Chapter 114 Competing with Patricia for the Child
Seeing her standing still, Samuel frowned unhappily.
He walked around from behind her to the front, curled his lips, and asked with a smirk, "What's the matter? We haven't seen each other in five years. Don't you recognize me?"
Patricia suddenly regained her senses and hurriedly said, "Mr. Langley... Why are you here?"
Samuel's expression remained emotionless as he said, "Of course, you wouldn't want me to come. This way, you could hide Charles' existence forever."
Hearing his words, Patricia's face changed dramatically. Observing her expression, Samuel felt even more convinced that she was deliberately concealing something and had ulterior motives.
"Do you have time? Accompany me for a cup of coffee." Patricia felt reluctant in her heart and subconsciously wanted to refuse, but under Samuel's imposing gaze, she involuntarily nodded in agreement.
Before she knew it, she found herself sitting across from Samuel in a cafe opposite the hospital. Patricia felt uneasy and took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
She looked at Samuel, who was calmly sipping his tea, and said, "Mr. Langley, what brings you to me? You might as well speak candidly."
Samuel took out a check from his pocket and placed it on the table. "This is a check with a limit of one billion dollars. Accept it."
Patricia's heart sank suddenly, and a sense of foreboding arose. She pushed the check back and said without changing her expression, "You should take it back!"
Samuel's smile deepened. He was smiling, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Why decline such a valuable gift? You have given birth to two outstanding descendants for our Langley family, and you have raised Charles so excellently for us. You are the greatest benefactor of our Langley family. Forget about one billion dollars, you can handle even more than that."
From his words, Patricia vaguely guessed his intentions, and she slowly clenched the hand resting on her lap.
"They are my sons, I gave birth to them for myself, not for the Langley family. As a mother, it is my responsibility to raise Charles, and I don't need anyone's gratitude."
A flash of surprise clearly swept across Samuel's eyes. He obviously didn't expect Patricia to be so courageous.
“You are right, and I will not deny the relationship between Charles and the Langley family, the lifestyle and the perks that come with the Langley name. Yes, it is something I can never provide in this lifetime. But, what I can give Charles, the Langley family can never give."
Samuel's face darkened, sneering, "Oh... is that so? Then tell me, what is it that you have that the Langley family doesn't?"
Patricia raised her head and spoke each word with conviction, "Mother's love."
Samuel narrowed his eyes, staring intensely at Patricia. His gaze seemed as if it could penetrate right through her.
Patricia smiled confidently, "I don't seek much wealth, just enough to get by. I don't need excessive power because the larger the power, the higher one stands, and the greater the pressure one has to bear. I only hope for my son to live a happy and joyful life in this lifetime. And I can give them all my love. Now, if you have no other business, I'll take my leave."
With that, she turned around gracefully, ready to depart with the air of victory.
However, just as she took a few steps, Samuel's deep voice sounded behind her once again.
"If you truly love them as you claim, why did you have another daughter within a short year?"
Patricia turned around in astonishment, looking at Samuel with disbelief, unable to fathom how he knew about Fannie.
Sensing her gaze, Samuel calmly stood up and walked towards her.
"Mother's love is indeed great, but can you guarantee that your mother's love will protect Charles for his whole life? If it could, how was he kidnapped the last time? If not for Martin, would he be standing unharmed in front of you now? If something like this happens again, can you protect him from harm?"
Patricia trembled all over, feeling as if she had been plunged into icy water, the cold reaching her bones.
Although she didn't want to admit it, she had no choice but to acknowledge that Samuel was speaking the truth.
Could she ensure Charles' safety if another kidnapping occurred?
Samuel patted her shoulder and said, "You have one week to think it through. Who can provide the best life for Charles?"
With that, he walked away without looking back.
Patricia stood there, unable to regain her senses for a long time, the last words Samuel said before leaving echoing in her mind.
Should she give up on Charles?
No!
She had already lost Randy, she couldn't lose Charles as well. But, what if Charles encounters danger again?
She had no ability to protect him.
What should she do?
*****
Distracted, Patricia returned to the hospital and unexpectedly saw Charles and Martin in the ward.
She saw Martin folding his arms, sitting on the sofa, staring at Patricia with wide eyes, while Charles sat on the edge of the bed, sighing silently.
Without needing to ask, Patricia could tell that Martin and Fannie had had yet another argument.
Looking at Charles, Patricia found Samuel's last words surfacing automatically in her mind. Her heart suddenly felt a stab of pain, and her hands instinctively clenched, trying to alleviate the ache.
Noticing her change, Charles hurried over and asked with concern, "Mommy, what's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?"
Patricia shook her head, dismissing Samuel's words from her mind, and put on a façade as if nothing had happened, affectionately rubbing Charles' hair. "How did you guys come here?"
Charles responded, "I was worried about Fannie and wanted to come and see her. But unfortunately..."
At this point, he couldn't help shaking his head and said, "It's a pity that those two are like enemies from a past life. They fight as soon as they meet, sigh..."
It seemed that Fannie wouldn't forgive her jerk of a father for a while.
After hearing his words, Fannie angrily said, "Charles, have you forgotten how he treated Mommy? How can you forgive him? And calling him Daddy?"
Unexpectedly, the argument turned to her, and Charles reluctantly fell silent.
"Heh..." Martin couldn't help but chuckle at her words. "This is my family matter, and you don't need to worry about it. You are so young, yet so scheming, no wonder your dad doesn't want you."
These words instantly struck the deepest pain in Fannie's heart, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Charles' face darkened, displeased as he spoke, "Dad, that's going too far! Fannie is only four years old. How can you say these things to a four-year-old child?"
Patricia's face also turned red with anger. "Martin, if you feel uncomfortable staying here, please leave. You are not welcome here."
Seeing they were both defending Fannie, Martin felt trapped, unable to move up or down. Under Charles' and Patricia's threatening gaze, reluctantly and through gritted teeth, he said, "I'm sorry..."
Fannie looked at him with anger, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
One tear fell, then another, and then another...
"I don't accept your apology. Get out and don't want to see you... Never want to see you again, just go..."
Thinking she was the daughter of Patricia and another man, Martin couldn't stand the sight of her, no matter what. Being driven away like this, his anger flared even more.
"If it wasn't for Charles, do you think I would willingly step in here? Small in size, but big in temper. You've spoiled her..."
Coldly leaving those words behind, he walked out of the hospital room without looking back. The heartless departure caused Fannie to let out a loud cry, unable to hold it in any longer.
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