Chapter 185 Patrick Takes Action
Patrick frowned. "What do you know?"
Frederick brushed off the ice, looking a bit dazed.
After a while, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice, "Dad, since I broke up with Katherine, I didn't plan on loving anyone again. When I got with Charlotte, I thought it was just a fling. I knew she liked me, but I had no long-term plans!"
Patrick threw an ashtray at him, eyebrows twitching in anger. "You're playing with feelings!"
Frederick didn't dodge, and blood trickled down his forehead.
Laura, hiding outside the door, felt heartbroken. "Patrick!"
Patrick showed no mercy. "Don't plead for this bastard! How dare you? Playing with women now? I'll kill him today!"
Laura didn't dare to plead further.
Patrick lit a cigarette and exhaled a smoke ring. "Why aren't you saying anything? You can do it, but you're too ashamed to speak of it? You think it's honorable, bringing glory to the Hawkins family?"
Frederick stared at his father, confused. "Dad, I didn't expect to fall in love with Charlotte! It was only after she left that I realized I was desperate to win her back. I did things I wouldn't have done before, but she doesn't want me anymore! Dad, I don't know what to do to make her come back!"
Before Patrick could offer advice, Frederick's expression suddenly became resolute. "But I won't let her be with someone else. Oliver won't do! No one will do!"
Frederick finished speaking and turned to leave.
Laura wanted to stop him.
Patrick spoke in a deep voice, "Let him go. He's 29 years old. He should know what to do!"
Laura was worried. 'Frederick wouldn't do something extreme, would he? His words just now sounded very off!'
Patrick, however, was quite satisfied.
He smoked and glanced at Laura. "You don't understand! This is what being a man is about! If you like something, you should fight for it, not hide and drink every day. Or the result would be Charlotte getting married and him going crazy."
After Patrick's talk, Frederick stopped attending drinking parties and seemed to revert to being an elite in the legal world, but his methods became more ruthless, often sending chills down people's spines.
People frequently came to the Hawkins family to complain.
Laura complained to her husband, "With Frederick's reputation like this, I think he's really going to be single for life!"
Patrick snorted. "What do you know? There are girls out there who want to sleep with Frederick, lining up from one end of Syeattel to the other! It's just that your son has high standards and is fixated on that one!"
Laura looked at the newspaper photo of her son again, who looked handsome and sexy.
'It was no use. He was still single!' she sighed silently.
A month passed, and soon it was the day for Charlotte to receive the Syeattel Outstanding Youth Award.
Charlotte invited Maria to watch the ceremony.
Maria had been sad for a long time, but today she was unusually happy.
Backstage, she adjusted Charlotte's collar several times, always feeling it needed to be smoothed out a bit more.
Charlotte smiled lightly. "Mom, it's already very neat!"
Maria also smiled. "It never feels perfect enough! Today is your big day. Keep your spirits up!"
Charlotte nodded.
At that moment, the hostess came over and whispered, "Miss Russell, it's your turn to go on stage."
Charlotte hugged Maria's shoulder. "Take lots of pictures for me!"
Maria hurriedly adjusted her clothes again. "Don't mess up your clothes. I promise to capture you looking spirited."
Charlotte smiled as she went on stage.
But as soon as she saw the award presenter on stage, her smile froze slightly.
It was Patrick presenting the award!
At this moment, there were thousands of people in the audience, and major media stations were broadcasting live. Patrick was smiling warmly at her, calling her affectionately, "Charlotte, come over here!"
The media went wild!
Everyone knew the richest family in the city almost had Charlotte as a daughter-in-law.
Most high-society dramas ended badly. Who would've thought this one could end so smoothly?
Charlotte forced a smile.
She wasn't dumb; she suspected Patrick had arranged to present her with this award, and the reason was clear.
But with all the cameras flashing, she had to keep her cool!
Charlotte smiled and went on stage to get the award.
Patrick was just as tricky as Frederick. After giving her the award, he didn't let her go, even putting his arm around her shoulder, asking the media to take more photos. "It's rare I get to present an award to a family member! I'm thrilled! I'm going to print these out and put them in my office! Make sure to take good pictures of Charlotte; girls love to look their best!"
The media went crazy again.
Charlotte could barely keep smiling!
Patrick had controlled the scene; leaving would look bad, and staying made her relationship with the Hawkins family seem unclear!
In short, Patrick was a master at this!
After a round of photos, Patrick finally let Charlotte go but publicly said with a smile, "To celebrate your achievement, I have a gift for you to take home."
Charlotte knew Patrick wanted to talk to her.
She couldn't refuse such a powerful business mogul; any move he made could ruin her small music studio.
The award ceremony ended.
Patrick's secretary personally came to pick up Charlotte.
It was Charlotte's second visit to this office, a symbol of power.
The last time she was here, she agreed to Patrick's terms and went abroad for study. Stepping in again, she felt a surge of emotions.
Patrick personally hosted her again.
He was even kinder and more affectionate than before.
He made coffee for Charlotte and sat across from her.
Patrick got straight to the point. "I know you've been wronged! But today, I want to have a heartfelt talk with you. All couples go through ups and downs. Frederick was wrong, but he has repented. He went through a very reckless and decadent period, which was painful for us as parents to see, but we were even more angry at his lack of progress!"
Charlotte said nothing.
Patrick continued, "It's all Frederick's fault!"
He picked up a thick file from the table and gently pushed it toward Charlotte.
Charlotte looked up.
Patrick's handsome and shrewd face still carried a smile. "My secretary tells me your music studio is doing very well. Charlotte, I have high hopes for you. These are all the Hawkins family's real estate assets, valued at around ten billion dollars. Laura doesn't like to manage these, and I want to entrust them to you."
The management of a ten-billion-dollar fortune was indeed very tempting.
Such generous terms also represented trust. For a shrewd businessman like Patrick to entrust something so important was rare.
Charlotte couldn't help but feel moved.
She looked at the file, knowing that if she signed it, she would immediately become one of the most valuable women in Syeattel.
But she refused.
She spoke with difficulty, "Patrick, these are indeed very attractive! But what I want is not a prestigious family; I want a husband who completely belongs to me. The things I've been through with him make it impossible for me to trust him again. So, I'm sorry. I can only say I can't measure up."
Charlotte finished speaking and stood up.
She bowed to Patrick, grateful to this man who had always been kind to her.
Charlotte left.
Patrick's secretary tiptoed in and gently asked, "Should we stop Miss Russell?"
Patrick waved his hand.
He pointed to the documents on the table and said to the secretary, "She is indeed quite remarkable. No wonder Frederick can't let go!"
The secretary smiled in agreement.
Patrick smiled again. "Such a good girl should belong to our Hawkins family."
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