Upon Charlie’s return to Tomson Yipin Villa, he found Claire still busy with the cleaning staff, diligently tidying up the house.

The overwhelming odors of tobacco, alcohol, spoiled food, and vomit permeating the first floor were unbearable. To combat this, the cleaning company had resorted to using specialized deodorizing equipment to ensure a thorough cleanse of the entire area.

At that moment, Jacob, who was partly responsible for the unpleasant smells, had been escorted to the yard by Claire.

After being heavily intoxicated by Charlie, Jacob had managed to avoid excessive alcohol consumption throughout the day, yet he still appeared quite disheveled. He sat alone in the yard, clad only in a pair of underpants and a basketball vest, smoking a cigarette and letting out deep sighs.

Charlie observed that his father-in-law’s body had become increasingly swollen. Sitting there, Jacob’s belly jutted out significantly, and his unkempt beard made him look particularly unkempt.

When Jacob spotted Charlie, his expression brightened. He quickly stood up, eager to greet him, saying, “Charlie, my dear son-in-law, I need to discuss something important with you!”

Charlie replied, “What is it, Dad? Just let me know.”

Jacob glanced around to ensure no one else was nearby, then said earnestly, “I’m planning to have a serious talk with Hank. Would you come along?”

Charlie was taken aback. “What do you want to discuss with him?”

Jacob responded with conviction, “He’s supposed to be a gentleman, right? They say a gentleman doesn’t take another person’s love. I want to reason with him and ask him to stop pursuing Aunt Matilda. If he backs off, there’s a chance Aunt Matilda might return to me!”

Charlie, puzzled, replied, “Dad, while it’s true that a gentleman shouldn’t interfere in someone else’s love life, your true love is Mom, not Aunt Matilda! If Hank were to confess to Mom, your argument would hold weight, but that’s not the case.”

Jacob, feeling frustrated, insisted, “Then I need to create some difficulties for him! If I can’t make his life practically difficult, I should at least create some psychological pressure!”

He continued, “Oh, and isn’t he a professor? I could go to his school and publicly plead with him not to pursue Aunt Matilda, putting some public pressure on him!”

Charlie, feeling embarrassed, replied, “Dad, I absolutely refuse to participate in something so disgraceful and devoid of boundaries. Also, consider the implications of public pressure; it can backfire. With the internet being what it is today, any scene you create could easily be filmed and posted online. If Mom sees it, it could lead to serious trouble for you, and I won’t be able to handle the fallout.”

Jacob’s face fell at this realization, and he instinctively recoiled, letting the two-finger-long ash from his cigarette fall to the ground.

Feeling dejected, he murmured, “If Elaine finds out, it could be disastrous for me!”

Just then, the roar of an engine filled the air.

The unmistakable sound of a Mercedes-Benz Big G’s V8 engine signaled that Souna and Elaine were likely back. Charlie quickly warned Jacob, “Dad, Mom is home. You should be careful.”

As the Big G pulled up to the entrance, Jacob hurriedly extinguished his cigarette. At that moment, he noticed the co-pilot window rolling down, revealing a flushed Elaine leaning out, shouting, “Jacob, what are you doing daydreaming? Come help your old lady!”

“I’m coming!” Jacob called out, hastily making his way over.

Once he reached the Mercedes-Benz Big G, he assisted Elaine out of the vehicle, while Souna in the driver’s seat said to Elaine, “If you’re free tomorrow morning, I’ll take you to enjoy the best Cantonese cuisine in Aurous Hill for morning tea.”