UNKNOWN [Lestappen]

A/N:

hehe new chapter!! I hope you enjoy! <3

Charles' POV:

The soft patter of rain began to fall as I walked home, the sky a muted gray, the air damp and heavy. My shoes splashed quietly through puddles on the pavement, but I barely noticed. 

My thoughts were still hyper focused on the conversation with Max, replaying his words in my mind. I felt a small smile plague my face as I paced along the concrete path.

As I reached my front door, I shook off the light drizzle and opened it slowly, the hinges creaking like they always did. The sound of the TV filled the hallway immediately. I could hear Mom laughing, her voice louder than usual. 

Strange. 

I stepped inside, closing the door behind me as quietly as possible. It wasn't just her voice I could hear, though. There was another voice, a male voice, soft but present. 

At first, I assumed it was someone from whatever show she was watching. Maybe some dumb rom-com again. But something felt off. I hesitated for a second, and then walked toward the living room, my steps slow and cautious. When I turned the corner, I stopped dead in my tracks. 

I could only see the back of the couch, but two heads were sitting on it, one was Mom's, the other was... unfamiliar. My heart sank.

"Mom?" I called out, my voice sharp with confusion.

Both heads turned around at the sound of my voice, and my mom's eyes widened immensely. She scrambled to her feet immediately, looking flustered, panicked even.

"Charles, it's not what it looks like," she stammered, stepping toward me, hands reached toward me as if to calm me down.

My eyes darted back to the man still sitting on the couch. He hadn't moved, just watching the situation unfold. I felt my chest tighten with anger and confusion.

"Who is that?" I asked, my voice cold and demanding.

"It's no one important," she snapped quickly, but I could hear the edge in her voice. She wasn't telling me the truth. "Go to your room."

I stayed rooted in place, my heart pounding harder. "Is this the guy you're always on the phone with?" I shot back, my voice rising with every word.

Her face twisted with anger, her eyes narrowing as she clenched her fists at her sides. "Charles," she growled through gritted teeth, "I said go to your room."

But I wasn't backing down. Not this time. I wouldn't let her lie to my face again. "You promised Dad," I shouted, my voice louder now, cutting through the tension. 

"You promised him you wouldn't get with anyone else after... after what happened!" I could feel my vision going blurry, tears threatening the corners of my eyes.

Her face flushed with rage, and she let out a furious grunt, stepping closer, almost towering over me. "You don't know what you're talking about!" she yelled back, her voice shaking with frustration. "Now listen to your mother! Listen to me!"

"I don't understand! Why can't you just tell me?" I pleaded, anger still coursing through me.

She was tense, as she lifted her finger, prodding my chest. "Charles Leclerc. Room. Now."

I didn't move. My eyes flicked over to the man sitting silently on the couch, watching everything unfold like it was some kind of soap opera. He hadn't said a single word. I shot him a dirty glare, my stomach turning at the sight of him.