Charlie felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of seeing Mrs. Lewis again soon.

It had been a while since he last encountered Mrs. Lewis, particularly after he got reprimanded for attempting to borrow money from Lady Wilson during her birthday celebration. Following that incident, Stephen had promptly sent Mrs. Lewis to Eastcliff.

Charlie shared a profound bond with Mrs. Lewis, viewing her as a mother figure.

When she fell ill, Charlie went to great lengths to gather funds for her treatment. He even considered selling his blood in secret to raise some money and discreetly borrowed a significant amount from Claire to ensure Mrs. Lewis’s survival.

Without his relentless efforts to secure funds for her care, Mrs. Lewis might not have lived long enough to wait for Stephen’s return; she could have passed away much earlier.

Yet, for Charlie, this was simply his duty. Even with all his efforts, he felt he was only making a tiny dent in repaying the immense kindness Mrs. Lewis had shown him.

His father had repeatedly instilled in him the importance of gratitude before his passing, emphasizing that a man should always express his thankfulness throughout his life. As the saying goes, a small favor should be returned with a greater act of kindness. Charlie had always adhered to this principle.

Thus, he didn’t hesitate to leave the kitchen, ignoring the noodles he was preparing for Elaine. He quickly removed his apron and informed Claire, who was keeping Elaine company, “My dear wife, I need to rush to the orphanage to handle something urgent!”

Elaine immediately questioned, “Are you finished cooking my noodles? I haven’t even had a single bite of rice yet, and you’re already planning to leave?”

Charlie shot her a frustrated glance and replied, “The noodles are already cooking! You can take them out when they’re ready! Mrs. Lewis has fully recovered, and I’m heading to the orphanage to welcome her back.”

Elaine reacted immediately, scolding, “Charlie, how dare you speak to me like that over an old lady at the orphanage? Do you even know your place as a live-in son-in-law? Have you forgotten who provides for your needs?”

She then sneered, “What difference does it make if that old lady were to die anyway?”

Charlie had been putting up with Elaine’s behavior for a long time. He had hoped that after being confined and facing some consequences over the past couple of days, she might show some improvement in her attitude. However, he was taken aback by her continued disrespect toward Mrs. Lewis, the very person who had helped him.

With anger in his eyes, Charlie retorted, “I’m eating my own food, drinking my own drinks, and wearing clothes I bought for myself! Remember, this villa was gifted to me by someone else! Moreover, I furnished this entire house with the money I earned by assisting others with their Feng Shui! I have every right to express myself! If you’re dissatisfied, you can always leave and return to your old house!”

Elaine was left speechless by Charlie’s response.

She wanted to reprimand him, but reflecting on his words made her realize he was right.

The circumstances had changed dramatically. In the past, he had lived in their cramped house without any income, which allowed her to scold him freely.

Now, however, he was doing well. Someone had provided him with a lavish villa, and he could earn substantial money just by offering Feng Shui advice.

On the flip side, she was broke. If Charlie chose to turn his back on her and denied her a place in his villa, what would she do?

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Elaine felt a pang of guilt. The furious look on Charlie’s face made her nervous and afraid.

In a bid to salvage the situation, she glanced at Claire with an injured expression and said, “Claire, don’t you think your husband is being unreasonable? Is there any other son-in-law who would speak to their mother-in-law like this? If you don’t rein him in, he’ll become insufferably arrogant!”

To her surprise, Claire responded earnestly, “Mom, I believe Charlie is right. We are living in the villa that someone else has given him. Without him, we wouldn’t even have the chance to enjoy such a nice place. It’s unfair for you to continue treating him as you did in the past!”