon, with his esteemed status, may struggle. Charlie is just a commoner who has been away for many years. Why would the Banks Family even consider him?”

Lord Wade fixed Corran with a cold stare, a grin creeping onto his face.

Corran felt a shiver run down his spine under the old man’s gaze, as if his thoughts were being laid bare.

Deep down, Lord Wade understood that Corran’s disparaging remarks about Charlie stemmed from fear—fear that Charlie might actually return and, worse, that he might accept a marriage proposal from the Banks Family.

Out of fear, Corran belittled Charlie. Though it appeared logical, it was merely a façade to mask his inner unease. The others present shared a similar sentiment, dismissing Charlie on the grounds that he had grown up in humble circumstances and was unworthy of Miss Banks Family.

Myles sneered, “Dad, while Charlie is my second brother’s son, he’s been nothing but a punching bag for young people all these years. How can someone like him compete with a noble lady like Zara?”

Seeing the others in agreement, Elder Wade scoffed and said, “Do you all realize that back in the day, Zara’s mother, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Banks Family, was willing to go to great lengths for Bruce? She pursued him for years, and if he had just nodded, she would have been the second daughter-in-law of the Wade family. Even now, she mourns at Bruce’s grave every year. Do you grasp what that kind of devotion means for the Wades?”

His words sent shockwaves through the room! At that moment, Corran Wade recalled those past events. Back then, Bruce was a dominant figure in Eastcliff, and countless wealthy daughters dreamed of marrying him, even if it meant being just his lover.

This included Zara’s mother, the eldest daughter of the Banks.

Back then, many men, including Bruce’s own elder brother, were envious of him.

If Elder Wade suggested that Zara’s mother had genuine feelings for Bruce, then perhaps there was a real possibility for a connection between Charlie and Zara…