Gwen looked at Mr. Charles with uncertainty in her eyes, as if a question lingered in her mind. "Grandfather, answer my question."

Mr. Charles was silent for a moment, his enigmatic smile never leaving his face. "Ah, Clara," he responded, his tone steady. "I tried speaking with her, but she refused to meet me."

Hearing those words, Gwen's heart grew heavier. Yet, there was something in Mr. Charles' tone that made her uneasy. She sensed there was more to their conversation than he was letting on.

"Speaking?" she asked, trying to dig into the meaning behind Mr. Charles' statement. "Why did she refuse? And why haven't we heard anything from...