Martin frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about?"Ryan took a deep breath, slowed down his pace and explained word by word,"When Carter and I were on the roller coaster, we saw Patricia holding two children, a girl and a boy. The boy looked exactly like Randy! I swear, I really didn't make a mistake."Martin asked in a deep voice, "Patricia?""Yes, it was Patricia!" Ryan nodded repeatedly.Martin repeated his words, "You're saying you saw her holding Randy and a little girl? When and where?"He was clearly implying that he didn't believe it.Ryan's chest ached with anger. "What I said is true! It happened shortly after you took Randy away, about twenty or thirty meters southeast of the roller coaster."Martin looked at Carter. "Did you see it too?"Carter shook his head. "I didn't see anything!"Compared to their calmness, Ryan was impulsive and impatient."He's nearsighted, for sure he didn't see! If you don't believe it, you can check the surveillance footage!I can assure you,
Charles broke out in a cold sweat down his back. He accelerated his pace, managing to erase Patricia, Randy, and Fannie from the video just seconds before the surveillance was retrieved, as if they had never been in the amusement park.Mission accomplished, Charles breathed a sigh of relief and felt his strength drain from his body, collapsing on the ground.It was really too close just now. They were just a hair's breadth away from disaster.At the same time, across the hall...Martin and Ryan received the surveillance footage sent by Alan.He rushed to the computer and fast-forwarded the video to the spot near the jumping platform.However, after watching it countless times, he couldn't find Patricia and the two children in the crowd, even though the time and location were correct."How is this possible?" Ryan couldn't believe his eyes and rubbed them vigorously.Martin's pupils contracted, his gaze turned cold, and there was a hint of a sinister smile on his lips as he looked at hi
The road was dark.Martin's tall figure was shrouded in the dim streetlight, his face unreadable.Patricia struggled to keep herself calm, and without moving, she stuffed the bag into her purse and slowly turned around with Randy in tow.A powerful chill swept toward her.Although she couldn't see Martin's complexion, she could clearly feel that he was angry.The cold air he was emitting was madly channeled toward her.The emptiness of her heart made Patricia inexplicably nervous, fearing she had been caught, unsure how much Martin had witnessed.She licked her dry lips and tried not to let her voice tremble, "Randy knows I'm back, so he came to pick me up!"Martin strode with broad strides closing the distance between them quickly.As he approached them, the air around him thinned.Patricia's eyes dodged around sheepishly, not daring to look at him directly.Her expression faltered under Martin's gaze, adding another layer to his suspicions. He swept his gaze coldly over her backpack
After making sure Randy was fast asleep, Martin suppressed his restless desires and whispered, "Let's make a promise!""Hmm?" Patricia looked at him puzzled.Martin lowered his voice and said, "Randy doesn't like it when we argue! Parents fighting can cause irreparable pain in a child's heart! Whether you like it or not, I hope that when Randy is present, we can pretend to be a harmonious family."Patricia was well aware of Randy's fragile inner world compared to that of other children.For the sake of their child, she never hesitated not at all and readily agreed to Martin's proposal, "Alright! With Randy around, I'll do my best to control my temper."After speaking, she gently released Randy and prepared to roll over and get off the bed. But Martin grabbed her wrist and said with a speechless tone, "What are you doing?" he asked."Going to sleep in the guest room," Patricia replied.Martin sighed heavily, "Randy doesn't feel secure and he'll definitely wake up at night looking for
Patricia's eyebrow arched with a mocking smile.She had to admit, Debbie's acting was improving by the day.Debbie knew that causing a scene would only drive Martin further away. So, she switched tactics, opting for a softer approach, retreating in order to advance.Randy had no fondness for her, particularly when she wept. He said with a frown and impatience, "My parents have reconciled. Dad confessed his love for Mom last night. Tears won't change his mind; he won't marry you."Randy's words hit Debbie hard. She swayed weakly, her fragile form almost folding, and asked, "Martin, is what Randy said true?"Before Martin could reply, Randy interjected, "Of course it's true! Dad promised we'd be a family again, with them tucking me in every night."The thought of their nightly intimacy was a cold shock to Debbie. Her head spun, and darkness claimed her as she collapsed.Patricia couldn't help but snicker to herself. Such wasted talent in deception.Martin was displeased with Randy's blu
Martin looked thoughtfully at the closed door. Cookies? Tiramisu? Patricia's cooking skills were so good, her desserts must be amazing too.Hmm! He really wanted to taste them."Martin... Martin... Are you listening to me, Martin..." Debbie asked.Martin was lost in his thoughts until Debbie forcefully tugged at his clothes, snapping him back to reality."What... "What?" Martin asked. Debbie pouted, feeling wronged. "I've said so much to you, didn't you hear any of it?" Only then did Martin realize that his thoughts had unknowingly been influenced by Patricia. "What did you just say?" Martin asked."...?" Debbie was frustrated and had no outlet for her anger. She had to suppress it and repeated, "Martin, please don't blame me, okay? It's because I care about you too much that I did something foolish. We've been together for so many years, and if... if you don't want me anymore, I really don't know what to do." Martin wearily pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm not blaming you!
Back at the Villa,Randy called his father for breakfast.Patricia glanced at him and pouted, saying, "Your father has already had breakfast, so he's not hungry at the moment."Martin: "......??"Unaware of any other meaning, Randy innocently asked, "Daddy, when did you have breakfast? Why didn't you eat with us? What did you eat?""Um..." Martin was thinking about how to explain, but then he heard Patricia say, "You can't eat the breakfast your father had!"Randy blinked his innocent, big eyes and looked at Martin, seemingly understanding but not quite.Martin didn't want Patricia to misunderstand, so he instinctively tried to explain, "It's not what you saw! She suddenly rushed over, and before I could react, you came in through the door. It's a misunderstanding!"Patricia sneered, "You two are engaged, so anything you do is legitimate! There's no need to explain to me, an outsider. I..."Before she could finish her words, she caught a glimpse of Randy's face gradually becoming gloo
Fannie's lively eyes blinked twice, and then tears began to stream down her face. She clenched her soft little hands and called out to Martin in a childlike tone, "Daddy..."The people present exchanged looks of disbelief, their faces lighting up with surprise as if they had stumbled upon some unspeakable secrets.The flash of cameras went off incessantly, and a reporter deliberately asked, "Who are you? Who sent you here?" It was clear that the little girl was there to cause a stir at the press conference.Martin's eyes turned cold as he glanced at Alan, who immediately left without a sound.Fannie's young heart seemed shattered. "Daddy, don't you remember? Four years ago, you slept with an eighteen-year-old girl, and that girl is my mommy. After that night, mommy got pregnant and then she had me." As she spoke, Fannie took out a button. "This button was left behind by you, decorated with a pattern that only you can use."Martin's expression softened as he looked at Fannie's beautifu
Martin, lost in thought and gazing into the distance, didn't see Charlotte deliberately fall to the ground when her relatives reached out to her."Ah..."Her cry successfully snapped Martin back to reality.He immediately bent down to help her up. "Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?"Charlotte, tears welling up in her eyes, replied pitifully, "My wrist hurts so much, I think I've fallen on it again! I hope it's not dislocated?"Martin noticed the bandage on her wrist had come undone.The packet of medicine inside was nearly falling out. Anger started to well up inside him; this time, he was thoroughly enraged."Alan, take all of them to the police station, contact the lawyer, charge them with slander, intentional harm, extortion... I want them in jail."Feeling his boss's rage, Alan immediately carried out the order."Why are you suing us? We're the ones who have been wronged.""Just because you're wealthy doesn't put you above the law. Let me tell you, we won't back down without pr
Hunter looked at her with tenderness, patiently waiting for her to finish speaking.Seeing his gentle expression, Patricia found it difficult to voice the words at the tip of her tongue. Nervously she reached for the lemon water on the table and took a gulp.She drank too hastily, and the sourness made her teeth quiver, causing her face to scrunch up.Hunter was amused by her adorable expression and considerately poured a little packet of sugar into her lemon water."I remember you used to hate sour tastes! What changed? Are you not afraid anymore? Going straight for it?" he asked with a smile.With her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and faced with his caring gesture, found her words of refusal even harder to pronounce.Hunter stirred the water in her cup with a straw for a while, making sure the sugar dissolved, then handed it back to her: "Here, try now. It shouldn't be sour anymore."Patricia nodded and took a sip through the straw. The taste was a bittersweet delight.Although
Only when the phone’s ringtone broke the silence, the deadlock was finally broken.Martin glanced at the caller ID with a gloomy expression, sighed, turned the phone upside down on his thigh in resignation. He turned to Patricia, unbuckled his seatbelt, and moved closer, taking hold of her shoulders. With a serious and helpless look on his face, he said, "Patricia, I'm sorry, I admit I was too overbearing just now. But I'm being overprotective because I care about you so much, and I don't want to see you getting too close with Hunter."Care? It was the first time Patricia had heard this word from him.The anger in her chest dissipated almost instantly, and her tone softened unconsciously. "Hunter and I grew up together. When Debbie and her daughter bullied me, he was the one who protected and encouraged me time after time. He is very important to me. If a condition for remarrying you is to cut ties with him, then I can give you the answer now."Even without her saying it, Martin gues
Martin didn't give her a chance to escape, questioning every word, "So, is what Hunter said true? Are you really going to get engaged and marry him?"Patricia felt that the matters between her and Hunter couldn't be explained in just a few words, and moreover, everything was premature without having cleared things up with Hunter first.Seeing her still not responding, Martin grew impatient and urged, "Answer my question."Patricia pulled her hand back and said indifferently, "I won't marry him."That was her only answer. The rest, she wasn't ready to share with Martin yet.This answer caused a surge of joy in Martin's heart, his previously tense facial features gradually softened as he smiled like a child, unable to hide his delight."I knew you wouldn't like him." He said.Patricia rolled her eyes at him, "Now take me back to the restaurant."The smile on Martin's face vanished in an instant, and he refused without hesitation, "No, I won’t..."Before he could finish, his cell phone r
Upon hearing his question, Patricia burst into laughter, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "So what if it is? What difference does it make if it isn't?"She did not deny it.Martin took her non-denial as an admission, and his handsome face darkened like the bottom of a pot, his eyes filled with brooding shadows."I don't agree.""Haha..." Patricia laughed even harder, her snort of derision loud and unmasked. "And might I ask, who are you to me? By what right do you interfere? What does it matter to you whom I'm with? At best, you're nothing more than my ex-husband. Remember, ex-hus-band."She enunciated the words “ex-husband” deliberately, making sure he grasped their significance.Martin's normally composed brows furrowed, wrapping him in an aura of cold sternness.He was clearly displeased with these words. Then silence hung in the air, heavy and enigmatic.He spoke with grave seriousness, "Let's remarry!"As he spoke, a chilly wind blew past them, its whistling sound drowning out Mar
Hunter expected Martin to back down and leave in a sorry state.However, to his surprise, Martin’s expression was filled with pain as he stared at their clasped hands for a moment and then strode over to them.Confusion filled Patricia as she instinctively turned her head and locked eyes with Martin, whose gaze burned with fierce anger. Her mind felt like it was exploding as if something detonated."How did you get here?" Patricia asked, barely able to form the words.No sooner had the words left her lips than Martin had reached out, forcibly separating Patricia and Hunter's clasped hands. In Patricia's stunned state, he grabbed her wrist and started to pull her away."Martin, what are you doing?" Patricia's heart began to flutter with slight panic.Martin's face had been a ghastly sight just now, as if he was on the verge of a killing spree. She had no clue where his rage was coming from.Hunter quickly stood up and seized Patricia's other wrist, forcing Martin to stop. Martin turned
The doctor conducted a thorough examination of Charlotte. Her wrist wasn't fractured but had suffered from a dislocation and soft tissue damage."Mr. Langley, please hold her tightly. I'm about to reset the bones in her wrist, which may cause some discomfort. Keep her steady, and do not let her move.""Bone reset!" Just hearing it, Charlotte's eyes widened with fear, and her body trembled. Despite this, she bravely closed her eyes, extended her hand, and prepared herself for the pain. "Go ahead! I'm not afraid of the pain!"The doctor looked surprised and said, "It's going to be very painful. Are you sure you're not afraid?"His words instantly drained the color from her face, but she vigorously nodded, clenching her teeth, and refusing to voice her fear."I'm not afraid! Back when I was boarding at school, someone pushed me down the stairs, and I broke my leg but didn’t cry. I can handle this pain!" she explained."You were pushed down the stairs?" Martin's discerning eyes narrowed,
Patricia's heart skipped a beat. She knew she had been framed, again. And this woman's tactics were identical to Debbie's.Not only did she remind her of Debbie, but her methods and cunning were also the same. Indeed, Martin's taste had never changed. He always liked these hypocritical, nauseating women who could put on an act.The incident had happened too quickly; the onlookers only saw a scuffle but hadn't truly seen who had started it. They only saw someone fall and another with a hand outstretched as if pushing, so they naturally assumed Patricia was the aggressor."Professor Watson, what happened? Why did you push her?" one on looker asked."Yes, Professor Watson, is there some conflict between you two? If so, have a proper conversation about it. Getting physical in public won't do your reputation any favors." Another said."Yes! Professor Watson, perhaps you and her should talk in your office? It's not convenient in this corridor."After the incident with Debbie, everyone's vie
Martin had thought he would be calm when he saw Patricia again, as if nothing had ever happened.But in this moment, with Patricia standing right in front of him, his heart raced with intense emotions that he had suppressed for so long. It was in that moment that he realized the depth of his love for her, far greater than he had ever imagined.He couldn't bear to see her with Hunter, nor could he draw a clear line between them. "You..."Martin's lips parted as he tried to speak to her, to bridge the distance between them.Unfortunately, Patricia had made up her mind to keep her distance, and with her head bowed, she took a step back, yielding the path ahead.Martin clenched his fists tightly, struggling to contain the anger and turmoil within him. Unaware of the tension between Martin and Patricia, Charlotte flashed a sweet smile at Martin and said, “Martin, let’s go! I can’t wait to see Randy!”Patricia smirked derisively, her lips curling up."Well, isn’t that affectionate?"Marti