Chapter 146 Charles as if Dictating His Last Will
Hearing that Charles was missing, Patricia bolted upright from the bed, her voice becoming shrill without her realizing, "What did you say? Charles is missing?"
Martin blamed himself: "I had been with him all day, and just when I went back to my room to shower, he disappeared. None of the servants saw him leave, and it was only when we checked the security cameras that we spotted him. He must have avoided the servants and slipped out secretly."
Patricia’s heart leapt to her throat, her fatigue swept away as she immediately jumped out of bed, "He hasn't come back, send someone to look for him at once, I'm going too, inform me if there's any news!"
"Will do!"
After ending the call, Patricia tried Charles’s mobile phone immediately, only to be met with the notification that it had been switched off.
In a panic and without hesitation, she grabbed her phone and car keys and rushed out the door.
Jade had just sent Fannie back to her room to bathe and saw Patricia's frantic expression. She grabbed her and asked, "Patricia, you look so panicked, what happened?"
Patricia replied with a sense of urgency, "Charles is missing, I have to go look for him right away."
Jade quickly said, "Charles is missing? Tell me what happened, I'll help you look for him."
Patricia hesitated for a moment, but thinking that more people would mean more eyes looking, she agreed, "I sent Charles back to Martin today, and Martin just called me to say he’s disappeared. He thought Charles had come to find me, but he hasn't returned. I'm afraid he might be desperate enough to do something reckless, I must find him immediately."
After listening to her explanation, Jade's brow furrowed in deep concern.
"Charles loves you so much, he values you even more than himself. How could you just give him back to Martin? How heartbroken and hopeless he must feel today!"
Jade wanted to scold her more, but her mind was occupied with concern for Charles. She sighed in resignation and said, "Alright, finding Charles is what matters now. I won't say anything more. You go ahead, I need to speak to Fannie and make sure she's settled before I leave."
As a parting shot, she added with frustration, "If anything happens to Charles, I'm never speaking to you again."
Patricia knew it was said in the heat of the moment and didn't take it to heart, turning around and leaving.
Once outside the apartment, Patricia drove slowly to facilitate the search for Charles. On the way to Ellenstein Villa District, she meticulously scanned the roadside for any sign of Charles.
If Charles truly went home, this path would be his usual route.
Without money on him and unable to afford a ride, he would undoubtedly have to walk.
Regrettably, even upon reaching Ellenstein Villa District, there was no sign of Charles.
Patricia, sitting in the car, turned on the home cameras to confirm that Charles hadn't returned, then opened the car door and stepped out, intending to ask Martin for updates only to be informed by a servant that Martin had taken his people to look for Charles.
With no sight of him and no news from Martin, Patricia was so anxious she was nearly in tears, her mind racing with countless thoughts.
Could Charles have been kidnapped?
Or perhaps he had gotten lost?
Or maybe he had encountered bad people on his way?
Perhaps he was angry with her, refusing to forgive her and had gone off to hide somewhere.
A myriad of thoughts crisscrossed in her mind.
She felt as if she was almost going insane.
If anything had happened to Charles, she would never forgive herself.
Forcing back her tears, Patricia compelled herself to calm down and searched her mind thoroughly.
If Charles wasn't in Ellenstein Villa District and hadn't gone home, where could he be?
They hadn't been back in Ivara City for long.
Aside from home, the hospital, school, and Ellenstein Villa District, Charles had hardly been anywhere else.
Not at home, not in Ellenstein Villa District, and definitely not at the kindergarten—could it be the hospital?
With this possibility in mind, Patricia immediately drove to the hospital.
At this hour, visiting time was over, but as a doctor, she was not stopped by the security at the first floor, and she headed straight for Randy's hospital room.
Unfortunately, Charles was not at the hospital either.
Randy was alone, holding his phone and sitting on the bed looking thoughtful, his little face showing signs of indecision as though he was unsure about something.
Upon seeing her enter, his eyes lit up and he had an idea.
"Mommy, did you come looking for Charles?"
His words made Patricia's eyes brighten.
"Charles was here?"
Randy nodded, pouting and speaking with worry, "Charles did come by, but he left a few minutes ago!"
Patricia asked impatiently, "Did he say where he was going?"
Randy shook his head, "Mommy, did you have a fight with Charles? He seemed very upset and said some things that didn't make sense. I'm really worried about him."
Just now, he was debating whether to call Mommy to report on Charles's situation.
But then Mommy showed up herself.
It seems there really had been a disagreement between Charles and Mommy.
Patricia felt a tightness in her chest and with trembling voice, she asked, "What did he say?"
Randy, with his head bowed, said softly, "Charles told me to be obedient, to not throw tantrums anymore. He said daddy and mommy love me very much, and that I should love you both dearly, to take good care of you as I grow up, and to also look after Fannie well."
With that, his tone shifted to one of confusion, "Mommy, what does brother mean by that? What does he mean by telling me to take good care of you and Fannie? Where is he? It feels like we're parting forever, I'm so uneasy and afraid that something has happened to him."
These words, resembling last words on a deathbed, made Patricia unable to hold back any longer, and tears breached her defenses.
She regretted so deeply, for not considering Charles's feelings when she sent him back to the Langley family. He must have been in utter despair.
Seeing her cry, Randy panicked, hurriedly reaching out to wipe her tears.
"Mommy, don't cry! Did I say something wrong and hurt you?" he asked.
Patricia shook her head, sobbing, "Did Charles say anything else?"
Randy continued, "He said that I am daddy's son, that no matter what happened in the past or what will happen in the future, I am daddy's only son."
It felt as though Patricia's heart was being torn apart, the pain almost suffocating her.
"Anything else?"
Randy shook his head, "No, that's all! Mommy, has something happened to Charles? Tell me, I'm really worried."
Patricia rubbed his little head and forced a smile uglier than crying, "It's okay, you go to sleep now. Mommy will leave first!"
"But..." Randy was still very worried about Charles.
Patricia knew his concerns and reassured him, "It's okay! Mommy was just confused for a moment and made a mistake! Mommy has realized it and will definitely ask Charles for forgiveness. You go to sleep, don't worry."
"Really?" Randy blinked his innocent eyes, looking earnestly at Patricia.
Patricia nodded resolutely and after tucking Randy in and making sure he was covered, she quickly turned and left.
Once out of the hospital, she called Charles again. The call connected, but no one answered.
Patricia knew that Charles was still angry with her, so she opened WhatsApp to message him, fearing he wouldn't listen to a voice message, she deliberately composed a text.
"Charles, I'm sorry, mommy knows her mistake. I shouldn't have forced you on daddy against your will. I promise I won't do it again. Please come back, okay? I swear, no matter what happens, I will never leave you; you will always be my son."
The message sunk like a stone into the sea, with no reply forthcoming.
At that moment, Patricia regretted not having installed a location tracker on Charles's phone; she wouldn't be feeling so utterly lost now.
Just then, Martin’s call came through.
Thinking he might have news of Charles, Patricia answered swiftly.
"Is there any news of Charles? Where is he now?"
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