Chapter 263 Like a Dog That Lost Its Home
The wind was howling like crazy on the rooftop, and it came through the phone sounding urgent.
Michael shot up, gripping his phone tight. "Keep her calm, I'm on my way."
The call woke up Sinclair, who was sleeping next to him.
Sinclair turned over, hugging his waist and nuzzling into his chest. "What's going on?"
"Patricia's having a meltdown. Something happened, I gotta go deal with it."
Sinclair was surprised. "What happened to Patricia? Want me to come with you?"
"No need, you go back to sleep. Don't wait up for me."
Sinclair didn't push further. "Drive safe, and call me if anything happens."
"Okay."
On a bone-chilling winter night in the Imperial Capital, Patricia teetered on the edge of the rooftop. By the time Michael arrived, a crowd had already gathered.
"You're so young, what could be so bad?" someone said.
"Come down! Let's talk it out!"
The onlookers below were earnestly trying to persuade her.
Michael pushed through the crowd, his face cold as he walked up to Patricia and scolded, "You're an adult! Is suicide seriously your only response to making a mistake? Get down! Don't make a fool of yourself!"
Patricia wouldn't listen, sobbing stubbornly. "It's better to die than to go to jail!"
"Come down first!" Michael shouted.
Patricia looked down at him from above. "Michael, if I jump, will you forgive me?"
"Patricia, stop being so willful! Stop forcing me!"
If she really jumped, Michael would feel guilty for the rest of his life.
She took a step forward.
She would rather take a gamble than go to jail.
Michael's heart raced. "Patricia! Come down! Stop this nonsense!"
"Michael, you're the one forcing me. I killed Sinclair's baby, so now I'll give my life back to her!" Patricia stepped forward.
"Patricia!"
Michael rushed forward, grabbing her and pulling her down with force!
The onlookers on the rooftop were all startled!
If Michael hadn't acted quickly, Patricia would have been a splatter on the ground by now.
It was such a brush with death.
Michael lay on the ground, gasping for breath, his chest heaving violently.
After a long while, he got up and dragged Patricia off the rooftop.
He grabbed Patricia's arm and shoved her into the room. "Don't ever do something this stupid again!"
Patricia was terrified, sliding down the door and crouching on the ground, trembling. "Michael, send me abroad. I promise I'll never come back. This Sunday is your wedding with Sinclair. If she finds out I caused the car accident, killed her baby, and made her infertile, do you think you can still have the wedding? She'll want to kill me."
Michael slumped onto the sofa.
His face was ashen, his head hung low, his hands clenched into fists, knuckles white with tension.
The atmosphere was tense for a long time.
Michael's phone rang, the caller ID showing Sinclair.
He hesitated for a few seconds before slowly answering, "Hello?"
"Is Patricia okay?" Sinclair's concerned voice came through the phone.
Michael paused, then said calmly, "She's fine, just drunk and acting out because of a breakup."
Given Patricia's wild nature, it was usual for her to act out after a breakup.
Sinclair didn't suspect anything. "How drunk is she? Do you need to stay with her?"
"No, I'll come back after she sobers up," Michael replied.
"Okay."
After Michael hung up, his eyes turned cold.
Patricia realized something, crawling to him on her knees, swallowing hard, her voice trembling. "Michael, Sinclair doesn't know anything yet. I'll just say I'm going to Elysium to continue my studies. She won't suspect a thing."
"You had a truck hit her just because you hate her? Patricia, why are you so cruel?" Michael was seriously disappointed.
Patricia felt wronged, seeing Michael's attitude soften, she confessed everything, "No. Sinclair was talking nonsense! Once, we were arguing in the study, and she overheard. She thought I killed Juniper's mother! To curry favor with Juniper, she wanted to report me! Michael, I was so scared. You know what Juniper and Magnus are like. If they were provoked and thought I was the killer, I'd be dead! Magnus is so ruthless, he could have me beaten to death!"
Patricia swallowed hard, thinking of how Magnus might skin her alive if he knew the truth.
Her back was cold with fear. "And, Magnus never wanted to admit his mother killed Lyra. If Sinclair said it was me, he'd believe it! He wants to be with Juniper, so he needs a scapegoat! Michael, people are selfish. Sinclair just wants to marry you, her wish is about to come true! If you force me to go to jail, things will only get more complicated! I know you don't want me to die, you just want me to change. Michael, I really know I was wrong! But if Magnus finds out, it will be impossible to explain."
People were creatures of self-interest, driven by the instinct to seek benefit and avoid harm.
Michael leaned back on the sofa, closing his eyes for a long time.
Patricia's face was streaked with dirty tears. She knelt before him like a lost dog, staring at him, begging her brother to spare her.
Michael didn't want to look at her pitiful state.
He got up, walked to the door, and with his back to her, said, "Once you go to Elysium, don't come back. Don't let me see you again, and don't contact Sinclair. Change your phone number, don't tell me. I don't want to contact you. From now on, I'll pretend I don't have a sister."
Patricia bit her lip hard, tears streaming down. "Michael..."
"Patricia, take care of yourself."
Patricia knelt there until Michael left. She got up and frantically searched for her passport and visa.
She couldn't stay in Imperial Capital any longer, she had to leave immediately.
If Michael changed his mind and decided to send her to jail, it would be over.
She checked the balance, only a few thousand dollars left. After buying a plane ticket, there wouldn't be much left. She had given the money from selling her bags to the truck driver's wife, Deborah. Even if she wanted to run, she didn't have enough money.
Right now, Michael was furious. Not exposing her was already good enough, he wouldn't give her money to escape.
She couldn't go to Elysium and become a homeless person, could she?
Patricia was at a loss.
Magnus and Juniper returned home late from their date.
When they came out of the mall, the rain had stopped.
But it was very cold at night, their breath turning white in the air.
The high-end store next to them had already closed, but its display window remained lit, showcasing a luxurious strapless white wedding dress encrusted with diamonds, shining brilliantly with exquisite craftsmanship.
Juniper stood in front of the window, the dress reflecting on her, making her look at it a few more times.
Magnus, standing beside her, looked down at her. "Do you like it?"
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