After Chuck, Sandra, Mr. Miller, and the bodyguards departed, they proceeded directly to the parking lot located in the basement level three. As it was just a few hours before 6 PM, Chuck needed to return to check on his son. Prior to leaving, he sent Sandra the name of the hotel where they were scheduled to have dinner.
Once Sandra left, Chuck and his grandfather entered their car and drove away. "Is that the woman you were married to?" his grandfather inquired. "Yes, that's her," Chuck replied. "She seems quite stubborn. How did you manage to live with her for those years?" the old man asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
"Well, it wasn't as if we lived together. After her grandfather passed away, I was asked to leave her room and ended up living in a small room that used to be a store," Chuck explained. His grandfather expressed disbelief, saying, "A store? How could those people be so callous?" It was hard for him to fathom that his grandson had lived in such conditions.
"I'm truly sorry, my child. I regret not being there when you needed me. I wish I could have discovered your situation sooner and rescued you from those unkind individuals," his grandfather lamented. Chuck reassured him, saying, "It's alright, Grandpa. That chapter is behind us, and I am grateful that you found me in time and helped me."
They reached home in a short time, and upon exiting the car, they found Nick engrossed in playing with his toys, so absorbed that he did not notice their arrival. Chuck approached him, lifted him up, and then inquired of Nanny Margaret if the boy had eaten. Nanny Margaret had been like a grandmother to Nick, attending to him with great care.
After thanking Margaret, Chuck allowed Nick to continue playing. Together with his grandfather, he then made his way to the dining room where they were served coffee. Chuck's grandfather received his meal shortly thereafter; however, Chuck excused himself from the dining table once he had finished his coffee, opting to go to his room to prepare for his dinner with Sandra.
Once he was prepared, he exited the room and descended the stairs to inform his grandfather of his readiness to depart. Upon reaching the dining table, he discovered that the elder gentleman had already finished his meal and retreated to his room. Chuck then ascended the staircase once more, knocked on his grandfather's door, and entered.
"Grandpa, I'm leaving now, but I hope to return soon. Have a pleasant evening, and I will see you later."
"Very well, my child. Do you require a driver?" his grandfather inquired.
"No, I will drive myself; I don't want to keep the man waiting in the car," Chuck replied.
"What about the bodyguards?" his grandfather asked. "You can take two of them; I don't believe it is safe for you to be out there alone."
"Alright, thank you," Chuck said to his grandfather, and then he departed the room.
Chuck was mindful not to burden the bodyguards excessively, understanding that they were also occupied. Consequently, he requested one of the bodyguards who had not accompanied them to work to accompany him. They arrived at the parking garage and promptly departed in a Range Rover. Chuck could not help but appreciate the comfort of the ride in the luxury vehicle.
Their journey to the destination did not take long, and upon arrival, Chuck retrieved his phone from his pocket and dialed Sandra's number before leaving the parking lot.
Once connected, Sandra informed Chuck that she was nearing the hotel. In less than ten minutes, she arrived, accompanied by the bodyguard, and they proceeded directly into the hotel, where they were greeted by a waitress.
"Welcome, sir and madam. Have you made a reservation with us?" she inquired.
"Yes, please check under the name Chuck Wallen," Chuck responded.
The waitress searched through her list of bookings and, upon finding Chuck's name, invited them to follow her to their reserved table.
Chuck had arranged for a separate table for the bodyguard, who was also directed to his designated spot. He had previously explained to the bodyguard the reasoning behind this arrangement; he wanted to ensure that the bodyguard, seated separately, could observe the surroundings for any potential threats, as some individuals might underestimate his safety when they believed he was unaccompanied. This approach would also aid in identifying possible connections to his past kidnapping incident.
At the table where Chuck and Sandra were seated, they engaged in mutual compliments, lighthearted banter, and enjoyable conversation. Once their meal was served, they experienced a brief moment of silence as they savored their dinner. After finishing their meal, the waitress poured red wine into two glasses, offering one to Sandra and the other to Chuck before departing.
Once they had concluded, Chuck seized the opportunity to inquire about Sandra's romantic life. "Sandra, I apologize for my directness, but may I ask if you are single or involved with someone?"
Sandra was taken aback by the question; she had not anticipated Chuck would bring up such a personal topic. However, she decided to share her story.
She began, "I once had a boyfriend whom I loved deeply, believing that he loved me in return. Unbeknownst to me, he was merely pretending and intended to use me. Despite the dynamics of our relationship, I was under the assumption that everything was progressing well. He excelled at feigning affection, but his true motivation was to exploit my financial resources.
Two days after he left for a supposed business trip, he contacted me, claiming that his bank card was not functioning. He explained that he had reached out to the bank and was informed that his card had expired, requiring a visit to his local branch to apply for a new one. Trusting him, I sent him money; however, when I attempted to call him shortly afterward, I was unable to reach him.
Later, I received an unexpected phone call from a friend of mine, who is a manager at a local hotel. During our conversation, I was taken aback by the information she provided. She informed me that my boyfriend was at her hotel with another woman, and I found it difficult to comprehend what I was hearing.
The location my ex-boyfriend claimed to be visiting was completely different from where my friend worked. Determined to verify her claims, I decided to see for myself and drove to the hotel.
Upon arriving, I contacted my friend, who advised me to wait discreetly in a corner for them to come downstairs for dinner. I followed her suggestion. It did not take long for them to appear; my friend had expertly reserved a table for them right next to where I was seated."